Fun Math at the Farmers Market
How is it already the last day of school?!
Between the mosquito bites, summer camps, and constant sunscreen applying, many parents & guardians are also worried about the upcoming "summer slide"—that academic decline that often happens during the break. Feeling worried about your child’s school progress is totally normal.
As a personal anecdote, my parents gave me weekly worksheets every summer until high school. While it didn’t stop my summer slide, it made me hate times tables that much more. Chances are, you might feel the same way—studies show that kids’ feelings towards their homework are often directly tied to their parents’ subconscious attitudes towards the subject.
The secret to preventing a summer slide is consistent, stress-free practice all summer long. Emphasizing curiosity and a positive attitude toward math can be just as effective as worksheets and times tables, if not more. Plus, by acknowledging and recognizing your negative feelings about math, you can feel more confident about math in your personal life.
In this week’s installment of Talking Math, we’ll be sharing some tips on how to use a farmers market to make math relatable and fun. We’ll also be sharing some tips to help you boost your confidence in the process.
Here are three easy ways you can talk about math at the market.
Count and compare
What you’re teaching: basic counting, comparing quantities (more than, less than, equal to), & number recognition
How to teach it: As you shop, ask your child to count the apples in a basket or the ears of corn in a pile. Compare quantities by asking questions like “Do we have more apples, or more oranges?” Let them help you choose between two similarly priced items, and prompt them to identify the better value.
Manage your money
What you’re teaching: basic addition and subtraction, understanding money values, & making change
How to teach it: Give your child a small budget to spend on their favorite fruits or vegetables. Let them help you choose items, calculate the total cost, and practice paying with cash, card, or EBT chips/Farm Bucks.
For older kids, this can be a part of a larger lesson about cooking. Having your kid choose their own recipe, buy all the ingredients, and make it themselves is a great summer activity. Plus, it keeps them busy for a whole afternoon.
If you need a prompt to get you started, here’s an example of a price tracker that SUMM gives out at our market visits.
Estimate and measure
What you’re teaching: understanding units of measurement, estimation skills, & visual comparison
How to teach it: Ask your child to estimate the weight of a watermelon or other large produce item before it's weighed. Discuss the different units of measurement used by the vendors. Compare the sizes of different fruits and vegetables, and try using comparative terms (i.e. bigger, smaller, heavier, lighter).
All this being said, we know that it’s hard to teach kids concepts like these when you don’t feel confident in your own ability.
Here are some tips that SUMM staff use to boost our own math confidence at events.
Embrace your mistakes. Don't be afraid to admit when you don't know something. Young children often mirror their caretaker’s emotions, so being a role model in the face of failure shows that it's okay to struggle and learn from errors. I personally use phrases like “That’s a good question. I don’t know the answer. Let’s look it up together.”
Focus on the process, not just the answer. When you explain your thinking process, you’re subtly encouraging your child to do the same. Emphasize that your process is often more important than getting the right answer immediately.
Celebrate little victories. Acknowledge and praise your child's efforts. Positive reinforcement goes a long way!
Visit SUMM at a farmers market to multiply your math learning.
Looking to outsource your math teaching? SUMM will be bringing math games and activities to the Lake City, Phinney, and Magnolia Farmers Markets throughout summer 2025.
Check out our events calendar to find SUMM at a community space near you. Happy learning!
