• HOME
  • About Us
  • {A}’s Chipmunk Training Archives

 Homepage

  • The Homestead
    • Home Projects
    • Home Improvement
    • Home Decor
      • Seasonal Home decor
        • FALL Home Decor
        • WINTER Home Decor
        • SPRING Crafts and Creations
        • SUMMER Crafts and Creations
    • Our Chickens
    • Gardening
    • Organization
    • Re-Purposing
    • Furniture Refinishing
    • Budget
  • Crafts & Creations
    • Seasonal Home decor
      • FALL Crafts and Creations
      • WINTER Crafts and Creations
      • SPRING Crafts and Creations
      • SUMMER Crafts and Creations
    • DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Project
    • Kids Arts and Crafts
    • Homemade/Handmade Gift Ideas
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Fan Pulls
    • Free Printable/Downloadable
    • Sewing Projects
    • Giveaways
    • Business Features
  • Recipes/FoodFun
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Main Dish
    • Sandwiches
    • Appetizers
    • Slow Cooker
    • On The Grill
    • Side Dishes
      • Soups
      • Salads
    • Baking
      • Breads, Rolls and Muffins
    • Snacks
    • Treats
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
  • Homeschooling
    • Elementary Homeschooling
      • Elementary Homeschooling READING
      • Elementary Homeschooling MATH
      • Elementary Homeschooling LANGUAGE ARTS
      • Elementary Homeschooling SCIENCE
      • Elementary Homeschooling HOME ECONOMICS
      • Kids Arts and Crafts
    • Middle School Homeschooling
      • Middle School Homeschooling SCIENCE
      • Middle School Homeschooling HOME ECONOMICS
    • Language Arts
    • Math
    • History / Social Studies
    • Geography
    • Foreign Language
    • Field Trips
    • Games
    • Nature Study
  • The Big Picture
    • Life In General
    • Celebrations
    • Faith
      • Into the Light; The Series
    • Giveaways
    • Reviews & Sponsors
  • Photography & Lettering
    • Photography
    • truck lettering
    • vehicle graphics
    • Newborns
    • Kids
    • Engagement
    • High School Senior Pictures
    • High School Senior Pictures Sneak Peeks

The Math and Science of OOBLECK! | Elementary Homeschooling

June 9, 2010 By Laura 14 Comments

oobleck goop

It wouldn’t be surprising, if many of you have already heard of and made some ‘Oobleck’, with your kids.  Some may know this crazy-fun concoction by another name.  My sister says they call it ‘Goop’.

My kids have indeed made and played with Oobleck before.  I first heard about it at least a few years ago, from my friend Maria, over at Very Blessed Mommy. It’s a downright fun little activity, that will keep your little ones  happy and busy for quite awhile!  It’s appropriate for ages 4-42 (at least ; )

We’ve made it several times since that first, but this time, we looked closer at the educational aspects of math and science, that come with this very intriguing activity!  If we were going to keep playing with the stuff, it just seemed like a good idea to get a little more intellectual about it.    So here we share the recipe for Oobleck, what we learned or reviewed, and as always, too many photos.   (Thanks for understanding.)

Necessary ingredients:  corn starch, water, food coloring, bowl(s), wooden spoon(s), and measuring cups.

The Recipe for one batch:   2 cups of corn starch, mixed with 1 cup of water.  Then a few drops of food coloring.

Now, the recipe calls for 2 parts corn starch to 1 part water.    So the recipe is adequate for two little kids to play with.  But you could make 2 separate batches so they have their own bowl, whether you half the recipe for them or not.

This day, we literally quartered the recipe for each kid that day, because we were running low on corn starch!  But it still worked out alright.    What’s great is, it was an opportunity for the kids to practice their measurement math.

Since the recipe calls for 2 cups, what is 1/4 of that?   How about 1/4 of 1 cup?

Not only is measuring ingredients a great exercise for their math skills, but it’s great for them to follow directions, and do it all themselves!

This is such a perfect summer time activity for kids of all ages.  Mom can make a batch for little ones, just to play in. There is no need to worry about a mess outside! Everything washes very easily away, with water!  I take the hose and just spray off the table and deck.  Once the food coloring is mixed in, there is no worry about color staining either.

