Math and Science Literacy Ideas for Summer 2004

For many kids math plus sience equals boredom. But practicing those skills over summer break can be fun! As shared by Sheryl Bautch of Family Service on "The Morning Show." MATH -pool play: Use measuring cups and spoons to discover volume and practice fractions -shopping: Let your child keep a running estimate of your purchases. Ask your young accountant to help you stay within the family budget. -games: Play hopscotch to reinforce sequencing and number patterns. Play Monopoly and let your child be the banker. Rubics cubes encourage problem solving skills. -savings: Open a bank account and encourage saving for a long-term goal. SCIENCE -cooking: Boiling water teaches children about evaporation, and freezing popsicles demonstrates substances changing states. -gardening: Plant a plot together and learn about the life cycle of plants and insects alike. -hobbies: Help your child choose a science interest like astronomy, animals, or the weather. Spend time every day on this activity-caring for a pet, stargazing, tracking the weather. -local outings: Visiting the Staerkel Planetarium, the Orpheum Childrens Science Museum, Champaign Parks Prairie Farm and the Anita Purvis Nature Center offer exciting, hands-on experiences for the whole family 3 JUNE 2004 mrm