Entertaining learning in the tub!

$4.00 for a cup of bubbles

ADDED May 06, 2008

Tub time is one place where teaching is not the easiest. Most books, flash cards and personal computers are not made for the bathroom. But I have found a creative way to teach fractions and math related learning without the risk of electrocution.

I will take the set of measuring cups from the kitchen and relocate their usefulness to the bathroom. Here is where the fun starts.

I will fill the tub and then ask simple questions that require my kids use the cups to measure the water and answer my questions. I will say, “ how many times does 1/2 cup fill up the 1 cup” or “ does the 1/4 cup fill up the 1 cup”? Once they understand the concept of 1/4, 1/2 and 1 then we can build on that knowledge and assign a monetary value to each cup. I will pretend like I am at a store and ask,” If 1/4 cup of tub water is one penny how much is 1/2 cup or 1 cup”?

It is a lot of fun and eventually we will start measuring shampoo, soap and bubbles and in the end I always end up paying $4.00 for a cup of bubbles. I really do love bubbles.

Note: start with 1 cup,1/2 cup and 1/4 cup. The 1/3 and 2/3 cups still confuse me.