Everyday Math: Learning Arithmetic Through Life

I wrote this post as part of an unschooling writing challenge in 2020, before my youngest was born. Enjoy!

At 7:15 a.m. the green light on the OK to Wake clock comes on, indicating to my 3 year old son that he can come out of his bedroom for breakfast. My daughters (almost 9 years old and 6 years old) hear him get up and come out for morning hugs. They were all born 3 years apart and their birth years go odd number, even number, odd number.

The children begin to make their bowls of oatmeal. The toddler needs my help measuring the oats, but loves to try to do it himself. We often estimate how much water we need instead of using an exact measurement. He then asks to push the button on the microwave to cook his oatmeal. He searches for the “1” and pushes it with his little finger, a proud smile on his face.

After breakfast and morning tasks, the children settle onto the couch to watch television while I finish my morning routine. UmiZoomi and Odd Squad are often favorite choices. The children enjoy seeing how the fictional characters solve some type of problem or mystery with mathematical concepts and critical thinking skills.

When we go outside later in the morning, I decide to work on my edible landscaping plan for the backyard. I find the tape measure in the garage and begin using it to map out the area in which I hope to plant blueberries bushes. The children see me and and they all want to help! After I get the measurements I need, they use it to measure random things around the yard. We see how tall the flowers are in inches. “Did you know that you can turn it over to measure in centimeters?” More exploring ensues.

Around 11:30 a.m. the children are ready to eat lunch, so we begin making sandwiches. We need 2 pieces of bread, 3 slices of lunchmeat and 1 slice of cheese for each sandwich, expect for the toddler who is allergic to dairy. The toddler pulls out 4 plates while the girls put together the meal, complete with pickles and fruit on the side. Everyone likes their sandwich cut in half—diagonally, please.

After lunch and a bit of quiet time, it’s back outside for the afternoon. The children decide to play hide-n-seek and take turns counting. I help the toddler as he is just beginning to remember the order of cardinal numbers. Eventually, a neighbor friend comes out and the girls make plans to save up for walkie-talkies so they can chat with each other when they are all inside. Each girl counts up how much money they have, figure out the total amount they have altogether and discuss how much more they need to save. Plans for doing extra chores for pay are put into place.

In the evening, I ask the girls to help make dinner. They decide that breakfast food sound good and find the box of protein pancake mix. They decide to double the recipe to make sure there will be enough for everyone who will eat them. 1 cup of mix becomes 2 cups of mix, 2/3 cup of water becomes 1 1/3 cup of water. “Do we need to add a tablespoon of oil?” Meanwhile, the toddler and I place 15 slices of bacon on a pan and put it in the 400F degree oven and set the timer for 18 minutes. Soon the entire family is enjoying maple syrup-y goodness while watching a cooking show.

As the children brush their teeth before going to bed, a show-and-tell of lost teeth is under way. One of the girls has lost 7 teeth, the other only 3. The toddler insists he has a loose tooth and is informed it will be at least 2 years before he looses a tooth.

For family devotions, we read a devotional in the book Indescribable. The focus verse is Matthew 7:24-25:

“The wise man built his house on a rock. It rained hard and the water rose. The winds blew and hit that house. But the house did not fall, because the house was built on a rock.”

We are reminded that the Lord is sometimes called the Rock (Psalm 18:2) and is our solid foundation, our strength and protector. Then we learn about the Hoba Meteorite, which is 9 feet long and 9 feet wide and weighs 66 tons or 132,000 pounds. “Be amazed!” After reading, 10 hands are folded and 5 prayers are said. Then 3 sweet faces are kissed and 6 feet get into bed.

As I tip-toe out of the toddler’s room after he falls asleep, I thank the triune God for the numerous gifts of grace He has extended to me over the years. I have more blessings than I can count.

This post was inspired by Sue Elvis. You can read her family's maths story on her blog: Stories of an Unschooling Family

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