Follow the Bouncing Ball?

My name is Patricia Potts.  I am an elementary teacher with an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction and experience teaching grades K through 8 (although not all at the same time, thankfully).  Due to my children's special needs, my husband and I made the decision last year to homeschool our six year old twins.  It has been a wonderful learning journey.  I would like to thank Vicky for this chance to be a guest blogger, and I wish her a speedy recovery.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Bouncy Ball Math

So how did it get to be February already?  Time to check on how those New Year resolutions are going.  Feeling a little guilty about some of that exercise equipment that's getting more use as a coat rack these days?  I know how you feel.  I have two large, exercise balls lurking around the house, relics of January resolutions long forgotten.  My twins love them, but have yet to master the fine line between playing with the exercise balls vs. having them zinging around the house crashing into breakable items.  So usually these balls are banished to a storage closet only to put in brief appearances when I have to displace them while looking for my quilting supplies.

Such was the case this week and my girls were quick to snatch the exercise balls up with exclamations of glee when they saw I had unearthed them while on a hunt for my sewing supplies.  I was about to break the news of the exercise balls' imminent return to the closet when I saw what one of the girls was doing.  She was bouncing on the ball while counting.  Yes, COUNTING! I say this with capitals because I jump at any chance I have to get math into their lives. She was trying to do 100 bounces and was counting (out loud even) with each bounce. Then she started counting the odds and then the evens from 0 to 10.  After she got done with that set, I realized we had a good thing going and had both of the girls bounce count in fives and tens. Then we worked from 20 back to 0.  

If you're into multiple intelligence learning this is a great kinesthetic activity.  So, go check out the exercise equipment you have lurking around.....you might find something for the basis of a math activity.

 

Just in case those resolutions to eat healthier have also suffered some, ahem, minor bumps, raid your pantry for some dried beans (it will conveniently leave more room for chocolate) and set up a math center. My freebie download of The Bean Game: Practicing the Number Bonds can be found over at my TPT store.

 

You can see how we used the bouncy balls and the beans and many other things by visiting our 1st grade classroom via my blog, Lessons In Homeschooling.







P.S.  Patricia has an awesome blog.  Her articles are interesting, well written, and offer activities that I can even do.  She hasn't been a blogger very long; so, take a moment to check it out.  While you are there, become a follower!

Pin It