My kids had their play clothes on, so I let them put their own color drops in too.


{JM} made his Oobleck blue.

  05_yellow_oobleck
{S} wanted his yellow.

But {O} wanted hers orange.  But there is no orange food coloring, right?  Here was more opportunity to learn; reviewing color mixing of primary colors, to create secondary colors.

So I asked {O}……if the only colors we have, are red, green, blue and yellow, how can we make orange?

She knew, that red + yellow = orange.

Of course……using just a few drops, in relation to the amount of corn starch and water, we got a very light orange.  Similar to peach or orange sherbet.

{JM} decided he wanted to try making his blue Oobleck,  purple.  So I asked him what color he would need to add to his blue, to make purple?

blue + red =  purple

Again….in relation to the amounts of ingredients, we had lavender.

{S} wanted to change turn his yellow Oobleck, green.  Well, he knew that yellow was already a primary color, but so was green. So what would happen if he put green in his yellow?

yellow + green = lime green.

But the most interesting thing about Oobleck, is the constant change in consistency, depending on it’s state. This is where we get into the scientific study.

On appearance, it seems to be a liquid form.  If you run your fingers through it, it is still a liquidy form.  But any act of compression, suddenly turns the liquidy state of substance, more solid.    If you look at the photos below, in frame 1, {S} is just holding a puddle of it in his hands.  But as soon as he starts to squeeze it, in frames 2-4 it turns to a more solid mass.

But left when the compression is relieved, it begins to return to it’s liquid state again.

It’s amazing, isn’t it?

Here is a more specific explanation, taken from this link, which also has different Oobleck activities, for different ages, if you’d like to check it out after.

Water and starch do something unusual when mixed together. The substance they form pours like a liquid, but when squeezed with your hands, becomes solid. When a substance acts like both a liquid and a solid, scientists call it a discrepant substance.     Two things commonly cause this type of change—temperature and pressure.  We will see that temperature has no effect on Oobleck and that its solid or liquid state is influenced only by pressure (or lack of pressure). Squeezing it in our hands turns Oobleck into a solid. But if we hold it without squeezing, it drips through like a liquid. You can roll Oobleck into a ball, but when the rolling stops, it will become a liquidy mess!

It really is a great deal of fun to play with!  And I promise you it is not as impossibly messy as it looks.  And trust me…it looks it! But it washes away with such ease, it’s enough to make any mother smile. A REALLY BIG GRIN!!

The thrill of it it does not wear off, any time soon.

Oh, we never tried shaking hands before!!  How do you do??  <giggles> <giggles>

And the fun goes on and on and…..

…..on.   AND on.

oobleck-recipe-math-science-homeschooling-15

We hope you enjoyed this post.  Have YOU made Oobleck before?  Do you call it something else?  Will you let your kids make some (again) soon?   Oh and, can YOU play with them?

Yes you can.  I sure do.

Save

Save

Filed Under: Elementary Homeschooling, Elementary Homeschooling HOME ECONOMICS, Elementary Homeschooling MATH, Elementary Homeschooling SCIENCE, Homeschooling, Math, Science Tagged With: color-mixing-lessons-for-kids, goop, goop-recipe, homeschooling-elementary-science, measuring-fun-for-kids, oobleck, oobleck-recipe

Math Games | Elementary Homeschooling

November 24, 2009 By Laura 5 Comments

Our three second graders, { J, O & S}, have been working pretty hard in math, lately.  They were getting stuck on a particular concept, and so taking advantage of the perks of home schooling, we didn’t move on in their workbooks until they ‘got it’.  We had some extra long math classes even, working on that concept.  So I decided we needed a little FUN with math, today, and made up a couple of games.

MATH BINGO!

If you have any kind of BINGO game, with whatever pieces to draw numbers, you can do these math games with your kids.  You can also alter how the game is played, to suit the age and skill level of your own kids.   So I’ll share with you how we played, and maybe have a suggestion or 2 of how you can make it easier for younger grade level kids.

