Crafty Math Index

Pictures of artifacts in my Math Collection Below.

        Mathematics, a general term for a number of branches of learning that deal with magnitudes, numbers and quantities and their relations. In the primary grades small pupils learning the elementary facts of arithmetic are studying mathematics, just as truly as the college student who solves intricate problems in trigonometry and calculus. Between primary and college mathematics there are many other mathematical subjects of varying grades of difficulty.

• Ed Emberley's Children's Books
• 100 Creative Ways to Teach Numbers and Math Skills
• Does your young student know how to arrange objects according to size? 
• Counting Monsters for Fun!

Dot Painting Activities:

• Paint Fall Foliage with Hugs & Kisses

Cut and Paste Shape (Geometry) Designs:

1.  Intro to: Trace, Cut and Paste Developmental Learning Activities
2.  Craft a Paper Scarecrow Jumping-Jack
   

Number Book Ideas and Patterns: For many years teachers have helped literally hundreds of thousands of young students craft their very own little number scrap books! I will include my templates here to add to the constant flow of imagination that accumulates in the files of educators who work in public/private preschools, kindergartens and elementary schools. Fill my little number books up with photographs, recipes, poems, and drawings to your heart's delight!

• Pumpkin and Jack-O-Lantern Number Books

Using Basic Shapes/Blocks To Teach Math, Spacial Relationships, Problem Solving and Number Sense:

• The Means & Ways of Occupation In The Kindergarten by Froebel
• Working With Pattern Blocks - patterns, questions, processes  
• Block Play into Learning
• Arranging Popsicle Stick Patterns (coming soon)
  
• Early Building & Spelling With Alphabet Blocks
• Use a Light Table to Teach About Colors and Shapes
• Give An Old Set of Blocks a New Life
• Update a Classic Pull-Cart With Chalkboard Paint

Using Basic Shapes (Geometry) to Teach Drawing:

• How To Draw: A Cow
• How To Draw: The Head of A Horse 
• How To Draw: A Pelican 
• Draw Fun Valentine Cartoons! 
• Draw old-fashioned dolls, step-by-step

Tangram Articles & Activities:

• What Are Tangrams? and Tangram Stencil
• Tangram Cats

Lots of Play-Doh, playdough, clay play mat patterns:

• Play-Doh Mats for Early Learners: history of Play Doh, playdough mats for free links, teddy bear number mats illustrated

Learn to Color Your Numbers:

• Ten Silly Number Pages for Coloring or Mini Books
• Color By Number Coloring Pages Index at Crayon Palace 

More Hands-On Math Exercises:

• Printable Clock Face with Hands
• Apple Math Game for Bulletin Boards 
  

Christmas tree with a star...

"a festive Christmas tree" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.

Questions/Activities for this figurative Christmas design:

1. You will need seventeen rhombuses to complete this design how many of them will be blue?
2. How many triangles will it take to turn your Christmas tree's stand green instead of red?
3. How many trapezoids could be used to replace the green triangles inside the branches?
4. Copy the Christmas tree and stand above in your own work space. Give your tree a blue star only.
   

poinsettia in a planter...

"a planter full of poinsettia" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.

Questions/Activities for this figurative, festive design:

1. Count the number of trapezoids it will take for you to assemble a duplicate design.
2. How many rhombuses will it take to turn the stems of these poinsettia blue instead of green?
3. Put together a similar potted poinsettia including only one blossom.
   

Christmas wreath...

"a Christmas wreath" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.

Questions/Activities for this figurative holiday design:

1. How many triangles will it take to copy this wreath design and eliminate the red bow altogether?
2. How could you assemble a similar wreath by moving the red bow to the top of it's display instead of the bottom? Show this design on top of your desk or table.
   

Saint Nicholas...

"Saint Nicholas" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.

Questions/Activities for this inspirational figurative design:

1. How many rhombus tiles were used to form this old Saint's beard?
2. How many rhombus tiles were used to suggest his fur lined coat?
3. In total, how many trapezoids does it take to put his costume together?
4. Now shape your own Saint Nicholas figure on top of your work space.
   

water lily...

"water lily" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.

Questions/Activities for this figurative garden design:

1. How many hexagons form the flower petals of this water lily?
2. How many triangles form the stem?
3. Count the number of rhombuses used to keep this water lily floating.
4. How many rhombuses are used to pollinate this tile plant?
5. Copy the water lily above on top of your desk using twenty-three triangles, eliminating the hexagons. Hint - your water lily should turn green.
   

a stocking for Christmas...

"Christmas stocking" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.

Questions/Activities for this Christmas figurative design:

1. How many different shapes can you spy inside this stocking design?
2. Where is the hexagon?
3. Assemble a toy that you would like to find stuffed inside your own Christmas stocking.
   

baby Jesus...

"baby Jesus" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.

Questions/Activities for this Christian figurative design:

1. How many rhombuses are used above to suggest a star hanging in the night sky?
2. What kind of shape is used to symbolize the baby's head?
3. How many trapezoids are used to suggest the manger and the baby's blanket?
4. Now copy the same image above using your own Pattern Blocks.
   

small fir tree...

"a small simple Christmas tree or fir tree" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.

Questions/Activities for this holiday figurative design:

1. Count 17 triangles present in this simple Christmas tree.
2. Make your own version of this Christmas design by adding an extra row of nine green tiles.
3. How many six-sided shapes are formed inside this little tree?
4. Can you remove seven triangles from this tree but still make the design look like a tree of the same size?
   

super hero shield...

"a super hero shield" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.

Questions/Activities for this heroic figurative design:

1. How many squares are configured inside this design?
2. Count and the number of rhombuses shaped by the tiles in this design.
3. Can you create a similar shield by changing the blue tiles to green?
   

flower garden...

"flower garden" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.

Questions/Activities for this floral figurative design:

1. Find all 32 triangles shaped by the tiles in this design!
2. Can you trace the outlines of star shapes in this garden picture?
3. Now assemble your own flower garden repeating only one of the flowers above. Then add two different flower patterns that you have made up yourself.

a soccer ball...

"a soccer ball" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.

Questions/Activities for this sporty figurative design:

1. How would you make this soccer ball using blue and green tiles?
2. Find four Hexagon shapes in this design.
3. Can you use your own tiles to shape a hockey stick? or a skate board?