Family Science Night Activities List
Grades K-2 (Set #1)
(Set #2) Grades 3-5
(Set #1)
(Set #2)
Grades 6-8
Sample Flyer
Request Form
Family Math Night Activities List
Grades K-2
Grades 3-5
Math
Around the World (Gr. 5-8)
Sample Flyer
Request Form
Activities Printable Version (MS
Word)
The Family Science & Math Nights are an
exciting program offered by NEGYSTC for an evening of hands-on activities
for parents and their children. These events meet the No Child Left
Behind Title I School requirement for increasing parental involvement and
the NSDC's Standards for Staff Development on Family Involvement.
NEGYSTC will
provide training and non-consumables for your school to host an event.
Programs generally last for 1 to 1.5 hours
and consist of 25 activity stations set up around your school.
Below is a list of the activities available organized by grade level. For
each activity is a brief description,
what the NEGYSTC center provides, and what the schools provide for the
activity. *Indicate activities available in both English and Spanish
Grades K-2 Science
Activities in Set #1
Printable Version
GPS Alignment
Bubble Clusters:
What kind of bubble patterns can
you create? Pour bubble solution onto a surface, grab a drinking straw and
find out once and for all. Don’t get too complicated; clutters might have
to be drawn on data sheet! Center Supplies: Instructions,
door sign. School Supplies: Copies of instructions,
bubble solution, drinking straws, cookie sheets, pencils.
Build Your Own
Bubble Wand: Families
predict what shape their bubbles will be by designing their own bubble
wands with pipe cleaners. Center Supplies: Instructions,
worksheet, bubble recipe, door sign. School Supplies: Pipe
cleaners, bubble solution, plastic plates or trays for solution, copies of
instructions, pencils.
Cup Tower*: Families build towers by
stacking cups on top of each other. Makes a great competition to see who
can build the tallest tower! Center Supplies:
Instructions, door sign. School Supplies: Copies of
instructions, paper or plastic cups.
Toe-Tac-Tic *: A fun problem solving game that is the reverse of Tic-Tac-Toe. The
first person to get three in a row loses! Center Supplies:
Instructions, door sign. School Supplies: Copies of
instructions, pencils.
Colors Together: Families experiment mixing colors by shining flashlights covered in
different colored cellophane on the wall and mixing with other color
frames to see the colors they create. Center Supplies:
Instructions, flashlights, cellophane, color frames with cellophane, and
door sign. School Supplies: Copies of instructions, dark
room, D-batteries, crayons or markers.
Observe a Leaf: Families will observe and describe leaves using their senses and make
leaf rubbings. Center Supplies: Instructions and door
sign. School Supplies: Copies of activity sheet, crayons,
and leaves
Eye Tricks*:
A fun demonstration of
“after-image” as families color and then stare at their images for one
minute and then look at white paper to see the image that appears.
Center Supplies: Instructions and door sign. School
Supplies: Copies of worksheets, orange, black, and green crayons,
and plain white paper
Sound is
Vibration*:
Families engage in various activities to
show that vibrating objects produce sound and cause vibrations in whatever
they touch. Center Supplies: Instructions, tuning forks,
ping pong balls, and door sign. School Supplies: Copies of
instructions, rulers, wooden craft sticks, pencils, rubber bands, and cups
of water
Mirrors Reflect*: Families will use mirrors in
various activities to show that light travels in a straight line.
Center Supplies: Instructions, mirrors, and door sign.
School Supplies: Copies of worksheets, crayons, and small objects
Flying Butterfly: Families make tissue paper
butterflies fly using magnetic attraction. Center Supplies:
Instructions, magnet wands, door sign. School Supplies:
Copies of instructions, tissue paper, paper clips, tape, string, and
scissors.
Coin Drops*:
Families will predict and test
how many drops of water stay on a penny and nickel. Center
Supplies: Instructions, droppers, door signs. School
Supplies: copies of instructions, pennies & nickels, water,
pencils.
Water Works: A popular File Folder Game to identify different forms of water and
recognizing whether objects will “sink” or “float.” Center
Supplies: all materials needed to run the activity. School
Supplies: no additional supplies needed.
Gummy Bears: Families estimate the number of Gummy Bears in a baggie, sort them by
color, and build graphs. Center Supplies: Instructions,
door sign. School Supplies: Gummy Bears, baggies,
markers/crayons, and copies of worksheets.
