A lot of learning takes place on our little trips home from the river. Yesterday, like many days lately, we stopped off at the little vegie stand to buy some beans and corn. I rummaged through my wallet trying to work out how many items we could purchase.
I found $4.00 so we jumped out and grabbed a bag of beans.
We got back in the car but then I felt desperately sure that we needed more corn as well.
I began to rummage again.
Me: How much do I need for 2 cobs, Lew? rummage rummage
Lew: Well, 2 cobs is 70 plus 70...that's $1.40.
Me: Ooh, hang on there's some more money here...$3.00!
Me: How many do I get for $3.00?
Lewi: $1.40 plus $1.40 is $2.80.
Me: OK so we could get 4 cobs, right?
Lewi: Yep.
Lew takes the money and chooses 4 nice corn cobs. Then he puts the $3.00 into the honesty box ...
Lew: So I'll need some change. 20cents? Is 20cents change what I take out, mum?
The ever-careful-and-desiring-to-do-the-right-thing Lewi makes sure that he's not ripping anyone off. He jumps back into the car and we buckle up but then I stop and think about whether we'd have enough for 2 more cobs.
Me: Can you just check my wallet again and see if we've got enough for 2 more cobs, please?
Lew: Yep...yes, you've got $1.50 left.
Me: Could you grab another 2 then please, Lew?
Lew hops back out of the car and chooses another 2 cobs.
Lew: So, 2 cobs for $1.40 but I've got $1.50...10 cents I get back, don't I?
Me: Yes, mate.
Helping each other work out what we need to buy corn and beans with the little shrapnel we had. That's called life learning. That's what we need maths for. Is it not?
3 comments:
Hi Kim! As I promised, i'm stopping by - i aim to catch up on a lot more of your posts in the next few days, too.
I just wanted to say YES, that is exactly what we need maths for!! Maths is all around us, everyday, almost everything we do...i'm stunned when people ask how unschooling kids could learn maths - how could they not!!??
Looking forward to learning more about you and your family,
Jo
Hi Jo and thanks for stopping by:) I know, it's funny how many people seem to only think of maths as a sit-down-open-the -book-and-go-through-the-sums sort of method for learning.
Thanks for reading:)
And another great post Kim. I somehow missed this. xxoo
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