Virtual Curriculum Fair: Fun and Games with Math

Welcome to the second week of the Virtual Curriculum Fair  hosted by
Susan at Homeschooling Hearts and Minds! 

January is a great time to look back at the work you've accomplished and also to look ahead at the coming year and any changes you'd like to make. This is where the Virtual Curriculum Fair can play a role - it's nice to get a glimpse of other homeschools to motivate and inspire us!

This week we're focusing on logical and orderly thinking - mathematics, logic, and science. When I heard about the topic and considered what I would share, I immediately knew that I wanted to talk about games!

TJ loves to play any kind of board game or card game and, when she was younger, I used that to my advantage! If I could turn a simple reading or math concept into a game she was happy to play (and learn!). We've continued that habit with the math program we use - RightStart math. I love that games are an integral part of the program and they have become a very fun way to review various math concepts.

If you have a deck of cards you can play lots of math games! Here is our favorite game for reviewing simple addition and subtraction: Addition or Subtraction War - (remove the face cards, use the ace as a 1). Shuffle and divide the deck as you would for a game of War, but instead of flipping one card, each player flips two. For Addition War - each player adds the total of their two cards together. Whoever has the higher total wins all four cards. For Subtraction War - each player subtracts their cards. The player with the lowest number wins all four cards. Continue playing for a set amount of time, a certain number of rounds, or until someone has won all of the cards.

Now that we use RightStart games I don't make up or look for as many games as I used to but I did keep track of what we played when TJ was a pre-K/K'er. Here's our list of fun and games with math!

Delight Directed Middle School Science?  by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds
http://homeschoolheartandmind.blogspot.com/2013/01/delight-directed-middle-school-science.html

The Hardest Part of Math by Kristi @ The Potter's Hand Academy
http://www.thepottershandacademy.com/the-hardest-part-of-math/

A Tour Through Our Math and Science Life by Christy @ Unexpected Homeschool
http://unexpectedhomeschool.blogspot.com/2013/01/vcfmath.html

What Works for Us…Math by Piwi Mum @ Learning & Growing the Piwi Way
http://piwiprincess.blogspot.com/2013/01/what-works-for-usmath.html

Math Art – Geometry by Julie @ Highhill Education
http://highhillhomeschool.blogspot.com/2013/01/math-art-geometry.html

It's Math-magical by Missouri Mama @ Ozark Ramblings
http://oramblings.blogspot.com/2013/01/its-math-magical.html

Virtual Curriculum Fair: Fun and Games with Math by Tonia @ The Sunny Patch
http://thesunnypatch.blogspot.com/2013/01/virtual-curriculum-fair-fun-and-games.html

Discovering Patterns by Lisa @ The Golden Grasses
http://goldengrasses.blogspot.com/2013/01/discovering-patterns-how-to-teach-
math.html

Math for the Natural by Erin @ Delighting in His Richness
http://delightinginhisrichness.blogspot.com/2013/01/math-for-natural.html

Virtual Curriculum Fair~ Discovering Patterns by Karyn @ Teach Beside Me
http://www.teachbesideme.com/2013/01/virtual-curriculum-fair-discovering.html

Too Many Math Programs or Not by Linda B @ Homeschooling6
http://training6hearts4him.blogspot.com/2013/01/too-many-math-programs-or-not.html

Virtual Curriculum Fair:  Math and More!  by April @ Coffee, Cobwebs, and Curriculum
http://coffeecobwebsandcurriculum.blogspot.com/2013/01/virtual-curriculum-fair-math-and-more.html

The post where I admit I was wrong by Kristen H. @ Sunrise to Sunset
http://sunrisetosunsethomeschool.com/2013/01/14/the-post-where-i-admit-i-was-wrong/

High School Math - Beyond the Textbook by TechWife @ A Playground of Words
http://playgroundofwords.blogspot.com/2013/01/high-school-math-beyond-textbook.html

Discovering a World of Logic and Order by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
http://homeschoolingforhisglory.blogspot.ca/2013/01/virtual-curriculum-fair-discovering.html

2013 Virtual Curriculum Fair- Discovering Patterns: Mathematics, Logic, and Science by Leah C @ As We Walk Along the Road
http://courtneysix.blogspot.com/2013/01/2013-virtual-curriculum-fair.html

The Plans of Mice and Math (My Math in Focus review) by Chelli @ The Planted Trees
http://theplantedtrees.blogspot.com/2013/01/virtual-curriculum-fair-2013-plans-of.html

Rightstart Math is right for us! by Leann  @ Montessori Tidbits
http://www.montessoritidbits.com/2013/01/rightstart-math-review-games.html

Our Favorite Homeschool Math Curriculums by Wendy @ Homeschooling Blessings
http://wendy-homeschoolingblessings.blogspot.com/2013/01/our-favorite-homeschool-math-curriculums.html