Spooky Math Fun with Pumpkin Cookies

Last year for Halloween, we talked about learning basic geometrical shapes with some spooky fun here. This time around, let’s bake some scrumptious pumpkin chip cookies on the occasion and learn about the basics of multiplication alongside.

The recipe is pretty simple. I haven’t mentioned the proportions of each ingredient here since most of us are pretty familiar with the basics of baking cookies and this one is no different. Preheat oven to about 200 degrees C. Have your baking tray greased and ready while you whisk together sugar, vegetable oil, milk, pumpkin, eggs and vanilla extract together in a large bowl. In another, mix flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder and cinnamon. Add the mixture from the first bowl to the second, stirring gently all the while. A generous addition of chocolate chips comes next. Scoop out spoonfuls onto the baking tray compartments and bake for 10-15 minutes until they turn into a yummy golden brown.

“Bake” by StockSnap is licensed under CC by 2.0

Now for the math. If it’s a preschooler, say each number out loud when you scoop out the spoonfuls onto the tray and let her repeat after you. Once done, allow your kid to count how many of them are in a row (since it’ll be a small number, they should be able to do it with a little bit of help). For slightly older kids, ask them to estimate how many cookies there are altogether on the baking tray without actually counting them out (multiplication tables – say, 4 rows and 5 columns). If you wish to introduce the concept of fractions to them, break a ready cookie into half and then subsequently into four quarters and demonstrate it to them, making sure you have a piece of paper and pencil handy alongside to write and explain how fractions work.

The goal is to make it a fun task and get their basics right in the process. Whether their answers turn out to be right or wrong, it’s a win-win situation all along since everyone is going to have yummy cookies to eat at the end! Happy Halloween!

4 Fun 1st Grade Math Activities for Kids

                             

                                               PhotoCourtesy - Mark Turnauckas

Your child may not know it yet, but math, like science and language, is a way to understand and make sense of the world. Math is an indispensable part of our daily lives – counting, measuring, reasoning, problem-solving, identifying patterns and shapes – all these are mathematical activities we do everyday. Help your little one build his math foundation through these simple 1^st grade math activities for young children.

 

My Birthday Number

This easy 1^st grade math activity is suitable for a classroom or group of kids. You’ll need a marker, chalkboard and as many index cards as the number of kids. Distribute the index cards and have each child write his name on it. Invite each child to the front of the room and tell everyone his birthday. Use the marker to write each child’s birthday in numbers on his index card and display the card around the room. 

More or Less?

This 1^st grade math activity doubles up as a fun card game for two or more players. Take a deck of cards and distribute them evenly among all players. Have them place their stack of cards face down. For each round, all the players must turn over one of the cards from their stacks. The person who draws the card with the highest value wins that round and gets to keep everyone’s turned up cards. When all the cards are gone from the stack, the player with the most number of cards wins the game. 

Snack Shapes

Here’s a yummy 1^st grade math activity that kids are sure to love. For your child’s snack time, offer him a variety of snacks in different shapes; for instance, round apple slices, triangular sandwiches, star-shaped cookies and so on. You could even designate each day of the week as a “Square Snack Day,” or “Rectangular Snack Day.” Invite your child to create his own snacks in different shapes. 

Zero Sum Game

Try this fun 1^st grade math activity to teach addition to kids. Hand out a piece of paper to each child and ask them write numbers 1-12 on it. The object is to cross all the numbers. Take 6 index cards and write the numbers 1-6 on them; one number per card. Invite the players to take turns choosing two index cards. They must add the numbers they pick and then cross off the sum from their list. For instance, if they draw the numbers 3 and 4, they may cross off 7 from their list. Or, they may cross off 3 and 4. A player who cannot cross off any number loses his turn. The first player to cross off all the numbers wins the game.

You will find many such simple and fun math activities for 1^st grade around your house. Creative and interactive teaching methods are often the most effective!