First, because we’ll be doing math ON them, a piece of paper has to be set up as a BINGO card, for each child. It doesn’t have to perfect…..ours sure weren’t.  I just did the example below, on the computer, for this blog post.   But we did ours on regular loose-leaf paper.  I let the kids draw whatever shape they wanted in the center FREE box.

homeschooling math games

homeschooling math games

This is our BINGO game.  You will not need the real BINGO cards, or the chips for the math games WE played.  But later, I will give you an alternative game for younger kids, where you can use the chips on the cards.

So once everyone’s paper is set up as below, you are ready to start the game.    You draw the first call, and announce the letter and number. (Example, say it is N-31.).   The can put that 31 in any box to start, under the N, but each number needs to be somewhat in the middle of the box, for room to do math with it.  As letters and numbers continue to be called, they can continue to choose an empty box to put the number in, under the corresponding letter.  Again, when the kids write a number in a box,  they need to leave room above that first number, as well as below it, and of course the math sign to the left.

homeschooling math games

The paper board will start to look like this.  Notice, the first numbers are put int he middle of each box.   So for a little bit, you’ll call letters/numbers and only have one number in each box around the board.  But eventually, one of the LETTER rows is going to full up, already having a number in every box.  As you can see above, N’s row has a number in each box, all the way down that row.  So, once we get another N call, the real math will begin!

homeschooling math games

And there it is.  N-35.

So here is how WE played.  Each child could continue to choose any N box (that already had one number in it), but where to put it?  Well, after choosing which N box they were going to use, they had to figure out if the 35 was higher, or lower, than the number in the chosen box.

In order to create both addition and subtraction facts, I decided the pattern would be as follows. If the number was HIGHER than the number already in the box, it went OVER the number already there, and they would add.  If the number drawn was LOWER than the number already in their chosen box, they would put the drawn number BELOW the number already there, and SUBTRACT.

homeschooling math games

So {O} chose her first N box at the top.  She already had a 40 in it.  35 is smaller than 40, so she put it under, and SUBTRACTED.

homeschooling math games

{S} also chose the first N box.  However, he had a 31 in his box.  So, he put the 35 OVER the 31 he had, and ADDED.

homeschooling math games

We continued to draw letters/numbers and kept the game going in the same pattern.   To refresh:

BIGGER numbers went OVER existing number >  ADD.

SMALLER numbers went UNDER existing numbers > SUBTRACT.

homeschooling math games

As I drew letters/numbers, I put them in the holder tray….just as you would put the numbers/letters on a master BINGO card.

homeschooling math games

We played until someone had BINGO….which, as this game goes, everyone should have had at the same time, if they were listening carefully and putting the called numbers, under the correct letters.

homeschooling math games

N down was filled first, until everyone had BINGO.  But they didn’t officially WIN, until their row was corrected, and all answers were correct.  ;  )

*1) A YOUNGER VERSION:    Instead of doing MATH per-say, children just learning letter and number recognition, can use the real BINGO cards, with the chips.  They can wait until they have a row filled to call BINGO, and the teacher can use their master Bingo card, with the chips on it for called numbers, to correct if they identified each number and letter correctly.

*2).  For a LITTLE BIT OLDER children, who are working on WRITING and correct letter and number formation, can simply write the one number called, under the correct letter, until they get BINGO.  At that time, correction can be done in the same manner as 1) above.    In these case, no math is done.

*3)  Another option, is to play the game somewhat as we did, doing ALL ADDITION,  only.

* No doubt, with a little brainstorming, you can come up with your own ideas for math games, using these suggested tools, to fit the needs of an and all kids of all grades and skill levels.  Have fun with it!

MATH TIC TAC TOE!

For younger kids, using a Tic Tac Toe version may be a quicker game.  And again, doing all addition at first may be easier.

We followed the same concepts as we did for Math Bingo, but applied it to Tic Tac Toe, with the goal of getting 3 (correct) in a row.

homeschooling math games

They put the first number called, in a different box, aiming for 3 in a row.

homeschooling math games

BIGGER numbers went OVER existing number >  ADD.

SMALLER numbers went UNDER existing numbers > SUBTRACT.

homeschooling math games

Oh the suspense….WHO is adding and subtracting correctly??

homeschooling math games

Suddenly, everyone was yelling ‘Tic Tac Toe!  3 in a row!!” But was their math work correct?  They were.  We had 3 winners, although one of them almost forgot to bring down a number, and noticed right before I was about to check!

