Little Learning Labs: Math Games for Kids, abridged paperback edition

25+ Fun, Hands-On Activities for Learning with Shapes, Puzzles, and Games

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Pub Date 3 Sep 2019 | Archive Date 12 Sep 2019

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Description

Little Learning Labs: Math Games for Kids—an abridged paperback edition of Math Games Lab for Kids—presents 25+ hands-on activities that include coloring, art, puzzles, and more that make learning about math fun.
  • Explore geometry and topology by building, drawing, and transforming shapes.
  • Discover how to color maps like a mathematician by using the fewest colors possible.
  • Draw graphs to learn the language of connections.
  • Create mind-bending fractals with straight lines and repeat shapes.
Everything you need to complete the activities can either be found in the book or around the house.

The popular Little Learning Labs series (based on the larger format Lab for Kids series) features a growing list of books that share hands-on activities and projects on a wide host of topics, including art, astronomy, geology, math, and even bugs—all authored by established experts in their fields. Each lab contains a complete materials list, clear step-by-step photographs of the process, as well as finished samples. The activities are open-ended, designed to be explored over and over, often with different results. Geared toward being taught or guided by adults, they are enriching for a range of ages and skill levels. Gain firsthand knowledge on your favorite topic with Little Learning Labs.

Open Little Learning Labs: Math Games for Kids and start exploring the exciting world of math!
Little Learning Labs: Math Games for Kids—an abridged paperback edition of Math Games Lab for Kids—presents 25+ hands-on activities that include coloring, art, puzzles, and more that make learning...

Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781631597954
PRICE US$16.99 (USD)
PAGES 80

Average rating from 24 members


Featured Reviews

This book is exactly what I have been looking for to add some excitement and variety to our homeschool math lessons!

Because this book can be used with a variety of ages (it is recommended for ages 6-10) it will be a way to include all of our kids at different ability levels to work on math activities together. This isn't possible with traditional workbook or computer-based math instruction. Math is one area I struggle as a homeschool parent to have my kids working cooperatively, so this is such an asset. This would also be wonderful na classroom so all students can learn at their own level, while also having a way to be cooperative.

The greatest thing is that none of these activities are obviously math. For kids who dislike or struggle with mathematics, this gives them a way to practice those necessary skills without even realizing they are doing so. By having this hands-on application, doing the (sometimes necessary) worksheets and numbers-based practice should be easier and more understandable. Giving kids an example to tie their learning to will always be a wonderful step in understanding why we "need to learn" this.

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I disagree with the last reviewer. This book is not too simple. It depends on the level of maths the child has reached. For some of the teenagers I come into contact with this kind of math would still be a challenge. The trick is to make it interesting for the and this book might just do it. I couldn’t show them the book as the children pictured are too young. However, the projects give the right twist might just grasp their interest!

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A really basic book to help kids with math in a fun, hands on way.

I wasn’t a fan of the colors used in the illustrations but I did like the exercises.

I think this could help kids better understand math.

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Little Learning Labs is a fun way to get kids involvd in science. II rembeer that hand on projects like this was always a call to me and I loved doing them. The book has a avariety fo activiies using diagrams and photos to supplment teh nstructions and make them easy to follow. The autor includes science tips as well as base knolwdge that is accessible to children. This is a book I would buy for my child.

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Math Games for Kids is book 6 of (currently) 8 books in the Labs for Kids series. Due out 3rd Sept 2019 from Quarto on their Quarry imprint, it's 80 pages and will be available in a paperback format. Aimed at middle grade readers (grades 3-7) and their adults (parents, guardians, school resource personnel/teachers etc), it includes more than 25 short lab units for diverse math related fun activities.

The book includes a surprisingly diverse selection of fun puzzles which introduce basic concepts in topology, graph theory (including a really cool intro to the bridges of Königsberg), geometry, map theory, and fractals. The real genius of this book is that many of the labs are fun learning... the Sierpinski triangle in the fractals section will have learners of all ages reaching for drawing supplies.

STEAM learning is vitally important to our future. Training our problem solvers now, and showing them how fascinating and -fun- mathematics is, is key to the process.

This is a fun and worthwhile book. It would make a great classroom library book, resource book, homeschool resource book, or support text for kids 8-12(+). There's also a wide range of activities and the labs use easily sourced inexpensive materials. The photography is appealing and easy to follow.

Five stars. This is a great book and part of a solid series.

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I received an electronic ARC from Quarto Publishing through NetGalley.
Introductory math challenges and puzzles for younger students. Math isn't boring or scary and these authors offer information and labs to explore various mathematics areas.
Easy to follow steps and illustrations for each challenge.
Kids will learn complex math without realizing it.

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Telling a kid that the book you're gifting them has some forty pages of math might well make the kid turn and run the other way. Is math fun? Well that depends how it's done. If you lead with the idea of building 3-D shapes using toothpicks and...gumdrops, then you might get the kid's attention, and that's how this book starts out!

Not all kids are math averse, of course. Some do love it already, but for many, if they're at all like me (and hopefully they're not!), then math might seem daunting rather than haunting. The first thing you should know is that this isn't really about working with numbers, but about working with shapes and patterns, and reading this made me wonder if maybe our approach to math ought to include topics like these early - bring math to your kid as fun and games and maybe when the tougher and more numerically-oriented materials inevitably crop up, they'll be less inclined to run? I know I would have been.

