Haunted House Math Activity

Directions

1. Collect your supplies: craft paper, markers, white card stock or paper plates, scissors, painter's tape, and push pins or extra painter's tape for hanging.
2. Cut simple ghost shapes from the paper plates or card stock. Draw faces and numbers on them (I used 1 through 10, but choose numbers your child is working on).
3. Draw a haunted house on the craft paper. It might take a few tries—my first attempt was terrible, but the rejects became coloring sheets for my toddler.
4. Write simple equations, number words, or just numbers on the house for matching. For a toddler, you can skip matching altogether and just let them play with the numbered ghosts.
5. Stick painter's tape on the backs of the ghosts and on the haunted house where you'll place the equations.
6. Attach the equations to the house, arrange the ghosts nearby, and call your little mathematician over.
7. If your child thinks it's too easy (like my son did), offer to time them with your phone—only if they're excited by the challenge. Timing shouldn't pressure kids negatively.
8. My son matched the number words to the ghosts quickly with the timer running, which made it more engaging for him.
9. Then swap the words for simple equations. I told my son we wouldn't time this round, since harder ones might frustrate him if he struggled.
10. After my son finished, I cleared the taped equations off the house and put the ghosts back on the wall. Then I invited my 2-year-old daughter to place the ghosts in the house—she named the numbers she knew and asked about the others, enjoying the activity at her own level.