Math CAN be fun

There's a really cool blog out there, run by a math teacher, called appropriately enough, Homeschool Math Blog! She has great tips for teaching math at all grammar school levels -- tips about where to find worksheets online, or how to teach a certain concept, or just fun games.

Today she has a link to a site (and a specific page) that is wonderful. The site is called A Home for Homeschoolers, and seems to be a "clearing house" of homeschool blogs and interesting posts from homeschoolers everywhere. There is a plethora of information here -- stuff that would keep me online and fascinated for hours, but I'll have to pace myself!

But, back to the point of this post. A particular post on the AHFH, called The Game that is Worth a Thousand Math Sheets, really sounds like a fabulous idea. It's one of those that's kind of a "duh" moment, but this would really work. Basically, you give each player a pack of regular cards, after removing all face cards and jokers, and the kids play War.

But here's the kicker:

• the kids can play standard war (which is bigger)
• the kids can play addition war (flip 2 cards and which set has the higher sum)
• the kids can play subtraction war (flip 2 cards and which set has the greatest difference)
• the kids can play multiplication war (flip 2 cards and multiply)

and the list could go on and on.

This is a great way to practice math facts without using worksheets, workbooks, or artificial means. My kids love War and will love these variations!