Fun summer math for a very small group?

[MASHomeschooler]

The mother of a former classmate of my daughter's suggested in passing that we might get the kids together over the summer for some summer math activities. That sounds good to me, but I don't know what would be good for this. Of course I will talk about it with her, but I don't think she has any specific ideas, either, so I wanted to have some to discuss with her. The kids were in second grade this year, and both went to another class for fifth grade math, so they are at right about the same level (we started homeschooling after first quarter). It would be nice if my son (in K, recently started third grade math) could participate somewhat, too, but not necessary.

 

This is the daughter I mentioned in another post who is good at math but not in love with it. She is accelerated and has done contests, but no prep for the contests, math groups, or self-initiated math. The former classmate seems to be more into math, and I think has done more of those kinds of things. My son is also more into math, and does think about math outside of doing math for school, but has no experience with any outside math opportunities.

 

Any suggestions or advice? Also, I am pretty sure the other mom would be open to other related (STEM-type) fun but educational small-group activities if you have any ideas that aren't strictly math.

[wapiti]

I'm sure others will have more fun ideas. I'll just suggest the MOEMS books:

 

Creative Problem Solving by Lenchner

Math Olympiad Vol 1

Math Olympiad Vol 2 (in Vol 2, the elementary and middle school levels are separated out into two sections, whereasin Vol 1 they are mixed)

[Kathy in Richmond]

I like wapiti's ideas, and I'd also suggest the Marilyn Burns books:

 

Math for Smarty Pants

The I Hate Mathematics Book

 

She has lots of activities that would be fun for a multi-age group.

[theYoungerMrsWarde]

CODEBREAKING!!!!

 

http://www.amazon.com/Codebreaker-Kids-Avon-Camelot-book/dp/038075228X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369075634&sr=1-1&keywords=codebreaker+kids

http://www.amazon.com/The-Code-Book-Science-Cryptography/dp/0385495323/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369075524&sr=8-1&keywords=the+code+book

http://www.amazon.com/Top-Secret-Handbook-Ciphers-Writing/dp/0763629723/ref=pd_sim_b_3

http://www.amazon.com/Cryptoclub-Using-Mathematics-Break-Secret/dp/156881223X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369190896&sr=1-1&keywords=math+%2B+secret+codes

 

At the end of the month/summer have them invent their own code and give it to each other to see if they can crack it!

[MASHomeschooler]

Thanks! These all look fun! I'll look at them some more, and see what the kids and the other mom think, too.

 

 

I think we both feel that we lucked out a bit to find another kid around their level and would like to take advantage of it, but aren't sure how. So if this works out well, I could see it becoming the start of our own small math club - so maybe we'll get around to all of these, and more. :) Thanks!

[kiwik]

I quite like the look of the math enrichment units from prufrock press.

[Lilaclady]

I think the books from critical thinking company are also good

[Dmmetler]

The Mathcounts school handbook might be helpful.

 

http://mathcounts.org/handbook

 

I also am collecting links for a possible Math club for my homeschool group this year, so you may find something there you can use

 

http://pinterest.com/homememphis/math-club/

[MASHomeschooler]

Thanks for the additional suggestions. I'm also adding Alien Math from another thread to the list to take to the kids and other mom. We'll definitely be able to find something we'll all be happy about. I'm getting excited about this!

Dmmetler, that's a nice collection!