I am always writing about how important getting out in nature is if you want your kids to enjoy math (see this post and this post, for example), so today I am writing about some great outdoor math activities for kids! These are all simple and fun ideas – no special tools or advance planning is needed! These are specific guided activities that you and your child can enjoy together, but I want to stress that free time in nature is also a wonderful way for kids to develop critical thinking and observation skills that will help them excel in math.

Get Active

Running, spinning, and climbing are all great way to get kids thinking mathematically! Here are some fun active outdoor math games for kids:L

• Spin a certain number of times in one direction, and then “unwind” by spinning the same number of times in the opposite direction. Add some simple science in by testing if you they feel more or less dizzy if they spin fewer times in one direction than the other.
• Measure distances, first by carefully placing one foot in front of the other, then by running, and then by leaping. How many small steps are two trees apart? How many running steps? How many leaps?
• If you have a watch handy, time yourself running different distances. Then see how much longer it takes if you are jumping, skipping, hopping, or running backwards.

Make a Collection

Make a nature collection from whatever you can find lying around. Arrange your collection by size, or weight. Count out how many blades of grace it takes to fill the space of one pine cone. How many wood chips? How many pieces of dirt?

Talk about Shapes

What shapes can you find in your yard, park, or neighborhood? I think of spider webs as being made up of a bunch of lines, but with morning dew present there are a lot more spheres to look at than lines!

Look Closely

How often do you stop with your child to really examine plants and flowers? This kind of careful examination will help your child learn to look for and recognize patterns – another valuable mathematical skill!

Find the Beauty!

Mathematicians see their field as a beautiful art. Math and nature are closely intertwined, and I am convinced that learning to see the nature in the world around us makes all of us better mathematicians!

More Fun Learning Activities for Kids

For parents looking for playful activities that are clearly educational, this book is a great resource:

If you are looking for a home preschool curriculum, ABC & 123 is a wonderful place to start! I contributed to the book, along with some of my favorite early education bloggers. The activities provide a tiny bit of structure in a playful environment where children can explore early literacy and numeracy skills.

MaryAnne Kochenderfer

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MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.