If you’re looking for math activities for kids, you already know that standard math problems are boring, and sometimes hard for kids to get. That’s why hands-on STEAM math activities are incredibly valuable!
The math activities on this list combine elements of math with other things, like art, science, and other methods of hands-on learning to make the experience of learning math concepts a lot more fun!
What are STEAM Math Activities?
A STEAM math activity usually has one of two variations.
- An element of hands-on activity or art is added to the math activity to make it more fun for kids and help them understand the concepts in a concrete way. The spirolateral math art project is an example of this.
- The math problem is used to solve real-world problems or ideas, such as this math challenge where kids are asked to estimate how long it would take Santa to deliver presents.
A STEAM math activity has the goal of helping children maximize their understanding of a math concept while also showing them that math skills are necessary to solve many of today’s problems and that a lot of the day-to-day problems they encounter can be solved with math.
What Supplies Do I Need for Hands-on Math?
You’ll want to have several math manipulatives on hand for these STEAM math activities (here is a full list of what we recommend).
But for these STEAM math activities, having something physical to help solidify math concepts can be really helpful. Here are a few STEM math manipulatives you might want to invest in for your classroom or home:
Hands-on Math Activity Books
There are a few hands-on math activity books that we really love. If you want even more hands-on STEAM math ideas, you might want to pick up one of these books!
Hands-on STEAM Math Activities for Elementary Kids
While we often spend a lot of time at STEAMsational on science experiments for kids and quick STEM activities for kids, math skill are important as well!
We’ve done a lot of hands-on math projects over the years, and my girls love doing these math activities a lot more than standard worksheets!
The math STEAM activities on this list are suitable for both classroom use and as a supplement at home as well.
Parents and caregivers will be able to follow the instructions and the activities are fun enough that you won’t lose your kids along the way, even if its a summer holiday.
Some of the activities on this list are designed for early elementary, while others are designed for upper elementary.
Pick the math activity that aligns with the concepts that your students or children are learning at the time.
Take a look below at these hands-on STEAM math activities for elementary kids!
Hands-On STEAM Math Activities for Elementary Kids
STEAM math activities are a fun way to bring a hands-on element to the elementary classroom or at home to boost math skills!
There are math activities for elementary kids from kindergarten all the way up to fifth grade on this list!
Elementary kids will have a blast with these hands-on STEAM math activities!
If you want to make your own at-home math camp, these ideas are super fun! But even if you don't, you can still find plenty of fun math activities that work to make math fun in the classroom or home.
If you have Andriod systems, these math apps are excellent and provide a variety of hands-on math activities and games for kids of all ages!
Math can really be art! Help kids discover that there are patterns to both math and art in this unique math STEAM activity that will get kids thinking and exploring outside the typical math box.
In this game, kids learn how to use dice and number manipulatives to solve equations using a Venn diagram. This activity is best for kids from fourth grade through middle school.
These multiplication dice games will help 4th and 5th graders memorize their math facts in a fun way.
Mix fraction and art with this fraction art project. It's open-ened, which makes it the perfect math STEM activity!
Use a deck of Uno cards to learn many types of math. You can modify this activity for counting, multiplication, addition, fractions, and subtraction.
Young kids will have a lot of fun with these cooking counting play dough mats. Count the cookies using play dough or clay! Suitable for preschoolers and kindergarten kids.
Learn how to make your own math manipulatives from clay using this easy tutorial.
Kids from preschool through first grade will have a lot of fun with these strawberry-themed math addition fact cards! Use a clothespin to select the right answer and use them over and over.
These counting bear math cards are ideal for kids from kindergarten to second grade. Learn basic math facts, grouping, numbers, and more!
Kids will get a kick out of this hands-on watermelon seed spitting game turned math challenge!
Use these printables to create your own grocery store and practice arithmetic in the moment.
We love Gemotiles, and there are so many fun ways to learn with these 3D shapes!
More Math Activities for Elementary Kids
If you love math activities for kids, try these hands-on math activities for elementary kids!
6 Fun Hands-On Math Projects for Elementary Kids
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