Bounce that Ball: Learn Math While Doing Sports

What You Need:

• Ball that can be easily bounced
• Timer or watch with a minute hand
• Paper
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Markers or crayons

What You Do:

1. Have your child bounce a ball in place as many times as she can for one minute. Time her with a watch or timer. Record the number of bounces.
2. Now, it's your turn to bounce the ball. Have your child time you and record the number of bounces.
3. Make a pictograph to show your results. Draw a chart with two rows and two columns. In the first column in the top row, have your child write her name. Write your name underneath hers in the first column in the bottom row. Using a marker or crayon, have your child draw a ball for each of her bounces in the top row of the second column, opposite her name. In the column opposite your name, show your number of bounces in the same way.
4. Discuss the data on the graph. Ask your child what each ball represents. Ask her who had the most bounces. Ask her how she knows this. She may say it's by looking at the graph or by counting. Explain to her that many times you can look at a graph and know which person has the most and which person has the fewest, without even counting!

Disappointed with the results? Demand a rematch! And get in some extra graphing in the bargain...