Tag: Eleanor K. Smith

Authentic Teaching – The License Plate Game

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Teaching, Blog, Uncategorized

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This is a new twist on an old travel game.  For years parents have entertained children on long car rides by having them look for and check off a license plate from all 50 states.  As many kids now have access to on line information through phones and tablets, you can add the task of looking up and naming the capital of the state, population, etc.  Authentic Math Bonus:  additional points for each plate can be added based on larger population, geographical location, etc.   The more you add, the busier the kids are, and the more reading they are doing.

Authentic Teaching – The Budget

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Teaching, Blog, Uncategorized

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Having children work out and stick to a budget is a great authentic way to teach and reinforce math skills.  It is also a way to show children how to find out what something might cost and to stick to a budget.

For example, for classroom or home parties, give children an amount to work with, give them websites they can search to find prices, and let them plan the party.  Giving children ownership of the budget and planning provides an authentic math experience, and also gives the children ownership and pride in their event.

Authentic Teaching – Restaurant Math

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Teaching, Blog, Uncategorized

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Here is another math idea for children while eating at restaurants.  My mom actually came up with this idea when I was a child and had discovered shrimp cocktails.  To make us aware of how much we were spending at restaurants, she played a game called “Guess the Check.”  After the first time, we would expect this, and my brothers and I would listen to everyone order, check the prices on the menu, and add up the cost in our heads.  Not only was this a great way to develop authentic math skills, but it also made us aware of what we were ordering/spending at a restaurant.  After a conversation about family budgets and eating out, my order of the expensive shrimp cocktail ceased (except when my grandparents came to town and were treating – that is what grandparents are for!)

 

Authentic Teaching – Vacation Math

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Teaching, Blog, Uncategorized

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This is the time of year when families tend to travel with children.  It is also the time of year when parents are often faced with the fearsome gift shop.  (Full disclosure:  I love gift shops, but my husband is definitely afraid of them!)

Giving children a budget before a trip is not only a great way to teach math, but also a way to cut down on whining.  Win, Win!  With young children the number can be how many souvenirs they can buy (remember that young children don’t even understand that everything in a store is for sale, so you can pick a few things in your price range and let them pick one).  For older children, they can have an amount they can spend during the trip.  You can even include calculating tax (and finding out the tax rate where you are traveling) with teenagers.

And remember it is also OK to say no souvenirs.  If this is not in the budget, it’s not in the budget.