Flashy Facts: A fun game to learn about lightning by drawing cards and determining
if it is a fact or not about lightning. Center Supplies:
Instructions, patterns, door sign. School Supplies: Copies
of patterns on card stock, markers/crayons, and scissors.
Sky Watchers: Families build a simulated day/night sky mobile to record their
observations of the sky over time. Center Supplies:
Instructions, patterns, door sign. School Supplies: Copies
of patterns on cardstock, blue and gray construction paper, scissors, hole
punch, string, and glue.
Grades K-2 Science Activities in Set #2
Printable Version
GPS Alignment
Gumdrop Dome*: Families experiment building
domes using toothpicks and gumdrops. Center Supplies:
Instructions, door sign. School Supplies: Copies of
instructions, gumdrops or substitute, toothpicks.
What Do You Sink
Will Float:
Families predict and test objects to see if they sink or float.
Center Supplies: instructions, activity sheets, baggies of
objects to test, door sign. School Supplies: Copies of
activity sheet, and containers of water.
Eggs Full of
Sound*: Families identify very common sounds of very common objects
according to the noise they make when shaken inside plastic eggs.
Center Supplies: Activity sheet, plastic eggs with objects, and
door sign. School Supplies: Copies of activity sheet.
Clucking
Chicken: Families construct
“clucking chickens” out of plastic cups and a string tied to top, inside
the cup. They will hear the vibrations as they pull on the string to make
the chicken cluck! Center Supplies: Instructions and door
sign. School Supplies:
Dixie plastic cups, string, paper
clips, cups of water, and decorating materials
Hot Hands*: A great activity to demonstrate
heat energy travels by convection as families dip metal cans in soapy
water to form a film over the opening. As they hold the can, their body
heat causes the soap film to rise. Center Supplies:
Instructions, door sign, tin cans. School Supplies: Copies
of worksheets, pencils, bubble solution.
Color My World*: Families will make goggles using
colored cellophane and see how the colors of things change when viewed
through the goggles and other color paddles. Center Supplies:
Instructions, door sign, and color paddles. School Supplies:
Copies of worksheets, colored cellophane, scissors, string, and tape
Light Source*:
Families classify things into
those that produce and do not produce light. Center Supplies:
Instructions and door sign. School Supplies: Copies of
worksheets, scissors, and glue sticks.
Hungry Hounds:
Families help hungry hounds find their bones using magnetic attraction.
Center Supplies: magnet wands, instructions, activity
sheet, door sign. School Supplies: copies of activity
sheet, paperclips, tape, and scissors.
What Your Brain
Sees: Another fun optical
illusion due to persistence of vision. Families spin disks with images on
each side and see the motion as a blending of the two images.
Center Supplies: Instructions, image patterns, door sign.
School Supplies: Copies of instructions, copies of patterns on
card stock, coloring markers/crayons, scissors, rubber bands, and hole
punchers.
Water Drop
Dragster:
Families race a drop of water through a laminated maze to see who wins!
Center Supplies: door sign, instructions, and mazes.
School Supplies: cups of water.
Stereo Hanger:
Families will hear sound waves
from a vibrating coat hanger as they travel through a string to the ear,
creating a sound that resembles that of a church bell. Center
Supplies: Instructions, metal coat hangers, and door sign.
School Supplies: Copies of instructions and string
Bubble
Painting: Families make beautiful art when bubbles made in a colored solution pop
against white paper leaving a beautiful design. Center Supplies:
Instructions, door sign. School Supplies: white paper,
bubble solution, plastic plates, copies of instructions, straws, old
newspaper.
Just Passing
Through*:
Great activity for younger kids as families
use a flashlight to discover which materials are transparent, translucent,
or opaque. Center Supplies: Instructions, flashlights,
mirrors, baggies of materials, and door sign. School Supplies:
Copies of worksheets, pencils, D-batteries for flashlights, and water
Jelly Bean
Count: Families estimate
the number of jelly beans in a baggie, sort them by color, count up the
totals, and build repeating patterns of different colors. Center
Supplies: Instructions, door sign. School Supplies:
jelly beans, baggies, markers/crayons, and copies of worksheets.
Down
Spin Around:
Families build two different kinds of “helicopters” to observe differences
in how they fall to the ground by making changes to the design.
Center Supplies: Instructions, door sign. School Supplies:
scissors, tape, paper clips, markers/crayons, and copies of
worksheets.
Grades 3-5 Science
Activities in Set #1
Printable Version
GPS Alignment
Magnify*:
Families will experience viewing
various objects using magnifying lenses. Center Supplies:
Instructions, magnifying lenses, objects, and door sign. School
Supplies: Copies of worksheets, pencils, and other small objects
for observation.
Mirror Maze: Families trace their way through
a simple maze while viewing the maze pattern only in a mirror. Lots of
fun! Center Supplies: Instructions, laminated mazes,
mirrors, and door sign. School Supplies: Copies of
instructions.
Elec-Fish-Ity: Families go “fishing” using
statically-charged balloons to attract small paper fish. Center
Supplies: Instructions, door sign. School Supplies:
Copies of instructions, balloons, tape, scissors, string, rulers for
fishing poles, wool cloth or garment to charge balloons.
Electric Chicks: Great activity to demonstrate
that electrical currents require a complete loop through which to pass to
conduct electricity. Also demonstrates conductors and insulators.
Center Supplies: Instructions, door sign, chirping-chick toys,
rubber gloves. School Supplies: Copies of instructions,
water, and cups
High Wire Acts: Families experiment finding the
center of balance of a paper clown using pennies. Center Supplies:
Instructions, door sign. School Supplies: Copies of
instructions, copies of designs on card stock, pennies, masking tape,
scissors.
Leap Ball: Families are challenged to move
a ping pong ball from one cup to another by only blowing air. A fun demo
of the Bernoulli Principle. Center Supplies: Instructions,
door sign, ping pong balls and cups. School Supplies:
Copies of instructions.
Magic Tricks:
Fun demonstration of inertia by flicking an index card out from under a
coin as it drops into a cup. Center Supplies:
Instructions, door sign. School Supplies: Coins, index
cards, cups.
Penny Power:
A lesson in the transfer of energy with nothing more than a few coins.
Center Supplies: instructions, door sign. School
Supplies: copies of instructions; coins (pennies or nickels)
index cards, drinking glasses
Bernoulli Ping Pong: Families suspend a ping pong in
air blown through a straw. Center Supplies: Instructions,
door sign, ping pong balls. School Supplies: Copies of
instructions, bendable straws.
Frog Legs:
Families fold origami-style frogs for a jumping contest of potential and
kinetic energy! Center Supplies: Instructions, door sign.
School Supplies: Copies of instructions, old business cards
or index cards.
Jelly Bean Key: Families have fun using a dichotomous key to classify and identify
flavors of Jelly Belly® jelly beans. Center Supplies: Instructions
and door sign. School Supplies: Copies of instructions,
Jelly Belly® jelly beans, and small paper cups to distribute jelly beans.
Crystals:
Families construct models of the
different crystal systems using paper patterns, and then gumdrops and
toothpicks. Center Supplies: Instructions, patterns; door
sign. School Supplies: Copies of instructions and crystal
patterns, tape, scissors, gumdrops, and toothpicks.
Paper Rockets:
Families build simple paper
rockets and blast them off in a competition. Center Supplies: Instructions,
door sign. School Supplies: Copies of instructions,
straws, round-unsharpened pencils, tape, and scissors.
Grades 3-5 Science
Activities in Set #2
Printable Version
GPS Alignment
Tongue Twisters
*:
A fun activity where families are
challenged to say the color of a word instead of reading the word itself.
The brain quickly becomes confused as a demonstration of the Stoop
Effect. Center Supplies: Instructions, door sign, and
tongue-twister cards. School Supplies: Copies of
instructions
Light Bends*:
A great activity for younger
kids to see the effect of light refraction as they view objects in a cup
of water. Center Supplies: Instructions and door sign.
School Supplies: Copies of worksheets, clear plastic cups,
crayons, water, and pencils.
Just Passing
Through*:
Great activity for younger kids as families
use a flashlight to discover which materials are transparent, translucent,
or opaque. Center Supplies: Instructions, flashlights,
mirrors, baggies of materials, and door sign. School Supplies:
Copies of worksheets, pencils, D-batteries for flashlights, and water
Impact
Craters*: Families make craters by dropping various objects into a “moon soil” of
flour and cocoa mix. Center Supplies: Instructions, door
sign, shakers, crater objects, posters of craters, containers.
School Supplies: Flour, cocoa mix, copies of instructions.
Mini-Planetarium
I:
Families build simple constellation viewing
tubes by punching their favorite constellation onto construction paper
taped to the open end of a tube. Center Supplies:
Instructions, door sign, constellation patterns. School Supplies:
Toilet paper rolls or construction paper, black construction paper, tape,
scissors, blunt tip pencils, copies of instructions and patterns.
Mini-Planetarium
II: Families build simple
constellation viewing tubes by punching their favorite constellation into
the bottom of a plastic Dixie cup. Then view their constellations with a
flashlight through the cup in a dark room. Center Supplies:
Instructions, door sign, flashlights, constellation patterns.
School Supplies: 12-oz. Dixie cups (not clear), thumb tacks,
copies of patterns and instructions, D-batteries for flashlights, dark
room.
Gumdrop Dome*: Families experiment building
domes using toothpicks and gumdrops. Center Supplies:
Instructions, door sign. School Supplies: Copies of
instructions, gumdrops or substitute, toothpicks.
Stereo Hanger:
Families will hear sound waves
from a vibrating coat hanger as they travel through a string to the ear,
creating a sound that resembles that of a church bell. Center
Supplies: Instructions, metal coat hangers, and door sign.
School Supplies: Copies of instructions and string
Light Bends*:
A great activity for younger
kids to see the effect of light refraction as they view objects in a cup
of water. Center Supplies: Instructions and door sign.
School Supplies: Copies of worksheets, clear plastic cups,
crayons, water, and pencils.
Just Passing Through*:
Great activity for younger kids
as families use a flashlight to discover which materials are transparent,
translucent, or opaque. Center Supplies: Instructions,
flashlights, mirrors, baggies of materials, and door sign. School
Supplies: Copies of worksheets, pencils, D-batteries for
flashlights, and water
Mirrors Reflect*: Families will use mirrors in
various activities to show that light travels in a straight line.
Center Supplies: Instructions, mirrors, and door sign.
School Supplies: Copies of worksheets, crayons, and small objects
Color Splash*: Families observe how two or three different colors of food
coloring act in oil and water. The result is fascinatingly beautiful.
Center Supplies: Instructions, door sign. School
Supplies: Clear plastic cups, vegetable oil, water, food
coloring, copies of instructions
Floating Pennies:
Families will see pennies that
appear to be floating in water due to refraction of light as it passes
through water. Center Supplies: Instructions and
door sign. School Supplies: Copies of instructions,
pennies, Styrofoam coffee cup, water, and tape
Dancing On Air: Families experience Bernoulli’s
Principle by suspending a ping pong in air blown through a hair dryer.
Center Supplies: Instructions, door sign, one hair dryer.
School Supplies: Copies of instructions, additional hair
dryers.
Hot Hands*: A great activity to demonstrate
heat energy travels by convection as families dip metal cans in soapy
water to form a film over the opening. As they hold the can, their body
heat causes the soap film to rise. Center Supplies:
Instructions, door sign, tin cans. School Supplies: Copies
of worksheets, pencils, bubble solution.
Coral Reef: Families will each construct a
portion of a coral reef using simple materials. By the end of the evening
you have a coral reef colony! Center Supplies:
Instructions, door sign. School Supplies: Copies of
instructions, yarn or pipe cleaners, glue, construction paper, toilet
paper rolls (optional), scissors.
What Your Brain Sees:
Another fun optical illusion due to persistence of vision. Families spin
disks with images on each side and see the motion as a blending of the two
images. Center Supplies: Instructions, image patterns,
door sign. School Supplies: Copies of instructions, copies
of patterns on card stock, coloring markers/crayons, scissors, rubber
bands, and hole punchers.
Tongue Twisters *: A fun activity where families
are challenged to say the color of a word instead of reading the word
itself. The brain quickly becomes confused as a demonstration of the
Stoop Effect. Center Supplies: Instructions, door sign,
and tongue-twister cards. School Supplies: Copies of
instructions
Who Dunnit?: Families try to solve a mystery and at the same time learn more about
their own fingerprints. Center Supplies: Instructions,
fingerprint types, and door sign. School Supplies: Copies
of instructions, scotch tape, pencils, and something to clean hands.
Lot of Hot Air:
Great demonstration of
calculating lung capacities as families blow up balloons and measure its
diameter to determine their capacity. Center Supplies:
Instructions, rulers, calculators, door sign. School Supplies:
Copies of instructions, balloons, pencils.
Impact Craters*:
Families make craters by dropping various objects into a “moon soil” of
flour and cocoa mix. Center Supplies: Instructions, door
sign, shakers, crater objects, posters of craters, containers.
School Supplies: Flour, cocoa mix, copies of instructions.
Grades 6-8 Science Activities
Printable
Version
GPS Alignment
Balloon Kabob: Families are challenged to skewer an inflated balloon on a bamboo
stick to demonstrate the properties of latex polymers. Center
Supplies: Instructions and door sign. School Supplies:
Copies of instructions, balloons, cooking oil or Vaseline, paper
towels, and bamboo skewers.
Nuts and Bolts: A great activity to understand how the Periodic Table of Elements is
organized based upon similar properties as families arrange various nuts
and bolts to create their own table. Center Supplies:
Instructions, baggies of nuts and bolts, and door sign. School
Supplies: Copies of instructions.
Kilowatt Pennies:
Families learn to read electric
meters and compare the electrical consumption of various appliances.
Center Supplies: Instructions, electric meters, door sign.
School Supplies: Copies of instructions, various electrical
appliances (hair dryer, can opener, mixer, pencil sharpener, lamp,
toaster, clock, and vacuum cleaner), calculators.
Nail Balance: Families rise to the challenge
of balancing six nails on the head of one nail, then see if they can
balance even more nails – the record is 23 nails! Center Supplies:
Everything needed for the activity. School Supplies:
Copies of instructions.
Jelly
Bean Key: Families have fun using a dichotomous key to classify and identify
flavors of Jelly Belly® jelly beans. Center Supplies: Instructions
and door sign. School Supplies: Copies of instructions,
Jelly Belly® jelly beans, and small paper cups to distribute jelly beans.
Mini-Water Cycle: Families construct
their own version of the water cycle in miniature using ziplock baggies,
markers, and wet sand. Then they take them home and set in a sunny
window to watch the water cycle in action! Center Supplies: Instructions,
permanent markers, door sign. School Supplies:
Copies of instructions, gallon-sized ziplock baggies, wet sand.
Lighten Up:
Families compare the electrical consumption
of incandescent versus fluorescent light bulbs to see which is better.
Center Supplies: Family instructions, electric meters,
incandescent bulbs, fluorescent bulbs, door sign. School Supplies:
Copies of instructions, hand towels, pencils, calculators,
electricity.
Classifying
Space Objects: Families try
to identify unknown space objects by grouping and sorting them based on
common observed features. Center Supplies: all materials
needed for the activity. School Supplies: no additional
materials needed.
Where in the
Solar System am I?:
Families use a table of planet characteristics to identify four different
planets based on messages they’ve received from friends who are visiting
these other planets. Center Supplies: all materials needed
for the activity. School Supplies: additional copies if
families are allowed to take the activity home.
Modeling
Molecules: Families
investigate the concepts of “atom”, “molecule”, “element”, and “compound”
through building models. Center Supplies: all materials
needed for the activity. School Supplies: no additional
materials needed.
Breeding
Critters: This activity
investigates the different patterns of inheritance of traits through
“breeding” of two critters, Skye and Poppy. Center Supplies:
all materials needed for the activity. School Supplies:
if students are allowed to keep their critters, then schools need to
supply additional Styrofoam balls, toothpicks, pipe cleaners, thumbtacks,
brass fasteners, paperclips, and colored straws (blue, red, green).
Motion Graphs: Families match segments of a distance vs. time graph to portions of a
narrative describing two students’ trips to school. Center
Supplies: all materials needed for the activity. School
Supplies: no additional materials needed.
Families of
Elements: Families compare
physical and chemical properties of 13 elements and sort them into groups
based on common properties. They then compare their classification system
to that of the Periodic Table of Elements. Center Supplies:
all materials needed for the activity. School Supplies: no
additional materials needed.
Pendulum Swings: Families investigate the length of time it takes for a pendulum bob to
make one complete vibration by manipulation of different variables.
Center Supplies: all materials needed for the activity.
School Supplies: no additional materials needed.
Finding
Velocity: This activity
allows families to investigate how to calculate speed using an interval
timer. Center Supplies: all materials needed for the
activity. School Supplies: no additional materials needed.
