The DreamBox Math Learning Blog

DreamBox Learning’s holiday gift-giving guide continues with what is believed to be one of the oldest games in the world: Mancala! Read on and find out which version we chose and why we picked it for the number 5 slot.
Mancala: A marvelous math game for kids ages 6 and up.

Deluxe Wood Folding Mancala
The word Mancala [...]

I took my two young boys, ages 5 and 3, to the Seattle Children’s Museum on Sunday and was quite impressed with their new exhibit “Go Figure!”. Here, in one of our very own museums, is a great exhibit that has a dozen or more engaging ways for kids to think about math!

We give parents tips all the time about everyday activities they can do and books they can read with their kids that incorporate math. This exhibit actually brings to life several such books and activities.

Yesterday - the day after Thanksgiving, black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year - we braved the mall crowds to videotape a series of “man on the street” interviews with more than 50 kids! We’re shooting a short video on what children want to be when they grow up, and as always, they can really surprise you. We talked with some future teachers and doctors, policewomen, scientists, inventors, a surprising number of future Paleontologists, artists, dancers, a couple of princesses, one farmer, a bear hunter, and even one frog. The world will definitely be a more interesting place when these kids grow up!

We couldn’t complete our gift giving countdown without including a memory game. But with all the memory games out there, which one do kids like best? Read on and find out which memory game takes the number four slot in our educational toys countdown.
Charley Harper Memory Game: A Challenging and Beautifully Illustrated Memory Game for [...]

DreamBox Learning’s holiday gift-giving guide makes shopping for educational toys a no-brainer! We’re excited to bring you the third educational toy in our countdown. Read on and find out why we chose the Melissa and Doug Underwater Puzzle as a top learning toy for this holiday season.
Melissa and Doug Underwater Puzzle: A Challenging 48- [...]

It is always nice to have a fresh perspective on old traditions, but math on a holiday? Many kids will groan if their parents suggest such a thing. There is a way to make the connection between Thanksgiving and math, but it’s always nice to start off this lesson with a story. Thanksgiving is a time of year when teachers traditionally review the great harvest, discuss the Native American and pilgrim lifestyle, and help students find time to give thanks about something in their lives. It can be hard for kids to make the connection about people from hundreds of years ago, even if there is a common thread of giving thanks.
In the Thanksgiving Wish, author Michael J. Rosen writes about a non-traditional Thanksgiving in modern times. A power outage, a missed grandmother, as well as Jewish and Asian traditions line the edges of this touching story.

DreamBox Learning is excited to bring you the second educational toy in our holiday-gift-giving countdown. Read on and find out why we chose the Planet Earth Grow A World as a top fun learning toy for this holiday season.
Planet Earth Grow A World: A Great Way to Introduce Kids Ages 4 and Up to Geography [...]

It probably goes without saying that the people at DreamBox like to give educational gifts to enrich a child’s mind! Education is the gift that keeps on giving, long after the season ends. Dreambox Learning’s holiday gift-giving guide makes shopping for educational toys a no-brainer! We consulted parents, children, and educators to find the top educational toys that make learning fun. And rest assured, not only are these toys educational, they’re fun to play with too. We’ll review a few educational toys a week, so check back soon for the next award-winning toy.

No, this is not a commercial of any kind (trying to convince you that if you buy 1 you will get 2)! This is just a mathematical proof that 2=1. I remember that my math teacher in high school first showed me this. I was quite impressed! A few days ago I randomly encountered the proof and recalled it. Here it is:

X = Y
X*X = Y*X ; Multiply by X
X*X-Y*Y = Y*X-Y*Y ; Subtract Y*Y from both sides
(X-Y)*(X+Y) = Y*(X-Y) ; Some standard conversions
X+Y = Y ; Cancel out (X-Y)
2*X = X ; Use that X = Y
2 = 1 ; Divide both sides by X

Are you convinced now?

This video clip illustrates to humorous effect how important place value is.

It’s pretty easy to see how a child without the understanding of place value might accidentally create a math solution like Ma and Pa Kettle.

Ma & Pa Kettle Math: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7106559846794044495&hl=en