How To Make Math Homework For 1st Grade Playful And Interesting

First grade can be a trying time for children, but especially for newer teachers. For a lot of the kids, this might be their first real introduction to numbers and concepts such as addition, subtraction, even the clock face! So you want to make their homework as interesting as you can, in order to keep them engage. Here are some simple ideas to keep those kids learning.

Make It Real

Maths can be tricky, as a lot of it seems abstract. If they are struggling with addition and subtraction, make their homework more physical. Tell them to find a certain quantity of leaves or pens, or have them count many toys they have. Ask them to find out their parent’s age, and find the difference between their own age and that of their parents. Ask them to count the animals on the street they live on, or how many pieces of food are in their fridge. Simple things like this can really make the concepts of numbers more real to them.

Make It Practical

Ask the kids to create cardboard cut-outs of numbers and shapes, or whatever you’re teaching at the moment. Have them make diagrams and their own little mathematical dioramas. Use these in class later. The kids can be a different number each and they have to find a partner to add up to different amounts. These little ways incorporate homework into school work and tie it all together, and they’ll want to know more if it’s more personal to them.

Make It Interesting

Children will always want to play over learn. It’s in their nature. So don’t set them homework that focuses too heavily on answering quiz-style questions in their book. Some of this is ok, and there will always be one or two who enjoy this, but for most kids, they want to do something fun and exciting. If you’re teaching them geometry, try to have them draw different shapes in the home, and when they come in they can think of the names for those things.

Utilise Their Culture

What are kids into? Think of the cartoons they watch, the movies they like, the games they play. Try to incorporate these into their homework. Change up the questions so it’s not a train leaves a station at blah blah! but instead, it’s their favourite comic character goes shopping, their favourite cartoon hero gets on a bus. Little things like this make it more attractive to younger kids.