By contributing writer Marci
Just like history, geography, and science have vocabulary words that we need to know, we need to learn math vocabulary as well.
When we first start learning math, the words place value, estimate, and fraction are new. As we progress, we need to learn what integer and exponent mean.
There are lots of fun ways to learn these math terms. Here are some sources and ideas.
Math Vocabulary Lists and Games
- Make a math vocabulary list from your curriculum on paper or index cards. Use this list to study.
- Spelling City – math vocabulary lists and games
- Math vocabulary word wall card printables
- Quizlet online math vocabulary cards
- Make a memory game with index cards with the word on one card and definition on the other
- Play Pictionary
- Create your own crossword puzzle game
Math Vocabulary Art
If students are having a particularly hard time remembering a math vocabulary word, have them create art to represent it.
For instance, my son got confused with the term “less than.” He couldn’t remember what function that represented. He drew a comic with three frames. In the first frame, he drew an apple tree with 10 apples and “ten apples” written next to it.
In the next frame, three apples are falling off the tree with the seven remaining apples still on the tree and the words “3 less than 10” written next to it. The last frame shows just the apple tree with seven apples with the sentence and equation, “3 less than 10 is 7” and “10-3=7”.
What other fun ways can you think of to learn math vocabulary?
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