I hope these games inspire you to play with math, with YOUR kids!!  I make up games all of the time, to help instill lessons for life, in the kids.  If I can, I get them out of their chairs, and outdoors, if possible!  After all….as I say all of the time…

LEARNING SHOULD BE FUN!!!

Save

Filed Under: Elementary Homeschooling, Elementary Homeschooling MATH, Games, Homeschooling Tagged With: elementary-math-games, homeschooling, homeschooling-math-games, kids, Math, math games, math-BINGO, math-fun, mathematics

Math Boy – Elementary Math

March 22, 2009 By Laura 4 Comments

numbers-in-eye

As I pondered this post I had coming up, I had a vague recollection of blogging something similar before. So I went looking and found this post from almost a year ago; Math Madness and Memorization.  So today’s post is basically talking about the fact that nothing has changed….but merely progressed quite a bit since then.  I especially love the last 3 paragraphs of that old post, as my feelings have not changed, but only grown as well.

From the time this boy, {S} was about 1 year old, he has loved everything about letters and numbers.  He was less than 2 years old when he already knew the entire alphabet.  Not just saying/singing the alphabet…..but recognizing any letter, upper case or lower case, any where, any time, in any letter style.  He gave the same zealous interest to numbers. Number recognition. Counting. He’s always been very physically active, but even so, he has always spent a lot of his mental energy on letters and numbers. And he still does.

All 4 of our kids happen to do very well with their schooling, and in all subjects. Naturally, I have a whole philosophy that explains why, in my eyes, they do so well….and enjoy it!  (Because at this age, they need to have fun learning, to learn to love learning.)  But {S} just has a particular fondness for numbers, in the form of math.  And that’s the reason why he does so well in math. Simply because he loves it, so he enjoys it, so he learns more.  I love the look he gets when you give him a problem. He looks off to the distance, and with that little content smile, you can see him calculate in his head. And then he whips his head back and let’s out the answer in a big announcement sort of way. And then he is ready for the next one. And the next one.

homeschooling-math

He usually zips right through his math, and rarely has one wrong either.  If we ask {J} or {O} a math problem to do mentally, {S} often blurts out the answer in a heartbeat, because he can hardly contain himself. We have to remind him over and over to not answer for them. But he REALLY wants to….because he KNOWS THE ANSWER!

math-workbook

Most times, when he sees me correcting books, he wants to know if he had any wrong. He doesn’t much expect me to say ‘yes’ either.  But on the occasions when I did say yes, because there was indeed one wrong, he’s off to get his pencil and eraser, because he MUST fix it.

He loves to count days too.  How many more days until this day, or how many days ago that was.  He wants to be the score keeper when they play Scrabble or Uno, so he can add the points.

elementary-homeschooling-math

He’s just really focused, and content, in the numbers world.   I recall one week that he was just having a run of days of LOTS of extra energy, and it was tending to get him into trouble.  So over those days, when he was ‘heading down the wrong road’ so to speak, I redirected his attention.  I would simply call him over, and say “I just want you to stand here, and count to 100 by odd numbers…..real-ly slow-ly.”  And he would say ‘Count to 100 by odd numbers?  Ok!”….with a very pleased look on his face….because he was HAPPY to do it. Or, I would give him a REALLY big math problem.  Any of those times, he never ask why I wanted him to do it, because he was so excited just to get to it, that the WHY wasn’t occurring to him.   I could see the numbers going around in his head, and the little smile remained. Once in awhile he would just let me know what number he was on, to assure me he was going slowly.

