Janice VanCleave's Math for Every Kid: Easy Activities that Make Learning Math Fun
Grade 3-8-- A basic introduction to math concepts. VanCleave's approach may seem a bit formal and textbook-like, but the actual content is fun and inviting. She divides the text into four broad categories: basics, which includes discussion of fractions, averages, equivalants and multiples; measurements; graphing; and geometry. Each section is systematically set up to state the objective or purpose; define facts or explain terms; present problems to solve; provide step-by-step solutions; give exercises to practice the concept; suggest an activity to apply the new skill; and supply answers to the exercises. All of the terms in the glossary are printed in boldface in the text. Activities show readers how to make $5 billion in 30 days, to create a glob solution like silly putty, to assemble and use a trundle wheel, or to graph Girl Scout cookie sales. Most sections include a "Did you know?" with amazing facts based on the principle explained. The format lends itself to individualized work from start to finish. A good selection for libraries looking for material on supplemental or remedial mathematics and a real boost to a weak section in most collections. --Nancy A. Gifford, Schenectady County Public Library, NYCopyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.