How to make Mathematics interesting? Can you give interesting activities?

Answer 1

make it relevant....

ensure the questions you pose are actually related to your students ensure they understand the relevance...

depnding on your students ages it may be appropriate to create a mini stock exchange in class....

or a supermarket

or a farmers market...

it may also be appropriate to apply mathematics to their every day needs when they are grown up...
Think about what ways adults use mathematics on a daily basis, like mixing the right amount of water with the herbicide to spray on the lawn... (measurement of liquid)
and calculating how far $10 worth of petrol will get them in a particular car...
and understanding how banking works..
and calculating the number of snacks they need to serve at a party...
how many mates can share a pizza if it is divided into six pieces so that everyone gets an even share.... or how many pizzas do you need to buy so that it can be shared equally between friends when the pizzas are slied into six slices..
How many bottles of soft drink do you need to buy so that everyone at the party gets at least two drinks?
Measuring weights an be made relevant by cooking in class....
just think about how maths relates to everyday life..

Answer 2

Mathematics is inherently interesting. Those who are not aware of this usually are the victims of incompetent teachers or inadequate textbooks somewhere along the way. On 3 or 4 occasions I have been asked to tutor a girl in high school algebra. In each case there was some small detail that had been missed along the way. This one small detail prevented her from completely understanding something that followed. As nearly as I could see her teachers either were not aware of what was wrong or did not have the time to find out what she was missing. This could be because many teachers believe that girls have difficulty learning math and simply expected her to do poorly in it. She was merely living down to their expectations.

Answer 3

Learning mathematics requires an inquisitive mind, patience, and motivation. There are as many kinds of mathematics as there are personalities.

If you like to solve problems, that is to say, if you like puzzles, riddles, then you may be more apt to enjoy mathematical problems, which tend to need analysis, understanding abstractions, the ability to compare, contrast, connect aspects of reality to quantity and change.

If you like to dream, have imagination, you may enjoy pure mathematics, concepts in numbers, space, time, and so forth.

Go by the math and science shelf of your large bookstores, and browse. If one book you select doesn't work for you, try another. Persistence will pay off.

I'll enter a few of my favorites below:

Answer 4

I will be teaching math to 6th graders and our curriculum is full of hands on manipulatives and activities. If you can show them how the math applies to their everyday lives they will be more apt to take it in. Look for books that give activities involoving real life, and for math games you can play with your class. One packet I purchased on ebay was called "Math. . .Its all in the way you play the game". There are three different packets compiled by the teacher that wrote it.

Also, for our new teacher in-service, my school district brought in a group called Kidprov. They demonstrated a number of activities that get kids involved and allow creativity. One particular activity was called "Punch Line". Basically, you give them a topic and they make a joke with it. You would not believe how well they can tie together vocabulary words with this game.

Answer 5

Have you seen the TV show "Numbers" (about a mathematician hired to solve crimes using mathematics)? If that does not give some good tips about how to make math interesting, probably nothing will.

Answer 6

Give each student a real job (not professional skateboarder, video game player, etc.). Have them determine living expenses based on percentages. Account for taxes, social security, health insurance, savings, rent, bills, auto, insurance, food, recreation, anything you can think of.

Have them circle graph the results.

Have them draw an unexpected expense (accident, medical, burglary, etc.) from a variety of minor catastrophes. Work this into their budget.

Then give them raises based on percentages.

Base this on a year's income and have them pay state and federal income taxes.

Not only will this help them plan for their own future, but it may help them understand their parents' struggles as well.

This is only a basic idea. Brainstorm with other teachers. Use the newspaper for much of your information. And take your time.This shouldn't be one or two class periods.

Answer 7

What are your students most likely to use mathmatics for? Present the math problems in a context based on student needs. DON'T use the joke math tests with pimps and drug dealers: several math teachers have lost their jobs, and it isn't useful. Show students why they NEED and WANT math for their daily lives: not ten years from now, but right now.

Answer 8

Teach fractions by giving the kids pizza or pie. Counting money is a good way, and so are card games like cribbage.

Answer 9

How much gas to get to the beach at X miles per gallon, how much will it cost at X per gallon, how far could you get on $100, whats $100 in Pounds or Yen, etc. Whats your take home pay if you make X per hour and work Y hours but you get taxed Z, etc.

Answer 10

CANDY! no matter what the lesson just throw candy in there somewhere and your students will be happy to learn and so excited to learn take them outside. that sort of think i'm 14 that's how i know i'm also going to be a teacher. i wish you the best of luck.