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Math at Home

The magic of math doesn't happen just on paper. It reveals itself through exploration of creative projects that can be done using things you have at home, like marshmallows, grapes, toothpicks, cherry tomatoes, pretzel sticks - you name it!

We took the time to make a collection of short videos on how you can engage children of ages 3 to 5 in math within the comfort of your own home. These activities help enhance fine motor skills and get a hands on experience with shapes, objects, angles and lines.  Encourage your child to manipulate objects to solve problems. Discuss with her how many toothpicks are needed to create a square, a cube or any other object. Explore math together and more importantly, have fun while doing so!   

1. Use 4 marshmallows and 5 toothpicks to make 2 triangles. 

2. Now, what about five triangles with 6 grapes and 9 toothpicks?

3. Let's get creative now, shall we? Can you make a bow out of six toothpicks and five marshmallows?

4. Let's take it up a notch and create a 3-D pyramid!

Hint: We first form the base of the pyramid which is a square and add four more toothpicks and one more grape to make a pyramid.

5. And finally, you and your child can build a house together! Count out loud how many marshmallows and toothpicks are needed to build a house.

 

Go ahead and build as many shapes and buildings as you like and be as creative as possible! 

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