use the picture to tell a math story

In the picture, there are 4 monkeys and 8 bananas. Each monkey gets 2 bananas. So it's 8 divided by 4 equals 2. That's the math story.

Well, let's say there are 5 friends in the picture. There are 10 apples. Each friend gets 2 apples. So the math story is about division, 10 divided by 5 equals 2.

Well, children can first describe what they see in the picture. Maybe it's a picture of a beach. They can mention the sand, the ocean, and the sun. And then build a story around it. Like a boy who builds a huge sandcastle on the beach and then has to defend it from the incoming tide.

One way is to focus on the expressions of the characters in the picture. Say it's a picture of a family having dinner. The smiling faces can indicate a happy family gathering. Then you can create a story about the family traditions during dinner time, like how they share stories from their day. You can also mention the food on the table and how it was prepared, all based on what you see in the picture.

Well, kids can start by picking out the most interesting part of the picture. Suppose the picture shows a big house with a lot of flowers around it. They might begin with 'There is this amazing big house. It has so many colorful flowers all around it. In the house, there lives a kind old lady. One day, a lost kitten came to her doorstep. The old lady took the kitten in and gave it some milk. And that's how their story could start, just by using what they see in the picture.

Well, it makes math more fun. Instead of just looking at dry numbers and formulas, kids can see math in a story context. For example, in 'The Greedy Triangle', they learn about shapes in an adventure - like story. It also helps with better understanding as the visual elements of the picture books support the math concepts. It can be less intimidating for kids who might be scared of math otherwise.

First, choose picture cards with relevant themes. For example, if it's a fairy - tale story, pick cards with castles, princesses, and magic wands. Then, arrange the cards in a sequence that makes sense for the story's plot. Start with an introduction card, like a picture of a forest where the story begins. As you go through the cards, describe what's happening in each one. For instance, if a card shows a wolf, you can say 'And then, a big bad wolf appeared in the forest.' Keep the story flowing by connecting the pictures and adding your own words to make it interesting.

One way is to focus on the main element in the picture. Let's say the picture shows a little girl with a balloon. You can say 'A little girl held onto her balloon tightly as she walked down the street. It was her most precious possession.' And then build the story around it. She might be on her way to a party and is excited to show the balloon to her friends. Or perhaps she found the balloon and it's like a magical discovery for her.

First, you need to select a set of pictures that have a connection. For example, if you have pictures of a sunrise, a person jogging in the park, and people having breakfast at a cafe. You can start the story with the beauty of the sunrise, then introduce the active person jogging in the new day, and finally show how the day goes on with people enjoying their breakfast. This way, the sequence of pictures helps build a story about a new day starting.

Yes. 'One Hundred Hungry Ants' is a good picture book with math in the story. It shows different ways to divide the ants into groups for marching, which is related to division concepts. 'Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar' is also wonderful. It presents the concept of multiplication in a very visual and interesting way. And 'Sir Cumference and the First Round Table' uses a story about King Arthur's table to teach about circles and circumference.