Unschooling Math: Learning Without Workbooks
ARE YOU WONDERING HOW YOUR UNSCHOOLER WILL ENCOUNTER ENOUGH MATH IN DAILY LIFE TO LEARN FROM IT?
What if I told you that “‘unschooling” math is possible and even better than “schooling” math? What if we looked at learning WITHOUT workbooks? Learning that happens organically, without force, coercion, or *gasp* drill-and-kill strategies. Would that terrify you?
It did me…..especially when it came to math.
Learning Without Workbooks
When we first considered unschooling, the thought of not following a set math curriculum kept me awake at night.
What if my son would have HUGE gaps in his learning because I didn’t follow a textbook curriculum?
What if he never learned to tell time, count money, or use measurements? And what about fractions, division, geometry…and the ever-scary ALGEBRA?
Slowly, as I began to research interest-led learning (aka unschooling), I started to think “outside the box” about math.
I soon discovered that meaningful math was everywhere.
Eventually, I (happily) tossed those workbooks and examined where we encounter math daily and how I could make that “count” for our homeschooling requirements. In the process, we found the answer to the age-old question of, “When am I ever going to use this in the real world?” And we learned it without workbooks.
Fast forward to the high school years. Those same fears that I had fought off early on returned in full force!
So, I took a deep breath and went back to researching. Again I trained my mind to let go of the “school-y” mindset and instead embrace the “unschool-ly” one.
Below are 5 unexpected ways that we encountered a variety of math concepts in meaningful, interest -led ways as we began the high school years…..no workbook needed.
Learning Without Workbooks: 5 Real World Examples During the High School Years
1. Circumference and Pi, Oh My!
Did you know you can calculate a tree’s age without cutting it down? I had no idea until one day my son asked if I knew the age of a tree on our property.
This question sent us down a rabbit hole that intertwined both science and math.
We found a pathway to the answer on this website. Following the steps outlined on the site, we measured the circumference of the tree, google searched what type of tree it was, and applied the formula provided to determine its approximate age. Viola! Science and math! And did I mention, we learned it without using a workbook!
2. How Fast Did that Hockey Puck Fly? (Distance = Rate x Time)
Recently my son has become very interested in hockey. One day, while hitting a puck across our driveway, he wondered how fast it may have gone.
HELLO, ALGEBRA!
We briefly discussed the algebraic formula of distance = rate x time and then promptly went on a hunt for the measuring tape.
We set up the scenario by using sidewalk chalk to mark off the starting point. Next, we experimented by measuring out various lengths to find the distance that was easiest to measure. (Sidenote: We very quickly learned that to have a more accurate timing we needed to make the distance longer than we originally suspected. A fast-flying puck is difficult to see!)
Then, we set the timer. On the count of 3, he slammed that puck across the driveway. I did my best to stop the timer when I saw it cross our distance line.
Using this information, we plugged the numbers into the formula and discovered approximately how fast that little puck was flying!
3. Parallel or Perpendicular and Angles All-Around
Oh Geometry, I see you!
Remember that interest in hockey I mentioned above? Yep. Here it is again!
My son’s hockey interest led him to ask his dad if they could build a hockey goal. This project incorporated parallel and perpendicular lines as well as angles and measurements. And bonus….a little physics was thrown in after my son began using it. Turns out that PVC pipe can’t take the force of a hockey puck being hurled at it at speeds greater than 50 mph. Oops. Duct tape to the rescue!
4. Surface Area and Perimeter in Your Bedroom
Do you know what makes a great lesson in surface area and perimeter? Repainting a bedroom and adding LED strip lights!
This summer my son asked if he could repaint his room. We agreed but only if he did all the math!
Welcome back, ALGEBRA and GEOMETRY. I see you again!
We first needed to calculate how much paint we would need.
We began by measuring the height (length) and width of each wall. Using the formula area = length x width we calculated the surface area.
Next, using the same formula of area = length x width, we measured the closet, door, and windows. Then we subtracted that number from the total since we weren’t going to be painting them!
BAM! Thanks to our swanky algebra skills, we knew how much area we needed to cover.
Finally, we searched online to determine how much surface area a gallon of paint would cover. Soon we discovered that one gallon would do the trick!
And we never opened a workbook…..
5. A Recipe for Multiplying and Adding Fractions
Ah, fractions. How I did loathe thee in school!
Common denominators, mixed numbers, improper fractions, equivalent fractions….I hated it all! BUT……
The reality is, fractions show up every day in our lives, especially in cooking!
When our son was little, he showed a great interest in cooking so we bought him a monthly subscription to Raddish. Best investment ever! Once again, science and math mingled in perfect harmony as he was exposed to fractions and so many other skills!
As a teen, he contiuned to develop his cooking skills and was able to manipulate fractions as he doubled or made one-and-a-half portions of his favorite recipes. All the while he was adding, multiplying, converting and simpifying fractions!
Oh yeah….and he didn’t use a workbook.
Unschooling Math: Learning Without Workbooks Wrap-Up
These are just 5 real world examples of how your child can learn math without the use of workbooks. Five ways that we encounter math on the daily. When we encounter math in practical, organic ways that truly interest us, we learn what we need to know in just the right time, all without opening a workbook!
Happy Unschooling!