Hit the Road, Math!
With the 4th of July long weekend soon upon us, many families are planning to hit the road for a long weekend getaway. So why not turn those travel plans into learning and connection?
In this week’s Talking Math, we’ve chosen a few ways to involve your child in your travel plans, and share how they relate to different math skills. This isn't about forcing learning moments, but about making math fun and engaging.
Financial planning
Calculate your fuel or electric charging expenses. If you’re driving, use concepts like distance, fuel efficiency, and gas/EV charging prices.
Questions to ask: How far is it between gas/charging stations on the map? Which station in that area has the cheapest prices?
Create a fun budget. Allocate a percentage of your trip funds for activities and souvenirs. Let your child be in charge of this budget.
Questions to ask: What do you think we are going to need to buy? What do you think we’ll want to buy?
Track your fun expenses together. When your child inevitably wants to buy something fun on the trip, consider the budget together with them. You can even have them keep a tally of their fun spending to compare to the budget.
Questions to ask: Compared to our total, what percentage of your budget would we be spending on this? Do you think this is a good purchase? Why or why not?
Let your child take the lead on certain tasks, like choosing where to eat along the way or how to stack suitcases in the car. Foster their independence, share the decision-making process, and celebrate their contributions together as a family!
Navigation & time management
Calculate distances and times. Estimate your travel time based on distance, speed, and average speed.
Questions to ask: If we traveled 150 miles in 3 hours, what was our average speed?
Plan your route together. You can use a paper map and ruler to measure the distance… but honestly, who looks at a paper map anymore? Online mapping software like Google Maps or Waze use algorithms to figure out the most efficient route. If your kid is interested in programming or video games, this is a great opportunity to discuss real-world applications.
Questions to ask: Which route is the shortest? How would our arrival time change if we didn’t go on highways?
Account for delays. Estimate how much extra time to add to your travel time based on expected traffic delays and planned rest stops. Expect the unexpected!
Questions to ask: If we stop for 20 minutes every 3 hours, how much time should we add onto our travel estimate? What time would we arrive to our destination?
Measurement and spatial reasoning
Turn packing into a game. Identify the 2D and 3D shapes of your family’s luggage (spoiler alert: it might be mostly rectangular prisms). Work together to fit luggage together and maximize space in the car. You can even discuss topics like weight and volume.
Questions to ask: What shape does this look like? Can we fit these shapes together?
Estimate distances together. This can be between landmarks, rest stops, or even mile markers.
Questions to ask: How far away do you think [X] is? Would it take longer to drive there than how it looks on the map? Why?
Discuss ratios when in the city and on the highway. Ask your child to time how long it takes to drive 1 mile in the city and on the highway. By dividing your time by the 1 mile you drove, you can find your time-to-distance ratio.
Questions to ask: Which ratio is bigger? Why do you think that is? What in the city might make our car slow down?
Above all, focus on making math fun and easy-going for your kid. Create a safe space for risk-taking and exploration, and remind them that it's okay to make mistakes. Celebrate every little victory. When they struggle, offer encouragement and support. Share your own feelings about math, and how working together strengthens your bond as a family.
And remember: like a road trip, learning’s about the journey, not the destination!
Looking for more reading while on the road? Check out our recommendations for math books for all ages.
