The DREME Family Math Kits are designed to foster early math development at home through playful and fun activities that caregivers and children can do together. There are a total of five kits, each focusing on a specific area of early math: Measurement, Shapes, Space, & Place (Shapes & More), Sorting & Data, Patterns, and Counting. Each kit includes a Math Journal with prompts to help families recognize and talk about the math concepts already present in their everyday lives. Some of the kit materials are downloadable PDFs, while others need to be obtained or purchased. The materials requiring purchase are inexpensive; in our testing, the average cost was $5 per kit per child.
COMING SOON TO THIS PAGE: A workshop PowerPoint presentation (including facilitator notes) designed to equip teachers with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively utilize the Family Math Kits in building partnerships with families to enhance early math learning. Stay tuned for updates!
Arrange a set of six pipe cleaners by length to make a rainbow and complete a family math journal to explore measurement concepts.
For each Kit, GATHER/PURCHASE:
A set of six different-colored pipe cleaners that have been trimmed by 1-3 inches with scissors so that each is a different length from one another.
A lump of play dough or soft modeling clay to make the rainbow clouds. The play dough or clay should be stored in a sealed bag so it won’t dry out.
A measuring tape. We suggest buying simple non-retractable tapes that can be purchased inexpensively in bulk.
For each Kit, PRINT:
A cover page listing what’s inside the Measurement Kit and when to return the Journal to the teacher. The cover page is available in English and Spanish:
Use tangram blocks to do puzzles and complete a family math journal to explore shape concepts.
Buy materials:
Each child will need a set of tangram blocks. This consists of 7 blocks: 2 large triangles, 2 small triangles, 1 medium triangle, 1 parallelogram, and 1 square. Our materials were designed with the Learning Resources brand tangrams. You can buy other brands or cut out and laminate your own- just print a puzzle page to test that your blocks fit inside the lines.
Small baggie for the blocks- you could use a ziploc or purchase pouches.
Print materials:
Each child will need a cover page listing what’s inside the kit and when to return the family math journal. These are available in English and Spanish:
Each child will need a set of five puzzles. The puzzles can be printed in color or black and white, and on regular paper or card stock/synthetic stock for more durability. Each child will also need a copy of the family math journal. These are available in English and Spanish:
Split tangrams into sets for the children. Put 2 large triangles, 2 small triangles, 1 medium triangle, 1 parallelogram, and 1 square into a ziploc bag or pouch. Color of the blocks does not matter.
The puzzles can be placed in a manila envelope or other folder so that they stay together.
Put each bag of blocks into a manila envelope or pocket folder along with the puzzles and the cover page in the correct language for each student.
Sort pom poms by different colors and sizes and complete a family math journal to explore sorting and data concepts.
Buy materials:
Each child will need a set of 15-20 pom poms. We designed our materials using pom poms that are five different colors and four different sizes. You could look for any pom poms that can be sorted by both color and size.
Each child will need a small plastic bag or pouch to hold the pom poms.
Print materials:
Each child will need a cover page listing what’s inside the kit and when to return the family math journal. These are available in English and Spanish:
Each child will need two sorting mats: one for shape and one for size. You can print them on their own page or as one double-sided copy. Each child will need also need a copy of the family math journal. These are available in English and Spanish:
Use colorful dot stickers to make the caterpillar patterns and complete a family math journal to explore pattern concepts.
Buy materials:
Each child will need 24 dot stickers in each of these colors: red, yellow, green, and blue (96 stickers in all). These can be purchased from many different places. You can search for color coding labels.
Each child will need an envelope.
Print materials:
Each child will need a cover page listing what’s inside the kit and when to return the family math journal. These are available in English and Spanish:
Play fun card games and complete a family math journal to explore counting concepts.
Buy materials:
Each child will need a deck of regular playing cards. We recommend finding sturdy cards that have colorful kid-friendly designs that can be bought in bulk.
Print materials:
Each child will need a cover page listing what’s inside the kit and when to return the family math journal. These are available in English and Spanish:
