V-a-c-a-t-i-o-n! The kids are excited, everybody's packed, you're in the family-mobile and on your
way! Uh, oh.
Too soon it begins, a refrain known to all who travel with kids; a memorable cadence that raps on
nerves beginning to fray: Are we there yet?
And soon again: Mo-ah-m! Aren't we there yet?
And yet again, with a twist: How much l-o-n-g-er? I'm so-o-o-o bored, Daddy!
Help is here, and it's not only designed to keep the kids busy en route, but it builds math skills at the
same time. The U.S. Department of Education publishes a series of Helping Your Child Learn booklets
to help parents help their children in school. Math on the Go, from this series, has a variety of
activities to fill the bill for summer travel and learning. So pack up plenty of paper, pencils, and a ruler.
Try out these entertaining brain games--taken or adapted from Math on the Go—to pass the time.
The goal is to entertain the kids; learning and practicing math skills is an intended side benefit from
these activities:
Guess. Let your child think of a number between a stated range of numbers. You try to guess the
number by asking questions. Here's a sample of how it might go: Your child: I'm thinking of a number
between 1 and 100. You ask: Is it more than 50? Your child: No. You: Is it an even number? Child: No.
You: Can you divide this number into three equal parts? And so forth. After you have guessed the
number, let your child guess a number that you are thinking of by asking similar questions.
One benefit of this game is that, by asking questions about numbers, it helps the child to develop an
understanding of some concepts, characteristics and meanings of numbers. If your child doesn't know
the difference between odd and even numbers, this is an opportunity to explain and help them
understand.
License Plate. You call out the number on a license plate and see who can add up the numbers
correctly. Ask, How did you do that? Another license plate game is to copy down the number on the
plate. Ignore any letters and read the number out loud, for example: M663218 would be six hundred
sixty-three thousand, two hundred eighteen.
Another license plate activity is to record the different names of states seen on plates. Figure out
what state name was noticed the most, which one had the fewest sightings, then draw a chart or
graph to display the findings.
Are We There Yet? Try grappling with the Are we there yet? questions with a little diversionary
questioning of your own. Ask your child questions about how far you're traveling. Yards? Miles?
Kilometers maybe? How fast are we going? If it's 3:15 now, and it takes us two hours to get there,
what time will we arrive? How far have we gone?
Some of the other activities you might try while in transit is to have the kids watch for numbers on
streets and buildings, phone numbers on the sides of trucks and other vehicles, dates on buildings, or
business signs with numbers in them.
These activities encourage reading, number recognition, writing, and counting. For information about
materials from the U.S. Department of Education to help your child learn, call 1-800-USA-LEARN. For
those with Internet access to the World Wide Web, electronic versions are available.
This column is provided as a public service by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, a nonprofit institution, 101 SW Main,
Suite 500, Portland, Oregon 97204.
way! Uh, oh.
Too soon it begins, a refrain known to all who travel with kids; a memorable cadence that raps on
nerves beginning to fray: Are we there yet?
And soon again: Mo-ah-m! Aren't we there yet?
And yet again, with a twist: How much l-o-n-g-er? I'm so-o-o-o bored, Daddy!
Help is here, and it's not only designed to keep the kids busy en route, but it builds math skills at the
same time. The U.S. Department of Education publishes a series of Helping Your Child Learn booklets
to help parents help their children in school. Math on the Go, from this series, has a variety of
activities to fill the bill for summer travel and learning. So pack up plenty of paper, pencils, and a ruler.
Try out these entertaining brain games--taken or adapted from Math on the Go—to pass the time.
The goal is to entertain the kids; learning and practicing math skills is an intended side benefit from
these activities:
Guess. Let your child think of a number between a stated range of numbers. You try to guess the
number by asking questions. Here's a sample of how it might go: Your child: I'm thinking of a number
between 1 and 100. You ask: Is it more than 50? Your child: No. You: Is it an even number? Child: No.
You: Can you divide this number into three equal parts? And so forth. After you have guessed the
number, let your child guess a number that you are thinking of by asking similar questions.
