Making Maths Fun
Maths can be a difficult subject for some kids to enjoy, but with the right explanation, it can be fun and engaging.
When maths is taught in a way that makes sense to kids, they’re more likely to excel in the subject.
Fun in the classroom & online
One teacher who’s become famous for making maths fun is Eddie Woo, a high school maths teacher in Australia. Eddie started recording his maths classes and posting them online. He launched his own ‘WooTube’ channel on YouTube which documents how he brings fun to the study of maths. He now has over 1.4 million YouTube subscribers!
While we can’t all be Mr Woo, there are some things we can do to make maths more fun for kids, and help them gain skills to take through life.
How to make math fun for kids
Maths can be a difficult subject for some kids, but with the right explanation, it can be fun and engaging. When maths is taught in a way that makes sense to kids, they’re more likely to excel in the subject.
One way to make maths more fun for kids is to use games and puzzles to help them learn. There are a number of different games and puzzles that can be used to practise maths skills, including Sudoku, crosswords, and word searches.
Parents can also help their kids develop a love for maths by showing an interest in the subject themselves.
When parents are interested in what their kids are learning, they’re more likely to want to learn too. Parents can ask their kids about what they’re doing in maths class, and help them with any homework they may have.
But, remember that the way adults might have been taught maths ‘back in the day’ can vary from the methods being taught today. For some insight, check out this article about completing a maths problem with a Grade 1 child, published on The Conversation.
Bring maths into the everyday world
Maths can be brought into everyday life by asking kids to help with tasks around the house like measuring ingredients or counting spare change money.
Maths is a subject that is often seen as important for careers in science, engineering and technology, but it’s also important for other careers. No matter what career you decide to pursue, there will be some maths skills that you’ll need.
A STEM story: Professor Sharon Lewin
One woman who didn’t particularly love maths when she was younger is Professor Sharon Lewin.
Sharon shared her story with the team at Primary + STEM which you can find here.
Her story is part of a curated collection about women who’ve turned their childhood passions into STEM careers. The stories are designed to be read by parents and children together.
Sharon was a hard worker from the minute she started school. But she didn’t particularly love science or maths. But, once she hit secondary school, her passion for the subjects blossomed thanks to some great teachers, and her curiosity for learning.
Today, Professor Sharon Lewin is Director of the Doherty Institute and a Professor of Medicine at The University of Melbourne. She is a National Health and Medical Research Council Practitioner Fellow. As an infectious diseases physician, her laboratory focuses on clinical research aimed at finding a cure for HIV.
You can read Sharon’s story here.
Share your story
If you’ve got a story about maths that you’d like to share, we’d love to hear it!
Send us an email at primaryandstem@gmail.com and we’ll be in contact soon.
Image credit
Photo by cottonbro