Part #2: Money Math!
Missed Part 1? [Read it Here].
Money and math, money and math, go together like a horse and carriage… uh… tea and a hot bath… uh… let’s move on, shall we?
Random non-rhyming tunes aside, money and math are, indeed, a great pair. You can be a great parent and teach your kids the basics of arithmetic, algebra, and percentages using real-world scenarios… while secretly preparing them to slave away at your taxes every year as you sit back and sip lemonade (mwahahahahaha).
Arithmetic:
You can sneak in little lessons about arithmetic whenever you have some spare change. While you’re waiting for your meal at a restaurant, you can pull out a couple of pennies and ask: “If I have three pennies and add two, how many pennies do I have?” or some variation thereof. Once they’ve mastered addition, you can move on to subtraction, multiplication, and division (“If we have three nickels, and we divide them among three people—you, me, and Daddy—how many nickels does each of us get?”). Your kids will learn math while getting even more familiar with the different coins. Not to mention, they’ll love the challenge… especially if they get to keep the change!
Algebra:
Ever thought about coins? How five pennies equal one nickel, two nickels equal one dime, etc? That’s algebra! 5p = n, 2n = d. Once your kids have mastered arithmetic, you can start teaching them the basics of algebra, even as they learn how the different coins relate to each other. For instance, now while you’re waiting for your meal, you can ask your kids: “If five pennies equal one nickel (5p = 1n), and two nickels equal one dime (2n = 1d), then how many pennies in a dime?” If you write out the equations with letters instead of the full word, they’ll get more familiar with the format of algebra, and you can act out the equation with the actual change!
Another great way to get your kids learning math is at a vending machine. If an item is, say, 85 cents, you can pull out a handful of change and have your kids figure out which coins to add up to 85. (ex. three quarters + one dime = 85 cents)
“That sounds cool,” you say, “but my kids are way too young for algebra!” That may be true, and you certainly don’t want to frustrate your kids with anything too far beyond their level, but every kid is different. Give it a try. Your kids may surprise you!
Percentages:
Your kids are really financial hot-shots now! Once they start learning percentages, you can have your kids tell you what percent of a dollar is a nickel, or what percent of a nickel is a penny. If they start saying that’s too easy… well then, have them calculate the tip!
So, go put your nefarious plans into action, and begin grooming your little financial planner! There are lots of fun places to teach your kids about money and math: vending machines, restaurants, grocery stores. If you get creative, you can turn almost any outing or errand into a fun money/math challenge!
Filed under: Learning Tips | Tagged: math, money, learning
I agree with your assessment that math and money is like a horse with a carriage. I am so glad you are bringing out this point, because a lot of the jobs out there involve money so it is important to teach our kids about money. This way they are also learning math at the same time.