Available By Request
Baleena The
Whale:
Families will be amazed with this
life-sized, inflatable model of a humpback whale. Various activities on
sink/float, feeding, and a cassette of whale songs are included. Please
note that this activity needs a large room with a high ceiling to be set
up, i.e. gym. Center Supplies: Baleena the whale, box fan,
activity sheets, posters of whales, and tape of whale songs. School
Supplies: Copies of activity sheets and consumable supplies for
activities
Star Lab Planetarium:
Gaze at the stars in this mini portable-planetarium that can seat up to 20
people at a time. Prior training required to operate. A large
room with at least 14 foot ceilings required for proper set up.
Cylinders available: Biological Cell; Celestial Coordinates; Constellations;
Earth; Greek Mythology; Native American Mythology; Plate Tectonics; Starfield
with and without Milkyway
Grades K-2 Math
Activities
Clip Me Around:
Measurement using standard units of paper clips. Center Supplies: Instructions
and door sign. School Supplies: Copies of instructions, pencils,
and paper clips
Just a Minute!:
Time estimation and value. Center Supplies:
Instructions and door sign. School Supplies:
Copies of instructions and pencils
Bean Sort*:
Sorting, counting, data collection, and graphing.
Center Supplies: Instructions, door sign, and baggies of mixed
beans. School Supplies: Copies of instructions and
pencils or crayons
Race to 100*:
Counting to 100, addition. Center Supplies: Instructions, dice,
door sign, laminated 100 grids, dry-erase markers. School Supplies:
Copies of instructions.
Spill and Count*:
Place value, tens, ones. Center Supplies:
Instructions, baggies of dried beans, and frame cards. School
Supplies: Copies of instructions and pencils
Roll Big Number*:
Place value, hundreds, tens, ones. Center Supplies:
Instructions, dice, and door sign. School Supplies:
Copies of instructions and pencils
Roll All Six *:
Probability. Center Supplies:
Instructions, door sign, and dice. School Supplies:
Copies of worksheet and pencils
Space Shapes:
Symmetry and geometric shapes. Center Supplies:
Instructions, door sign, pattern blocks, and game spinner. School
Supplies: Copies of instructions
Puzzle Squares:
Geometric shapes and problem solving. Center
Supplies: Instructions, door sign, and puzzle blocks.
School Supplies: Copies of instructions
Under Construction:
Building one- and three-dimensional geometric
shapes using straws. Center Supplies: Instructions and door
sign. School Supplies: Copies of instructions, straws, pipe
cleaners, and scissors
Gumdrop Dome*:
Building geometric shapes using toothpicks and gumdrops.
Center Supplies: Instructions and door sign. School
Supplies: Copies of instructions, gumdrops or other
substitute, and toothpicks.
Toe-Tac-Tic*:
Problem solving as students try NOT to get three X’s or O’s
in a row. Center Supplies: Instructions and door
sign. School Supplies Copies of instructions and
pencils
Domino Duels:
Addition, multiplication, comparing more or less than.
Center Supplies: Instructions, dominoes, and door sign.
School Supplies Copies of instructions, pencils, and
scratch paper.
Domino Woes:
Addition, multiplication, comparing more or less than,
data collection. Center Supplies: Instructions,
dominoes, and door sign. School Supplies: Copies of
instructions, pencils, and scratch paper.
Fraction the Tangram:
Simple fractions, geometric shapes, problem
solving. Center Supplies: Instructions, tangram puzzle pieces,
door sign. School Supplies: Copies of instructions and pencils.
Grades 3-5 Math
Activities
Just a Minute!:
Time estimation and value. Center Supplies:
Instructions and door sign. School Supplies:
Copies of instructions and pencils
Roll All Six *:
Probability. Center Supplies:
Instructions, door sign, and dice. School Supplies:
Copies of worksheet and pencils
Space Shapes:
Symmetry and geometric shapes. Center Supplies:
Instructions, door sign, pattern blocks, and game spinner. School
Supplies: Copies of instructions
Pierced Paper*:
Symmetry and geometric shapes, making the “papel picado”
decorations of Mexico. Center Supplies: Instructions and door
sign. School Supplies: Copies of instructions, tissue or
other colored paper, string or yarn, glue sticks, scissors, rulers, and
pencils
Halves and Not*:
Symmetry, patterns, and geometric shapes. Center Supplies:
Instructions, door sign, and mirrors. School Supplies:
Copies of instructions and grids, pencils or colored pens
Geo-Panes:
Using toothpicks and clay balls, geometric shapes are
constructed according to a provided pattern and submerged into bubble
solution. The result is amazing, as the internal structure of each shape
forms, creating a three-dimensional “bubble”. Center Supplies:
Instructions and door sign. School Supplies:
Modeling clay, copies of instructions, toothpicks, string, soapy water,
tall and wide containers, and old newspapers.