Colorfully- and simply-illustrated and full of fun topics laid out intelligently and attractively, this book begins with creating shapes using toothpicks for the edges and gumdrops for the vertices, teaching about prisms and pyramids, but before your child becomes completely imprismed, the book moves on to drawing circles and ellipses, including how to create a giant one in the playground. Next up is topology and Möbius strips, which might sound scandalous to some but it really isn't, because Möbius knows where to draw the line.

This is followed by a little bit of geography and a lot of four-color maps, and then stitching curves (which commendably shows both boys and girls at work) followed by fractals. And trust me if you understand only a part of the fractal section you've got it all. Snowflakes and graph theory lead to Eulerian circuits and a trip to Königsberg which now has a much less appealing name I'm afraid to say. No! I'm not afraid to say it. I will say it! It's Kaliningrad! There, I said it!

All the solutions to the various puzzles are included toward the back of the book along with an index. I liked this book, and consider it very useful and effective way to introduce young children to math. I commend it as a worthy read.

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Math has traditionally been a subject that causes anxiety for many. A great many mathematicians have been trying to change that perception lately. This book explores simple and not so simple concepts in a fun way. Truth be told, kids might not even realize that what they are doing is math!

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I absolutely loved this! As a math teacher and coach now I am constantly looking for hands on activities for my middle school students. These are engaging, enriching, and creative. I love how these have step by step instructions as well as list all materials needed. This is such a colorful book. It takes abstract math concepts and allows young kids to be creative and visualize math without just solving problems.

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Can't wait to do some of these activities with my seven year old grandson. Gum drops and toothpicks are on my shopping list and I know we will have fun with the mobius strips. Lots of great math related activities and wonderful illustrations.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Quarry Books for an early copy of Little Learning Labs: Math Games for Kids by Rebecca Rapoport and J. A. Yoder. This book is divided into six sections that include geometry, topology, color maps like a mathematician, stitching curves, fantastic fractals, and graph theory. It is more a book of activities and labs than games to play. I was expecting games, but the activities were still fun.

The introduction explains that “failure provides a great chance to learn” which is a great attitude to teach younger people. Each chapter starts with a “think about it” question that can be used for discussion later. Each chapter starts with a brief description of the concept for the chapter and then there are additional facts scattered throughout the book.

Some of the activities I liked the best were: drawing giant circles and ellipses with chalk, broomsticks, and string, Mobius strips, and squiggle maps.

This book provided some new ways to look at math concepts that were fun, but were not the games the title promised.

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Great easy games that are filled with hands on learning experiences. Definitely will be implementing these throughout my instruction. What a great way to promote learning.

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Is your kid totally into math? Or maybe the opposite is true and they do everything they can to get out of completing mathematics assignments. Both traditional schoolers and homeschoolers alike struggle with mathemtaics concepts. One of my favorite ways to overcome this is through hands-on activities, especially where games are involved!

My kids really love games of all kinds. Mathematics games are a genius way to introduce as well as solidify topics in a concrete manner. I've always loved titles form Little Learning Labs. I was certainly not disappointed in this title either.

The games are arranged by topic in the table of contents making it easy for you as teacher or parent to find exactly what you need. Geometry, curves, graphs, mathematical theory and more can be covered in a clear and understandable way...even for those of us adults who are not super "mathy" by nature!

My favorite activity was right at the beginning! By using toothpicks and gum drops you can clearly explain prisms. They are 3D models...and absolutely delicious! I firmly believe that in addition to hands-on, food is a wonderful way to retain understanding!

I highly recommend this title if you are looking for some new and creative ways to present mathematical concepts.

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Wow, so many of the shapes are so new and the names . so specific. I knew of mobius strip from my math degree. So its fun that kids get to know such topology. Fun activities which make concepts easy to understand.

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When my children were in school, a wise teacher said to always encourage girls to do math and to let them know that they can do every bit as well in math as in English. While this book is for all children, I was reminded of how important it is to introduce math as a fun subject and one that can lead to experimentation and knowledge. Math is not just supposed to be learning the basic four functions as this book so ably proves.

Geared toward children ages six to ten (though I think older children too), the book is divided into sections on topics like geometry and fractals. The experiments and activities are very hands on and photos help to show kids what to do. Wise adults will encourage children to explore and not focus on perfection, but rather on the learning process as they do the activities that they find appealing.

Filled with things that can be done at home or school, this book is an excellent resource. Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto for this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This is a great book to help children understand the concepts of geography and other areas of math. Using basic items, the labs allow kids to make things that will make the concepts real.

From the beginning, the book provides amazing projects. Who knew you could build a prism with toothpicks and gum drops? Some of the labs build on previous ones and others are independent. This helps to reinforce facts from earlier lessons. It covers old standby labs like using tape and string to make a perfect circle. However, it also shows more in-depth things such as topology and the Eulerian circuit. A fun, stitching section is also included.

This is a great book to show concepts that many people shy away from. By teaching children, the ideas found in geometry earlier in their schooling the concepts will not be as frightening later in school.

I received an ARC from Quarto Publishing through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review.

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This is a marvelous book to get students (even ones who don't enjoy 'typical' math activities) involved in and having fun with concepts such as patterns that will help them with math. Also, these activities are a lot of fun even if they didn't have a math angle!

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