You might not realize it, but we use math every day! We use math when playing games, sharing snacks, telling time, shopping, and building things. In these books, readers can practice mathematical tips and strategies, solve logic puzzles, learn about inspirational mathematicians, and more. They make a great starting point for classroom discussion and activities!
Calculating Chimpanzees, Brainy Bees, and Other Animals with Mind-Blowing Mathematical Abilities by Stephanie Gibeault and illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett
This book explores the remarkable mathematical abilities of five animals: guppies, hyenas, African grey parrots, chimpanzees, and honeybees. This 2025 Mathical Honor Book provides a window into how scientists study animal behavior and number skills. Readers are sure to be fascinated that fish can distinguish between large and small quantities; African grey parrots can represent numbers with symbols; chimpanzees can add; honeybees understand the concept of zero; and hyenas count.
Classroom Activity – Animal Math Research Posters
Some animals have amazing math skills! To learn more, students can work in small groups to research one animal from the book. Students can take what they learned and create a poster explaining the animal’s math skill, how scientists studied it, and why the discovery is important. Students can include diagrams, number facts, and illustrations in their poster presentation.
Show and Tell! Great Graphs and Smart Charts: An Introduction to Infographics, written by Stuart J. Murphy and illustrated by Teresa Bellón
This book is an excellent introductory guide that shows how to collect and display information using eye-catching, easy-to-interpret line graphs, bar graphs, pictographs, and pie charts. It’s perfect for children interested in surveys, organizing and interpreting data, and visually representing their findings for others.
Classroom Activity – Classroom Infographic Survey Project
After learning about graphs and charts, it’s time for students to make their own! First, have students conduct a class survey on a topic such as favorite snacks, pets, or hobbies. Students organize the data into bar graphs, pie charts, or pictographs and then create colorful infographics to present their findings to the class.
Do the Math!: Challenging, Fun Math Puzzles for Kids, by Steven and Jessica Clontz
This book offers a plethora of puzzles for readers to complete while working on core math skills. Through clear instructions and a variety of activities, the reader develops logical thinking skills as they solve different types of puzzles one chapter at a time.
Logic Workbook for Gritty Kids series
Choose different levels of fun puzzles and games to develop spatial reasoning, math skills, and focus in the Logic Workbook for Gritty Kids series. In each book, the puzzles increase in difficulty to maintain motivation.
Perfectly Logical!: Challenging Fun Brain Teasers and Logic Puzzles for Smart Kids by Jenn Larson
This book of logic puzzles and games focuses on developing skills such as abstract reasoning and processing speed.
Classroom Activity – Logic Puzzle Stations
Create rotating stations using different types of logic puzzles, inspired by Do the Math!, Perfectly Logical!, and the Logic Workbook for Gritty Kids series. Each station focuses on a different skill, such as spatial reasoning, number patterns, riddles, or deductive thinking. Students work individually or in pairs to solve the puzzles and explain their reasoning. Finish with a class discussion about different problem-solving strategies.
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Carla Mooney loves to explore the world around us and discover the details about how it works. An award-winning author of numerous nonfiction science books for kids and teens, she hopes to spark a healthy curiosity and love of science in today’s young people. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, three kids, and dog. Find her at http://www.carlamooney.com, on Facebook @carlamooneyauthor, or on Instagram @moonwriter25
