You’ll find it easier to support your child’s math instruction at home if you have the right tools. Here’s a list of math concepts and low-budget items to keep on hand to encourage your child’s learning:
Sorting, counting and estimating: Buttons, bottle caps, beans, macaroni, etc.
Decimals, fractions: Play money, coins and bills; measuring cups and spoons.
Time measurement: Clocks with movable hands (to measure minutes and hours, and to teach “early” and “late”), a stopwatch and calendars.
Number values and computation: Playing cards, dominoes and dice (also good for teaching probability), menus, egg cartons into which you can sort buttons, bottle caps, etc.
Linear measurement: Rulers, tape measures, string, yarn.
Standard and metric measurement: Funnels and calibrated pitchers, jars, cups and spoons.
Weight: Bathroom scale, postage scale, wire hangers (for balancing weights).
Geometry: Protractor, compass, pattern blocks and graph paper.
Multiplication/division: A calculator
