Fun with Math - Out at the Carpark

The focus for Math for Dumpling has very much been on 2 areas lately: namely understanding of place values (being able to 'name / read') and addition.

Dumpling has been able to add on quite comfortably and over the past few weeks, we have ventured into the addition of bigger numbers. So, on a not-so-hot afternoon last week, Dumpling and I took a stroll around the car park.

:: Hundreds and Thousands Hunt! 
Dumpling first got to know how to name / read up to hundreds when we watched ... 101 Dalmatians! Hence at this stage, I am working with Dumpling on the "naming / reading" of numbers beyond hundreds, venturing into Thousands.

Car plates are truly useful for that as shared by a guest in a previous Math post. The number plates we saw last week had 2 digits, 3 digits and right down to 4 digits. Dumpling and I took turns to hunt for car plates within the "hundred series" before I worked with her on thousands.

Above pic: after we did the hundreds hunt, we then went on to a simpler 4 digit series before slowing moving onto something more complex (like below)

Above pic: Dumpling going hmmmmm... 

:: Algorithm Addition

Dumpling does not quite have the patience for worksheets and hence, the walk around the car park proved to be fun and more enjoyable for us both. Dumpling has established her ease in the counting on method and we have attempted simple algorithm addition at home. 

For the car park activity, I hunted for simpler series of digits (as above - without any carrying over) and got her to add the first 2 and the last 2 digits together (be sure to explain to your child that is an entirely different activity and has nothing to do with the earlier exercise). 

This 'hunt' brought a different fun factor as we did several of such additions. Best of all, it costs nothing and is easily done since all you need is to head to the car park! So, take a walk to the car park today with your preschooler! :)

 (Note: please be very careful of any vehicles - Dumpling and I went down during non peak hours where they were hardly any moving vehicles. Of course, children must be supervised at all times at the car park during this exercise.)