One benefit of this game is that, by asking questions about numbers, it helps the child to develop an
understanding of some concepts, characteristics and meanings of numbers. If your child doesn't know
the difference between odd and even numbers, this is an opportunity to explain and help them
understand.
License Plate. You call out the number on a license plate and see who can add up the numbers
correctly. Ask, How did you do that? Another license plate game is to copy down the number on the
plate. Ignore any letters and read the number out loud, for example: M663218 would be six hundred
sixty-three thousand, two hundred eighteen.
Another license plate activity is to record the different names of states seen on plates. Figure out
what state name was noticed the most, which one had the fewest sightings, then draw a chart or
graph to display the findings.
Are We There Yet? Try grappling with the Are we there yet? questions with a little diversionary
questioning of your own. Ask your child questions about how far you're traveling. Yards? Miles?
Kilometers maybe? How fast are we going? If it's 3:15 now, and it takes us two hours to get there,
what time will we arrive? How far have we gone?
Some of the other activities you might try while in transit is to have the kids watch for numbers on
streets and buildings, phone numbers on the sides of trucks and other vehicles, dates on buildings, or
business signs with numbers in them.
These activities encourage reading, number recognition, writing, and counting. For information about
materials from the U.S. Department of Education to help your child learn, call 1-800-USA-LEARN. For
those with Internet access to the World Wide Web, electronic versions are available.
This column is provided as a public service by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, a nonprofit institution, 101 SW Main,
Suite 500, Portland, Oregon 97204.
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copy and print
License Plate Game
Watch other cars on the road and find license
plates from every state; Alaska and Hawaii have
been left out of the game; District of Columbia is
slipped in, for fun. Play competitively (the person
with the most entries wins) or collectively (everyone
works together).
Watch other cars on the road and find license
plates from every state; Alaska and Hawaii have
been left out of the game; District of Columbia is
slipped in, for fun. Play competitively (the person
with the most entries wins) or collectively (everyone
works together).
Counting Cows
One of my favorites. Count the cows you see on
your side of the car. If you pass a field full of lots of
cows, you'd better count fast! If you pass a
cemetery on your side of the car, you lose all your
cows, but only if the opposing team calls "your cows
are buried!". This game gets interesting when
distraction tactics are used to either cause your
opponent to miss cows on their side of the road or
to miss a cemetery on your side of the road. A white
horse can count as a bonus. The team with the
most cows wins.
One of my favorites. Count the cows you see on
your side of the car. If you pass a field full of lots of
cows, you'd better count fast! If you pass a
cemetery on your side of the car, you lose all your
cows, but only if the opposing team calls "your cows
are buried!". This game gets interesting when
distraction tactics are used to either cause your
opponent to miss cows on their side of the road or
to miss a cemetery on your side of the road. A white
horse can count as a bonus. The team with the
most cows wins.
Scavenger Hunt
Give each child a list of items to watch for while
driving. The list can be made up ahead of time and
adjusted for the scenery.
Give each child a list of items to watch for while
driving. The list can be made up ahead of time and
adjusted for the scenery.
I’m thinking of a person
“I’m thinking of a person” is one of our favorite
guessing games. It is easy to play and is easily
tailored to the age and interests of the kids. One
player thinks of a person such as a family member,
friend or, with older kids, someone famous. The
other players take turns asking simple yes and no
questions that will help them guess the person’s
name. The questions can be anything at all. Is the
person an adult? Is the person a female? Does this
person have children? Do they have red hair? The
players ask questions until someone guesses
correctly. The winner thinks of the next person.
“I’m thinking of a person” is one of our favorite
guessing games. It is easy to play and is easily
tailored to the age and interests of the kids. One
player thinks of a person such as a family member,
friend or, with older kids, someone famous. The
other players take turns asking simple yes and no
questions that will help them guess the person’s
name. The questions can be anything at all. Is the
person an adult? Is the person a female? Does this
person have children? Do they have red hair? The
players ask questions until someone guesses
correctly. The winner thinks of the next person.
Are we there yet?