Science Ed

The math memory works like a regular memory. Players take turns flipping two optional mugs. You should try to find a number that matches the number of pearls. If the mugs you have turned over do not form a pair, you turn the mugs upside down again. If the mugs are turned upside down in a pair, the player may take the mugs and count them as a pair.

What is the purpose of the game?
The purpose of math memory is to help children connect number (that which is abstract) with number of objects (that which is concrete). The game should help the children learn to recognize numbers and connect it with a concrete amount. Doverborg and Emanuelsson and Björklund  write about the concept of subitizing, which means that you can perceive numbers without counting. They believe that subitization is about an automated relationship between arithmetic words and some type of speech image. ”Subitisation is generally assumed to be the basis for arithmetic, because it presupposes an idea of ​​the relative size of quantities, that is, a sense of whether one quantity is greater or less than another.” 

The math memory helps the children to practice their ability to estimate numbers and it helps them to become better at number perception. The math memory consists of mugs that you have to turn over and it is important to pair the right number with the right number of beads. I have placed the beads as the dots are placed on a dice. The purpose is to make it easier for children to perceive the amount of pearls because the dots of the dice are placed in patterns that are easy to perceive.

How to make the game?
You can use disposable mugs where you stick beads or a piece of paper at the bottom of each mug. You can replace the beads with other objects, but it is important to remember to have the same type of object (for example buttons) so that the children are not confused. are different objects. When choosing mugs, keep in mind that it is important that the child has room to stick their fingers down and touch the beads. This is because many children want to touch the objects they are counting.

Materials needed:

• LEGO bricks
• A stuffed bear or toy that can sit on it’s bum
• Ruler to measure bear/toy (optional)
• Paper and pencil/markers/crayons

Have the children look around the room and point to all of the chairs in the room. What do they notice is the same about all of the chairs? What is the difference?

Ask them to design a chair for their favorite stuffed bear/toy that is able to plop down in a sitting position. Ask them to think about their bear as they design a chair. What does the bear need to sit up right? What does the bear need to feel comfortable? How do you make sure the bear will fit in the seat of the chair?

• Optional: First ask them to draw out their chair design on a piece of paper.
• Optional: Have your child measure the bears legs, hips, and back so they know how big their chair should be.

Then have your child start to build a chair out of LEGO. If you do not have LEGO at home, you can use craft materials found around the house! Make sure to tell your child the chair needs to be sturdy and not break easily.

When they think that they are done with the chair, have them sit their bear in it. They can test the chair as many times as they want with the bear.

Have your child reflect on the success of the chair:

• Did the bear fit in the chair?
• Did the bear stay upright or flop over?
• Did the bear look relaxed or straight?
• Did the bears legs dangle or was there support for the legs?

Then there is the most fun part, the drop test.

**Take photos and videos of the chair before the drop test**

Have an adult take the chair and hold it at hip length, then let go of the chair and see what happens to it. If pieces flew off the chair, ask your child what they could do to make the chair sturdier!

Then repeat all steps as many times as necessary or make a chair for every stuffed friend in the house!

Materials: Deck of subitizing cards with quantities 0-10

How to Play:
• Deal each player 5 cards. The rest of the deck is then spread out
facedown to create a “fishpond” between the players.
• Before starting the game, all of the players put any pairs they
happen to have in their hand down and earn a point for each
pair.
• Each player gets a turn to ask another player if they have a
particular card. For example, on you turn, if you have a card with
five dots, you would ask your opponent if they also have a five
card. If they have a five, they give you the card. If they don’t have
a five, they say, “Go fish!” If you get a five from the pond, you put
the pair out in front of you. If you don’t get a five, you keep the
drawn card in your hand. Play continues until all the cards are
paired.
• Players get one point for each pair of cards. The player with the
most points wins the game.
• You can use chips or a ten frame to keep track of points. One chip
for each pair.

Variation:

• One More Than– play with a deck of cards 0-9. Players ask for a
  card that is one more than a card in their hand. For example, if
  you have a three card in your hand, then you ask your opponent
  for a card with four.
• Tens Go Fish – This game is just like regular Go Fish, but with a twist. Instead of matching pairs with the same numbers, match pairs whose sum is ten.

What you need:

• Find lids from various containers. Try to find lids of various sizes, some deep lids, bottle caps, and low lids like one from a play dough canister.
• Other materials to see if you can adjust the lids that are alike.
• Tape

How to do it:

Fill each lid with the same amount of water.  For example, 10 ml.

You can modify containers slightly to see how the top will affect rate of evaporation. You can cover with foil. Or cover and then poke small holes. Or cover with mesh. Or…

Ask the children what they think on from which lid they think water will evaporate more quickly.

Then just wait for the result.

If you like make a stop-motion or time lapse movie to capture the process.

Google Chrome has an interesting ”workshop” called Chrome Music Lab with several different ways of viewing and tweaking sound.