Being able to make and read graphs is an important skill for any age. Making graphs helps a child understand that information in a graph is real, not just numbers on paper. The first step in making a graph is the data collection. One idea is to use your newspaper to collect data of interest. You and your child might want to see how many characters in the comics are males, females, or animals. Show your child how to use tally marks to keep up with the number. Use one tally mark for each item and cross 4 marks with the fifth one. Your child can then count by fives for the total. Your child might find interesting items on the sports pages to graph or how many ads are found for a certain item. Next week, information on turning the data into a graph.
Deciding what information is needed in a story problem can be difficult at times. Ask your child to underline the question after she reads it. This will help to focus her attention to what is being asked. Then she can look up into the story problem and determine which numbers or facts are needed to find out the answer. Circle these items to make them stand out. Often drawing a simple picture of the things and numbers named in the problem can help the child to "see" the problem and to "see" how to work it. For example: if the problem asks for 5 apples, she can draw five apples or circles on paper. Then draw the next step of the problem and combine the items according to what is being asked in the question.
Patterns are an important part of math that many children don't see automatically. I know because I was one of those children. I did not know that math was based on patterns until I was an adult in my 40's. Help your child recognize patterns now. Point out patterns all around you. Show your child the pattern he makes as he sets the dinner table; spoon, plate, knife, fork, spoon, plate knife, fork. Show him patterns in the tiles on the floor or the pattern in the wallpaper. Ask him to continue the pattern. What color or shape would come next? When he understands these simple patterns, help him look at counting patterns; 2, 4, 6, ?; 33, 36, 39, ?, and so on. Then go on to patterns in addition, etc. Understanding patterns has helped me become a better math teacher.
Last week we were collecting the data for your child to make a graph. A bar graph is generally the best kind to start with. You can use graph paper you purchase at the store or you can draw lines to make graphs on plain or lined paper. For primary grades, make the squares about a centimeter in size. Have your child write a title across the top describing the graph; animals in the comics or whatever the graph is about. Down the left side or across the bottom, write the labels your graph needs; dogs, cats, dinosaurs, etc. At the bottom of the page have your child put a key, even if it is only 1 box = 1 animal. Then have the child color one box for each item that she tallied last week. Then help your child 'read' the graph that she made. Putting all of the parts in her graph will help your child understand the parts of other graphs.
One of my favorite activities to teach fractions is making fruit salad. Fractions involves recognizing the parts of the whole. This is easily shown to children by cutting fruit into different numbers of sections. (Caution: Children should be closely supervised when using knives.) After washing & peeling the fruit, as needed, cut fruit into sections, counting as you cut. For example, cut 1 whole banana into 8 fairly equal sections or parts. It takes 8 parts to make the whole banana so that numbe goes on the bottom part of the fraction. How many sections do you want to put into the bowl at this time? 3 sections would be the number on top of the fraction or 3/8 of the banana. After you do the same with apples, oranges, or other fruit, go back and add the 5/8 of the banana to the bowl. Discuss the numbers/fractions involved each time you add some more fruit. The best part is eating the math after the lesson is finished.