Puzzle Squares:
Geometric shapes and problem solving. Center
Supplies: Instructions, door sign, and puzzle blocks.
School Supplies: Copies of instructions
Under Construction:
Building one- and three-dimensional geometric
shapes using straws. Center Supplies: Instructions and door
sign. School Supplies: Copies of instructions, straws, pipe
cleaners, and scissors
Gumdrop Dome*:
Building geometric shapes using toothpicks and gumdrops.
Center Supplies: Instructions and door sign. School
Supplies: Copies of instructions, gumdrops or other
substitute, and toothpicks.
Toe-Tac-Tic*:
Problem solving as students try NOT to get three X’s or O’s
in a row. Center Supplies: Instructions and door
sign. School Supplies Copies of instructions and
pencils
Toothpick Puzzlers:
Problem solving, geometric shapes, diagrams, spatial sense as families try
to solve puzzle challenges using toothpicks. Center Supplies:
Instructions and door sign. School Supplies: Copies of
instructions and toothpicks
Shrinking Square:
Problem solving, spatial sense, and geometric shapes. Center Supplies:
Instructions and door sign. School Supplies Copies of
instructions, pennies, and rulers
Dice Battle:
Place value to the millions, comparing large numbers.
Center Supplies: Instructions, dice, and door sign.
School Supplies: Copies of instructions and pencils
Domino Duels:
Addition, multiplication, comparing more or less than.
Center Supplies: Instructions, dominoes, and door sign.
School Supplies Copies of instructions, pencils, and
scratch paper.
Domino Woes:
Addition, multiplication, comparing more or less than,
data collection. Center Supplies: Instructions,
dominoes, and door sign. School Supplies: Copies of
instructions, pencils, and scratch paper.
The Best of Times:
Multiplication card game. Center Supplies:
Instructions, decks of cards, and door sign. School Supplies:
Copies of instructions, pencils, and scratch paper.
Tangram Teasers: Families are
challenged to build different shapes using only their tangram puzzle
pieces. Center Supplies: Instructions, door sign, tangram puzzle
pieces. School Supplies: Copies of instructions and pencils
Grades 5-8: Math
Around the World
The following games are part of a kit which includes all
the materials needed to play the games.
NIM:
This math game is said to originate from ancient China and involves game
theory, a growing branch of modern mathematics. Players take turns
removing pieces from a game board. Logic is needed to develop a strategy
that will enable a player to always win by removing the last piece.
Kalah: This math game is
played in various forms throughout Africa, the Phillipines, Asia, Brazil,
the West Indies, and the United States. The oldest known Kalah board was
found in what is now known as Egypt. This game of numerical and logical
skill relies on strategy, mental math, seeing patterns, anticipating
outcomes, and the ability to rapidly grasp visual representations of
numbers.
The Tower of Hanoi: This
math game was invented by a French mathematician who was inspired by a
Hindu legend of a pyramid puzzle for temple priests. This game provides a
strong correlation to Algebra and Functions math strands.
Shongo Networks: This math
game traces its origin to the Congo Basin of Africa. Players determine
whether networks are traceable and if so, whether there are multiple ways
to trace them. This is an important part of network or graph theory.
Magic Squares: This math
game originated in China and allows players to discover a variety of
patterns numerically or visually. Players then can use their logic and
problem solving skills to determine a pattern.
Game Sticks: This math game
originated among the Native Americans living in the West and Southwest.
Six sticks are tossed at a time in this game of probability and
statistics.
Games of Alignment: The
exact origin of these games is unknown. However, old gameboards have been
found in Egypt, China, Crete, Ireland, Norway, Rome, and Sri Lanka. These
games involve strategy, game theory, logic, and spatial visualization.
Hex: This game originated in
Denmark and the United States. Hex is a strategy game that also involves
spatial visualization, logic, and problem solving.
