Welcome To The Math-Science Adventure Series

For Parents Who Homeschool Their Children. Grades K - 8

A Hands-On approach to understanding mathematics through science experiments and playground activities.

If you are comfortable teaching your child you may not need to take our workshop. You may purchase the lessons in book form. Click here to go directly to the lessons

In our workshops we involve you in simple experiments, games and activities that are of high interest to children. (We have extensively tested these activities with homeschooled children, and public school children in their classrooms for over thirteen years.) When you leave our workshop, you will be prepared to do the same activities with your child, or with a small group of children.

The teaching aids you will need are found in your kitchen, the tool room, the grocery store, the hardware store, or toy store. There are just a few items you will have to purchase from an educational catalogue.

BRIEF HISTORY:

In the fall of 1992, Julie Anderson, a member of the Whatcom County Home School Association, approached us and asked if we would consider setting up a program for parents who homeschooled their children. It was largely through her efforts and those of Peter Gray and Molly Crocker that the Math Adventure homeschool program came into existence. As we worked with these homeschooled children, we quickly realized that many parents needed help in guiding their children through math and science. So we set out to put together materials for the parents.

Thus, these workshops and eventually the books were born.

The foundation of our work at Math Adventure is that learning mathematics is fun. Get your child involved in an activity or experiment they enjoy, and the learning of mathematics becomes fun. Like any other subject, it is possible to turn what is exciting into dry, academic course work. Avoid this. Have fun instead.

It is our foundational belief that:

People (children and adults) must have a legitimate reason for wanting to know about mathematics before they will joyfully engage in learning about mathematics.

Some people like hard work for the sake of hard work and will probably do quite well with drill-and-practice math. It has been our experience, both as parents and teachers that a very large majority of children do not like drill-and-practice. However, some drill-and-practice is necessary. The simple experiments, activities and games in our workshops (books) will help you and your child enjoy math and science together. Then drill-and- practice should not be too much drudgery. Therefore, our second foundational belief:

Learning mathematics is fun!

Our third foundational belief is:

Teach math using everyday items, and objects that are of natural interest to your child