11 Best Back to School Math Activities to Boost Math Skills

Are you getting ready for the back-to-school season and wondering how to make math more fun for your child? We all want our kids to succeed in school and enjoy their learning experiences. Well, we have an exciting solution for you! Have you ever considered trying cool math activities to kickstart the new school year?

SplashLearn: Most Comprehensive Learning Program for PreK-5

SplashLearn inspires lifelong curiosity with its game-based PreK-5 learning program loved by over 40 million children. With over 4,000 fun games and activities, it’s the perfect balance of learning and play for your little one.

Try for free

Mathematics is a subject that offers valuable lessons in logical and critical thinking, equips students with essential life skills, and paves the way for continued education and successful careers, as highlighted by Creswell. However, despite its significance, math is often considered difficult and uninspiring.

But let’s challenge that perception! It’s time to break free from the stereotypes and infuse math with excitement and enjoyment. In this article, we’ll explore the world of back to school math activities that can make math engaging and enjoyable for your child. These activities are designed to make learning math a breeze while keeping your child entertained. So, let’s dive in and discover how these fun math activities can make the upcoming school year a fantastic math adventure for your little one!

Related Reading: Exciting Back to School Activities for Kids of Different Grades

5 Key Benefits of Back to School Math Activities

Research suggests that children’s early mathematical competencies are influenced by their experiences at home. The type of mathematical activities families engage in and the quality of mathematical input children receive, play a significant role in shaping their early mathematical knowledge. As parents, we always want what’s best for our children, especially regarding their education. That’s why incorporating back to school math activities into their routine can bring some amazing benefits. Let’s take a look at how these activities can make a positive impact on your child’s math skills and overall learning experience:

1. Boosting Confidence

Math activities provide a safe and fun environment for your child to practice their math skills. By participating in hands-on activities, they can build confidence in their abilities and develop a positive mindset toward math.

2. Making Math Enjoyable

We understand that math may not always be the most exciting subject for kids. However, back to school math activities can change that! These activities bring a sense of fun and playfulness to math, turning it into an enjoyable experience your child will eagerly look forward to.

3. Enhancing Problem-Solving Skills

Math activities often involve solving puzzles, riddles, and real-life problems. Through these engaging tasks, your child can develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are valuable not just in math but in various aspects of their life.

Related Reading: Best and Fun Math Riddles for Kids with Answers

4. Reinforcing Math Concepts

Consider the joy of seeing your child grasp math concepts with ease. How satisfying would it be to witness their understanding deepen through hands-on activities? Back to school math activities provide practical, real-world applications that reinforce classroom learning, helping your child solidify their math foundation.

5. Strengthening Parent-Child Bond

Engaging in math activities together creates a wonderful opportunity for bonding with your child. Participating in these activities can support their learning, spark math conversations, and create lasting memories.

“Mathematics is the most beautiful and most powerful creation of the human spirit.” – Stefan Banach

By incorporating back to school math activities into your child’s routine, you can make math more enjoyable, boost their confidence, and strengthen their skills.

Related Reading: Back to School Tips for Parents

11 Exciting Back-to-School Math Activities for Kids

Math related activities can be a game-changer in making learning fun and exciting for your child. We’ve got you covered if you’re looking for ways to spark their interest in math during the back-to-school season! In this section, we’ll explore 11 amazing back-to-school math activities that will help your child sharpen their math skills and bring joy to their learning journey.

From pizza parties to scavenger hunts, these activities are designed to engage your child’s imagination while sneaking in some valuable math practice. They are perfect for kids of different ages and cover various math topics such as fractions, shapes, measurements, and problem-solving. Whether your child is a preschooler or an elementary school student, there’s something here for everyone!

1. Fraction Pizza Party

Imagine hosting a pizza party where your child learns about fractions while enjoying delicious slices of pizza. It’s a win-win!

• Instruction: Cut the pizza into different slices and ask your child to identify and compare fractions. For example, they can tell you how many slices are equivalent to half or one-fourth of the pizza.
• Age Group: Suitable for elementary school kids
• Topic Covered: Fractions

2. Shape Collage

Source

Imagine your child proudly showing you their colorful collage, saying, “Look, Mom! I made a picture using circles, squares, and triangles. It’s like a shape puzzle!” Who knew shapes could be so much fun? With a shape collage activity, your child can explore different shapes while unleashing creativity.

• Instruction: Provide your child with various colored papers and ask them to cut out shapes like circles, squares, and triangles. Then, have them arrange the shapes to create a unique collage.

• Age Group: Suitable for preschool and early elementary school kids.
• Topic Covered: Geometry and shapes.

Related Reading: What are Shapes?

3. Measurement Scavenger Hunt

Turn measurement into an exciting adventure with a measurement scavenger hunt, one of the best back to school math games. Your child will practice measuring objects around the house or in the backyard using non-standard units like paper clips or blocks.

• Instruction: Create a list of items for your child to find and measure. They can measure objects’ length, height, or weight and record their findings.
• Age Group: Suitable for elementary school kids.
• Topic Covered: Measurement

“Measurement is the key that unlocks the door to scientific understanding and technological progress.” – Neil Armstrong

4. Play Math Tic-Tac-Toe

Give the classic game of tic-tac-toe a mathematical twist! Instead of Xs and Os, your child will use numbers or math symbols to play this educational version of the game.

• Instruction: Create a tic-tac-toe grid and fill it with math problems or equations. Your child can solve the problems to claim a spot on the grid and aim to get three in a row.

• Age Group: Ideal for elementary school kids
• Topic Covered: Basic math operations.

5. Math All About Me

Source

Help your child connect math with their everyday life with a “Math All About Me” activity. They’ll explore how numbers affect their daily routines and personal experiences.

• Instruction: Ask your child to create a poster or write a short essay about themselves, highlighting different instances involving math, such as counting money, telling time, or measuring ingredients while cooking.
• Age Group: Suitable for elementary school kids.
• Topic Covered: Real-life applications of math.

6. Math Book Hunt

Encourage your child’s love for reading and math with a math book hunt. They’ll search for books that incorporate math concepts and enjoy a fun reading experience.

• Instruction: Visit the library or search online for books that weave math into their stories. Your child can find books about counting, shapes, patterns, or even math-themed adventures.
• Age Group: Ideal for preschool and early elementary school kids.
• Topic Covered: Various math concepts.

Related Reading: Best Math Books For Kindergarten that Kids Will Definitely Enjoy

7. Math Facts Bingo

Turn math facts practice into a thrilling game of bingo! Your child will have a blast reinforcing their addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division skills.

• Instruction: Create bingo cards with math problems or equations. Call out the answers, and your child can cover the corresponding numbers on their card. The goal is to get a row or column of covered numbers.
• Age Group: Suitable for elementary school kids.
• Topic Covered: Math facts and operations

8. Math Art Gallery Walk

Combine math and creativity with a math art gallery walk. Your child will create math-inspired artwork and showcase it in their very own gallery walk.

• Instruction: Provide art supplies like colored pencils, markers, or paints, and ask your child to create artwork that incorporates mathematical elements like geometric shapes, symmetry, or number patterns.
• Age Group: Ideal for elementary school kids.
• Topic Covered: Math and art integration.

9. One-Meter Dash

Get your child moving and measuring with a one-meter dash. They’ll have fun while estimating, measuring, and comparing distances.

• Instruction: Set up a starting line and ask your child to estimate how far they can run in one meter. Then, have them run and measure their actual distance. Compare the estimated and actual distances for a math-filled workout.
• Age Group: Suitable for elementary school kids.
• Topic Covered: Measurement and estimation.

10. Math Challenge Quest

Math challenge quest is one of the best back to school math activities for middle schoolers. Take your middle schooler on an epic math challenge quest where they’ll solve math problems and puzzles to unlock hidden clues and complete the quest successfully.

• Instruction: Create a series of math problems or puzzles covering various topics like algebra, geometry, fractions, and ratios. Make them progressively more challenging. Write down clues related to each problem or puzzle. Hide the clues in different locations around the house or classroom, each leading to the next clue. Provide your child with the first math problem or puzzle and explain that they need to solve it to find the first clue. As they solve each problem or puzzle, they’ll discover the next clue’s location and continue their quest. The final clue should lead them to a hidden treasure or reward, a small prize or a certificate of accomplishment.
• Age Group: Ideal for middle school kids.
• Topic Covered: Various math concepts such as algebra, geometry, fractions and ratios

Related Reading: Fun Math Trivia Questions and Answers for Kids 

11. Math Story Problems

Source

Foster critical thinking skills with math story problems. Your child will engage in problem-solving while solving math questions in the context of fun and relatable stories.

• Instruction: Create or find story problems that require your child to apply math concepts to solve them. They can practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division through these engaging challenges.
• Age Group: Suitable for elementary school kids.
• Topic Covered: Problem-solving and math operations.

These activities will not only make math enjoyable for your child but also support their learning and mathematical growth. So, grab your math cap and let the math-filled adventures begin!

Related Read: Best Classroom Math Games That Will Make Your Students Excited for Math Class

Conclusion

As we conclude our exploration of back-to-school math activities, we hope you feel inspired and equipped to make math a positive and enjoyable experience for your child. By incorporating these engaging activities into your back-to-school routine, you can foster a love for math and set your child up for success. Remember, math doesn’t have to be intimidating or dull. With activities like fraction pizza parties, shape collages, measurement scavenger hunts, and math-themed games, you can turn math into an exciting adventure. These activities reinforce important math concepts and promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.

So, whether your child is starting preschool or entering elementary school, make math a part of their back-to-school journey. Encourage them to explore, ask questions, and discover the wonders of mathematics. With your guidance and support, they’ll develop the skills and confidence needed to excel in this crucial subject.

Let’s embrace the new school year with a positive attitude toward math. With these back-to-school math activities, you can foster your child’s lifelong love for learning, problem-solving, and mathematical thinking.

Wishing you and your child a fantastic back-to-school season filled with exciting discoveries and math success!

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)