Parent and child activities
It is very important to work with your child at home to practice skills learned at school. However, learning at home does not need to be boring. I have provided three activities listed below to use at home for literacy and math practice. Spend some quality time with your children playing and learning at the same time!
Latin root jeopardy
Latin Root Jeopardy is a great method for integrating math and literacy. Basically it is like playing Jeopardy, but with math vocabulary. The definitions of the words are in the boxes, matched with their Latin root. Each word in a category has the same Latin root word. On your turn, you simply choose a square on the board. The other player reads the definition and the root word aloud. Then the player has 30 seconds to think of the correct answer and say it aloud.Therefore, players practice both Latin roots, and math vocabulary at the same time. And all while playing a fun game!
You can either make your own game board using index cards, or you can play online Jeopardy. Just click on the link below!
Jeopardy Game
Link to PA third grade standards:
CC.1.1.4.DKnow and apply grade‐level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
•Identify and know the meaning of the most common prefixes and derivational suffixes.
• Decode words with common Latin suffixes.
• Decode multisyllable words.
• Read grade‐appropriate irregularly spelled words.
Reference: Jeopardy labs: Math and latin roots. (2013). Retrieved from https://jeopardylabs.com/play/greek-and-latin-root-words5
You can either make your own game board using index cards, or you can play online Jeopardy. Just click on the link below!
Jeopardy Game
Link to PA third grade standards:
CC.1.1.4.DKnow and apply grade‐level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
•Identify and know the meaning of the most common prefixes and derivational suffixes.
• Decode words with common Latin suffixes.
• Decode multisyllable words.
• Read grade‐appropriate irregularly spelled words.
Reference: Jeopardy labs: Math and latin roots. (2013). Retrieved from https://jeopardylabs.com/play/greek-and-latin-root-words5
found poem
Found poems are a fun and interactive way to create poetry and also practice writing and math skills. When creating a found poem, the child simply finds words in magazines or newspapers and cuts them out. Then the child can use the words to create a poem. This type of poem can be done in a variety of contexts, but in this case we are focusing on math. Ask your child to cut out words in magazines and newspapers that relate to math (e.g. numbers, statistics, shapes). Encourage the writer to create a poem using the math words, or write a poem that describes a math concept or term.
Found poems are easy and fun to make together. Challenge your child to create a poem and then you can make one with them. This is a great activity to incorporate math and literacy skills together.
Link to PA third grade Standards:
CC.1.3.3.J Acquire and use accurately grade‐appropriate conversational, general academic, and domain‐specific words and phrases, including those that signal spatial and temporal relationships.
CC.1.4.3.E Choose words and phrases for effect.
Reference:
Victor, W. S. (Producer). (2010). [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://whatcanib.wordpress.com/2012/10/25/found-poems/
Found poems are easy and fun to make together. Challenge your child to create a poem and then you can make one with them. This is a great activity to incorporate math and literacy skills together.
Link to PA third grade Standards:
CC.1.3.3.J Acquire and use accurately grade‐appropriate conversational, general academic, and domain‐specific words and phrases, including those that signal spatial and temporal relationships.
CC.1.4.3.E Choose words and phrases for effect.
Reference:
Victor, W. S. (Producer). (2010). [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://whatcanib.wordpress.com/2012/10/25/found-poems/
Fit the facts
Another activity I recommend for integrating math and literacy is called fit the facts. Basically you use a worksheet with a set of numbers in a box at the top and a story on the page with blanks left in the sentences. The student must read the story and fill in the blanks, choosing the correct number from the box. These can be tricky depending on the difficulty so they are good brainteasers to try at home. You can even challenge your child to race you to finish it. I will send home some Fit the Facts worksheets each week to be done at home. For a real challenge, try to make up your own and ask your child to solve it. This activity is a good way to link reading skills with math practice.
Link to PA third grade standards:
CC.1.2.3.B Ask and answer questions about the text and make inferences from text; refer to text to support responses.
Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
References:
Findell, C. R. (Designer). Fit the Facts
PA department of education. (2013, Jan). Academic standards. Retrieved from http://static.pdesas.org/content/documents/PACCSS ELA PreK-5 January 2013.pdf
Link to PA third grade standards:
CC.1.2.3.B Ask and answer questions about the text and make inferences from text; refer to text to support responses.
Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
References:
Findell, C. R. (Designer). Fit the Facts
PA department of education. (2013, Jan). Academic standards. Retrieved from http://static.pdesas.org/content/documents/PACCSS ELA PreK-5 January 2013.pdf