Looking for ways to support families in building math skills at home? eMediaVA and PBS offer a variety of free, engaging resources that help connect math to everyday life. These activities not only reinforce important mathematical concepts but also encourage quality time between children and their caregivers. When students see math in real-world contexts, it deepens their understanding and helps them apply what they’ve learned in meaningful ways.

Here are some standout resources you can share with families:

📱 PBS Family Math
This website is packed with hands-on ways to explore math during everyday experiences. Families will find videos, printable activities, games, and more focused on number sense, measurement, patterns, shapes, and beyond. A highlight is the “Cooking Counts” video series, where families prepare healthy snacks while practicing math vocabulary and concepts—making math deliciously fun.

📄 Math Is Everywhere
This printable guide encourages families to integrate math talk into daily routines. It emphasizes the power of everyday math conversations in developing number sense—a key foundational skill. The resource includes a short video and practical tips for weaving math into home life in natural, accessible ways.

📊 Let’s Learn: Graphing at Home
Families can explore graphing together using common household items. This video and accompanying handout walk them through creating simple graphs and discussing number sense, patterns, and comparisons—turning everyday items into math learning tools.

🧺 Picnic with Early Numeracy
This charming video models how a simple picnic can become a playful math lesson. Families engage in fun number games that build early numeracy skills while spending time outdoors or even on the living room floor. It’s a great way to make math social and joyful.

➗ Fractions Race
This fast-paced activity turns fraction practice into a game. The video demonstrates how students can use items around the house to explore fractions, and a printable handout provides easy-to-follow instructions.

🔁 All About Patterns
Patterns are all around us—and this video helps families discover them through movement, food, and fun. Kids will enjoy finding and creating patterns while developing critical thinking and math fluency.

🏠 Geometry and Where We Live
Families can explore shapes and symmetry in their environment with this video. After discussing geometry concepts, they can dive into a hands-on craft activity using cut-out shapes to build geometric creations from paper and household items.

Make Math a Family Affair!
Encouraging families to talk about and explore math at home supports classroom learning and builds students’ confidence. eMediaVA.org provides accessible, family-friendly content that makes math meaningful—and fun. Share these resources with the families in your classroom and help them turn everyday moments into powerful learning opportunities.

Amanda Knighton is an elementary teacher in Middlesex County Public Schools and an eMediaVA Ambassador.