By the time he was done, he was in a content state of mind, and would go off to play, imagine and create…..with the  behavior we expect and appreciate. :  )  Worked for both of us!  I’m keeping that one in my tool box.  ; )

The funny thing is…..when I was in school, I didn’t like math, because I wasn’t good at it.  Actually, more likely, I wasn’t good at it, because I didn’t like it!  It wasn’t FUN to me.  I found math and algebra hard. But I was ‘Geometry Girl’. My teacher said I rocked Geometry in a second nature way, because I was an artist.  The funny thing is….I do love math now, AND I’m pretty good at it!  Maybe because I’ve been having FUN doing it!

addition

The other day, {S} was talking to his big sister about math, and numbers.  So she shared with him that soon with school, he would be learning how to add with carrying numbers over.  She decided to show him what she meant, and then let him try it. Well by golly…he got it!  And that has been his ‘new thing’ lately.  I taught him how to know where to put the commas simply by giving him a pattern, left to right, 1-2-3-comma. 1-2-3-comma.  We have not gotten into teaching the 1st grade trio the hundred-millions place, yet.  lol.  But I am guessing soon, now!!  lol

After doing this particular math problem (above) at the table, he was pretty happy.  As usual, he said “Hey Mama!  I have a great idea!  Why don’t you take a picture of me, and blog about it!!”  (Well Ok…..twist my arm why don’t you, Math Boy. : ) And then he wanted me to take a photo of his shirt….which is his very favorite t-shirt (which he got from his aunt, uncle and cousins for Christmas one year.)

s

So I did.

shirt

I can see why he loves it.

It think it has the truth written alllll over it!

Save

Save

Filed Under: Elementary Homeschooling, Elementary Homeschooling MATH, Homeschooling, Math Tagged With: elementary-homeschooling, elementary-homeschooling-math, homeschooling, kids-who-love-numbers

Math Madness! & Memorization – Kindergarten

May 8, 2008 By Laura 4 Comments

math-graphic

We’re talking about the beginning skills of math memorization, for little ones, today. Our Kindergartners ( {J} {O} {S} ) have been working on addition and subtraction  in their workbooks throughout this year. Their math curriculum (Horizons/Alpha Omega Publications) had introduced math problems in both numerical sentences, as well as stacked, and as of recently, even in math story problems. Their aid right along has been a number line on the page to use for adding or subtracting. They start at the given number, and count going forward (adding) or backward(subtracting), and the number they land on is the answer to the problem. I have thought right along that this technique was rather clever, in that the kids are learning now, for the future, how to line their number columns up properly as they write their answers, and to get the idea of adding some to, or taking away from, and just the whole general idea of how math works. It’s been the fastest subject every day for them, unless we add an extra math activity with manipulatives — like money or time telling.

So tonight right after dinner, I was working at the computer.  I had an order I really needed to prep, and was also just already burned out as it was, from an intense and exhaustive appointment I had today after schooling.  Michael had to run out to do something himself, so he was not around.  So I am working along and conversing with the kids at the same time, as I often do.

And then the math started……

{S}  “Mama….give me some math problems.”

{Me} “Okaayyyy…ummm…7+2.”

{S}  “7+2?”   (pause)  “9!”

{Me} “That’s right!  Very good!”

{S}  “Give me another one!”

{Me}  “Ok, How about…18 – 4”

{S}  “18 – 4?” (pause – a thinking noise)  “14!!”

From there, as he was getting them all right, I just went with bigger numbers, and he still kept nailing them.  Then {J} comes in because he heard all of the excitement, and wants some problems too.  “Give me some!  Give me some too!” They take turns, and it becomes an intense competition between them. {O} was busy and very focused copying an adult’s crossword puzzle. But the boys were not letting up on wanting more.  Addition, subtraction, big and small numbers, calculating in their head…and they were doing it! I think they were surprising themselves that they could do it! (I didn’t know they were ready to do that either.) There were no double digit addends or subtrahends involved, where carrying over or borrowing would be necessary, but still. Granted too, they were probably using their fingers, but hey…I still do sometimes too. And they are in kindergarten!

They really could not get enough.  It went on for a long time, as I tried to work.  I began hoping Michael would walk in the door any minute and take over being the ‘math problem pitcher’.  And he did, eventually.  He was pretty impressed with what we were doing while he was gone, and thankfully, was happy to take over.  I was then able to finish up my client’s order a little quicker.

The math game went on all the way through, and in between each hug and kiss for bed, and not doubt they’ll be begging to play again as soon as they open their eyes in the morning.  I’m grateful for the break tonight now that they are in bed, (although numbers are still flying around in my head, because that’s me) but also really amazed and grateful at how effective their whole curriculum, and lessons we’ve taught them, have been for them.  It is an advanced Kindergarten curriculum, but have really credited how each concept is introduced in a building, and spiraling, and building some more, sort of process, and have thought of it as just that;  Base prep work and building techniques for next year. But they are truly getting it more than that. And with JOY as they do.  That’s what I love the most.  Whether they get a concept or not — it’s that they have FUN learning that matters most to us, because eventually they are going to get it all.  But to see them truly understand and demonstrate it over and over is a satisfying feeling.  Seeing how much they are getting so early on, is encouraging. Because the truth is, I don’t think my kids are some unique geniuses, or necessarily smarter than other kids. And I surely do not need them to know everything now. It’s just the re-enforcement of our strong beliefs all along; that kids will learn more, and EMBRACE LEARNING, even CRAVE it, when they have fun doing it.

They have also been entertaining themselves, and each other, with memorization and recitation. All 3 of them are very fluent readers now, (well, all 4…lol) and they have taken to finding funny stories or poems in their abundance of books, and memorizing them, and then reciting them for eachother, or us…or anyone who will listen, in stores, or where ever we are.  Most of what they have a desire to memorize are the funny, very silly things, of course.  You know how, with kids, if something is funny once, it’s still funny the next 999 times.  So they take turns spouting off this poem or that, and they all crack up, and it just never gets old.  But this practice of memorization, that is merely a game to them that they came up with on their own, is just how education at home, in life, happens on it’s own. Yet it builds their memorization skills for the things they will HAVE to memorize for an assignment, or for functioning in life. Just like the scripture memorization they have done, they are acquiring various valuable benefits and skills from the ‘game’.

I just had to express what….contentment I feel tonight.  Again. About this life of ours I love, and our decision to homeschool. These are the moments, that we have every day, that show us the fruits of our ‘labor’, if you want to call it that. To see the progression of their skills and gain of knowledge every day, as they display it for us in various ways, with such HAPPINESS and pride in themselves, IS the reward and the pay-offs. We wouldn’t want to miss one minute of the amazing progress for the world; from introduction of a new concept, to seeing the lightbulb in their head go off, to them grasping and running with it with such enjoyment. Just living, loving, and learning, every day.  That’s what it’s all about to us. Witnessing these moments, is something we treasure and are so grateful for, even if we are hearing one thing or another for the 1,001 time.  “Listen to this, Mama”  “Watch me do this, Daddy! Look!”  “Mama, see what I can do?”   “Watch me again!”

Yes, we will always listen and look. Sometimes with eagerness, and sometimes with some real scrounged up patience, when we are trying to accomplish something of our own, because it matters to them. It is life. It’s the learning process of little ones, and it is the love of learning, growing, and the satisfaction of new accomplishments and skills they can each call their own.  And there can never be enough. There will always be time for such things. It is all gifts, our gifts, receiving gifts, and just multiplying before our eyes.

So bring it on, kids. We will listen, we will look, we will cheer, and we will clap, as all 4 of you realize there is nothing you cannot do, with hard work, desire and determination, and the grace of God.  The rewards are all yours.  And it is enough for us to just listen, and watch, over and over again.

Filed Under: Elementary Homeschooling, Elementary Homeschooling MATH, Homeschooling Tagged With: homeschooling, homeschooling-elementary-math, kindergarten-math, math-memorization

My Buttons Jar

April 19, 2008 By Laura 2 Comments

jarofbuttons
(My Button Jar)

Like many women, I am sure, I feel that a home is a place in which you should be surrounded by the things that make you happy. Things that touch your soul, lift you up, comfort you. Aside from one’s family, I think that these are the things that make the house, a home. They could be meaningful pieces, that perhaps have a family history, or were passed down to you. Maybe it’s something that brings back cherished memories. Perhaps it’s something created just for you, or given to you by a very special person in your life. Or maybe it’s just ‘things’ you collect, because they speak to you, for reasons you aren’t even sure of. (And don’t really feel the need to figure out.) You just like seeing them there. Whatever those things may be for you, they matter, and should be part of your ‘sacred environment’.

