We all know the importance of mathematics. Unfortunately children don’t often see it as the best thing in the world. At Halloween time it’s important that children keep on top of their studies as well as enjoy the holidays. So what’s the best way of getting kids to keep on top of their studies? Halloween-based math activities!
Math Halloween activities are a simply fantastic way of keeping your children or your students motivated and happy to carry on doing their work during Halloween. These activities can be done in the classroom, at home school, or even just at home when your child’s out of school. A little extra practice won’t hurt, and in fact, it’s probably enjoyable enough for your child at home without even realizing that it’s an educational activity! Soon enough, you’ll have your child practicing their math sums at home without math worksheets, by simply involving themselves in a Halloween math activity. But what Halloween math activities are there that your child can enjoy?
One popular Halloween math activity is called ‘Pumpkin Breaker’. This game can be played with either two players, or two teams, meaning your child can get their friends involved this game too. There’s no mess involved, despite the name Pumpkin Breaker. This is a basic math game that can be used to practice simple sums, multiplication and other basic mathematical skills. The first player in the game to provide a correct answer gets the right to smash an imaginary or drawn pumpkin.
What will you need?
First of all, you’ll need to have two sets of pumpkins that have been drawn on a piece of paper, on a board or anywhere that’s accessible. Each set will need between five and ten pumpkins on the paper or board. It doesn’t matter whether you use stickers, printed pictures from the Internet or draw the pumpkins yourself – just give each team one set of pumpkins. Two players or one member from each of the teams will be in competition to answer the first question correctly. It could be a question about division or about the multiplication table – it doesn’t matter, as long as it is math-related!
The game’s customizable, too, allowing players to choose a level of difficulty. Whether you’re helping your child learn elementary mathematics, or they’ve progressed onto something more complicated, you can continue playing this game. Every time you get a correct answer, simply cross out one of the pumpkins. The first person or team to successfully cross out all of the pumpkins wins the game!
Halloween math activities like this are a great way of keeping your child or your class focused around Halloween time; when they’d be more interested in talking about their Halloween costumes, Halloween parties or how much candy they received. The game is also quite adjustable, meaning it can be adapted to fit different seasons within the year. Just make sure you keep math lessons fun, and the class should respond!
