4. Continue learning by encouraging maths journaling
Keeping a garden is a great opportunity for your child to reflect on what they learned in an ongoing maths journal. For example, when your child thinks back on what they did to measure and plan the garden, you could ask:
Why did we need that information?
What did it help us do next?
When planting, they can keep a record of what, where, when and how many seeds were planted. Have them make estimations like:
How many plants do you think will grow?
What do you think the yield will be?
When harvesting, encourage them to refer back to their planting journal and compare.
Can they compare their estimations to the actual yield?
Can they compare the actual yield to the data they recorded when planting?
Can they tell you what percentage of seeds grew into plants?
How could they use their findings in the future?
Reflecting on their learning and answering open questions will help your child master mathematical concepts in depth. Explaining their thinking, getting creative and making connections to what they learned and why, all help to solidify mathematical understanding.