Math Structure:

Goal: to learn about number composition, and to help with addition and subtraction fluidity.

Materials: pencil and paper, interlocking cubes

How to play: pick a number of cubes appropriate for your child’s age and ability (we used seven cubes tonight, for example). Have the child arrange the cubes into some pattern. For instance, lock two cubes together, then two cubes under that, then a single cube, then finish off with the remaining two cubes. Reading from the top down, along the rows, that is, say out loud the pattern you created: 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 7. Then have the child write this equation down. Then have her rearrange the cubes into a different pattern.

I picked this game/activity up from reading a book at Barnes and Noble tonight. Sadly, I cannot recall the title, but this game stuck with me. I’ve been looking for ways to help Penny understand what is called number composition, which is the various ways in which a number can be constructed. Using the interlocking cubes lends a very physical way for her to understand this concept, and it adds a level of entertainment for her, beyond, say, using dots on a page.

Kids generally like building and tearing things down, so this is a very natural way to help inculcate this concept. What’s great is when she wants to quiz me about the games we’re playing, as I do her. So she quickly wanted to start to ask me what the pattern was, after she had created a new pattern. I think this “teaching mode” is a great way for her to start using the language of math, as she does her best to mimic my style (poor girl) and speaking patterns. To me this just underscores that I must pay attention to phrase things correctly, so that her math verbal habits are correct from the start. You likely already realize that kids pick up a lot more than we think they do!