My button jar is one of those things in my home. I simply just started getting and collecting buttons in this jar, because I liked the idea of it. I love buttons, and I knew seeing a bunch of them, in all of their colors, in a clear jar, would just give me one of those quiet inner-smiles. And they do.  But for even more reasons than the visual appreciation I have for it, now.

It started with my husband’s comment in the store on that late summer day, as my oldest daughter and I excitedly spun the button rack, plucking off little packs we loved. He asked “What are all these buttons for, again, Honey?”. It was the way he said it. So gently. He knows better than anyone, how I get when I get an idea. I go on an urgent mission. He doesn’t always understand it. But he is always so understanding of ‘me’ and my simple needs, and you can just hear the love in his voice, when he asks these questions, trying hard to understand the purpose behind the urgency of my latest mission.
So he asked, in that sweet way he does.

By the grace of God, an answer came to me, that didn’t sound quite so crazy, as the truth it initially was. I said “Well, I’m going to keep these in the school room, and they’ll be great manipulatives to have on hand for the kids, in helping them understand math concepts and stuff, for kindergarten.” I surprised myself, and thankfully, the answer seemed to suit him just fine. So then I honestly added, “And also, I just want a button jar.” Which made him laugh, in a way that I knew, he knew, that was the bigger of the truths.

Turns out, those buttons have been used a whole lot! They don’t ‘just’ sit there, looking pretty.  At the beginning of the kids schooling, they used the buttons for the building of math skills, on their number charts. I would call out a number, and they would see how fast they could find that number on their chart, and mark it with a button. Or we would teach them about numbers that come before, after, or in between, other given numbers.

buttons-math-chart-homeschooling

kids-homeschooling

As the beginning of the year wore on, we also used them for lessons on counting higher, comparison, direction and position (right, left, up down, next, last, over, after, before, etc.) They also came in handy for number theories (ordinal numbers, even, odd) , and sequences such as first, 2nd, 3rd, last. etc. At this point in the year, we mostly use them to show them the visual concept of addition and subtraction.

I’m not the only one that has truly enjoyed having this jar of buttons in our home! The younger kids ask all of the time “Mama, can I play with your buttons?“, and the ‘your‘ part always makes me chuckle. (But I don’t feel the need to correct them 😉  Of course, I always say “Yes“. They ‘play’ with them, making up their own games that incidentally, re-enforce every mathematical concept we have taught them. Everything they learned with those buttons, was FUN to them, and so they just want to do it more. And I think ‘Keep playing.’

When I first got that jar of buttons together, and sat it on my school cabinet, the sight of it, as I said, just gave me a quiet inner-smile. Maybe they represent my surpressed urge to start sewing. (For all of the beautiful sewn things I just totally make up in my head, and then so surprisingly, cannot find in the stores!)

But more than anything now, seeing that jar already brings me warm memories: Of the thoughtfully put question my husband asked me in the store that day, or the fun the kids have had with them during school time, and the value in the various lessons they’ve learned while using them. Or the many times I watched any one of the children at the table, buttons scattered about, ‘playing‘. Suddenly, the vision-turned-reality of my button jar just sitting there, holds true purpose, life-long lessons, family value, and cherished memories. It’s times like these I am really glad I had such a crazy idea.
And as it sometimes turns out, so is everyone else in our family.

Save

Filed Under: Elementary Homeschooling, Elementary Homeschooling MATH, Homeschooling Tagged With: button jar, buttons, elementary-homeschooling, elementary-math, homeschooling, math-manipulatives

We are wicked happy to have you here! We invite you to connect with us anywhere you are, too!




SUBSCRIBE to House of Joyful Noise blog! Every new post, delivered right to your email box!

Archives

Find Us on Facebook

SuperWebTricks Loading...



POPULAR POSTS

* * * * * *

SUBSCRIBE to House of Joyful Noise blog! Every new post, delivered right to your email box!


Privacy Policy

Amazon Affiliates

Never at any additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission for our endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products from our website. Your purchase through our links helps support our family, while sharing with you the products we authentically use and recommend, for various ideas, and letting you know where you can purchase them. Thank you for your support!

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2023 HouseOfJoyfulNoise.com · Genesis Framework by StudioPress