Learning the 5 Math Strands (as taught by the school boards)

Number Sense - recognition and counting numbers (add, subtract, multiply and divide), this skill is measured in almost every math activity done

Measurement – compare objects by size (with toilet paper, hands, measuring tape)

Geometry and spatial sense – understanding shapes, movement through space, map reading, graphs, design and construction

Patterning and Algebra – recognizing patterns and shapes and sets of numbers, learning how to describe using letters and symbols (e.g. money)

Data Management and Probability – predicting the outcome of events, recording information, using graphs and statistics (e.g. Canada’s Food Guide)

Literacy/Math Activity

• Create a list of math terms and write on chart paper or white board (e.g. over, under, more than, less than, estimate)
• Place the titles of 5 math strands on a board; have the parents pick an example card and place it under the correct math strand (e.g. words to 5 Little speckled frogs, 10 little monkeys, skipping songs, rolling dice (Number Sense)
• Divide parents into partners – have them each measure and record the measurements (see Parent Book) (Measurement)
• Record data on a graph (Data Management and Probability), ask questions such as what is the chance it will rain tomorrow? That you will win the lottery?
• Discuss shape walk that we’ve done – what strand would it fit under? (Geometry and Spatial Sense) – other game, hide an object and use math language to help the child find it
• Make patterns using Base 10 Blocks (Patterning and Algebra), basically this is learning to describe data using symbols, money