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Children always look forward to summer break—a time for fun and relaxation, free from the added stress of school. However, without structured time for learning, many students experience the summer slide – a loss of crucial skills and knowledge developed over the school year.
In fact, between 70-78% of elementary students experience the summer slide in math each year, making it a prevalent problem.
Once classes start again, educators are stuck reteaching lessons that their students have previously learned. This uses up valuable class time that could be spent learning new material.
However, with the right approach, summer math programs for elementary students can help prevent this learning loss and even spark a new enthusiasm for math.
Effective summer mathematics programs for elementary schools keep kids thinking, moving, and smiling through a variety of learning activities. We’re sharing practical guidance for educators wanting to design their own program that does just that.
So let’s explore how to make math for the summer a time of growth, not regression, and how summer math enrichment programs can turn the warm-weather months into a season of discovery and confidence-building.
Setting achievable goals is key to building an effective and engaging elementary summer math program. Goals provide a clear direction for everyone involved, including students, teachers, and program volunteers. But what exactly should these goals include?
The goals you set for your math enrichment program can address learning gaps that developed throughout the school year. No matter the leading cause, many students benefit from reinforcing foundational skills.
Targeted content goals allow educators to focus on the areas where students are struggling most. This approach strengthens critical math skills while also rebuilding confidence and a positive mindset in students.
Gently introducing new math concepts is another powerful objective for your summer math programs for elementary students. A good summer curriculum offers a low-pressure environment where students can explore upcoming topics with curiosity, rather than anxiety. Students are encouraged to ask questions and make connections at their own pace.
A key goal for any mathematics program for elementary schools should be to nurture a positive attitude toward math. Some estimates suggest that 20-25% of children develop anxiety or negative feelings toward math at an early age – feelings that can impact their academic confidence for years to come. However, adding math to the summer can change the game, giving students the chance to form positive, growth mindsets.
When students feel confident and curious, they’re more likely to approach the new school year with eager and open minds.
Summer offers a unique chance to show students that math can be fun, active, and relevant to daily life. Without the academic pressure and curriculum timelines of the regular school year, math for the summer can incorporate games, movement, and hands-on activities.
To truly reach students during the break, math for the summer has to feel different from regular classroom work. Kinesthetic and gamified learning will help children stay motivated and open to learning. Moreover, research suggests that learners retain up to 75% of information when actively participating in an task, compared to only 10% through more passive methods.
Traditional learning methods, such as worksheets and lectures, often fail to fully engage students, especially kinesthetic learners. This can lead to low motivation that results in little academic progress and growth.
The summer months are a great time to re-engage students in math with kinesthetic learning methods. As educators and parents approach math enrichment programs, it is crucial to seek out dynamic and creative math programs, like Math & Movement.
Incorporating movement into lessons isn’t just fun – it’s also incredibly effective. When students engage their bodies, they activate multiple areas of the brain, resulting in a deeper understanding and improved retention.
Physical activity fuels the brain with oxygen-rich blood flow. It also stimulates the brain to produce a protein called BDNF, which supports the development of new neurons and their connections.
Additionally, exercise causes the brain to release mood-boosting neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine. These chemicals help alleviate anxiety and stress that students may experience in academic settings.
For younger learners in particular, sitting still for long periods can be challenging. Movement-based learning offers opportunities to connect abstract math concepts to physical actions that students can see and feel.
This kind of multisensory approach is especially valuable during the summer months, when students are eager to move and explore. Including movement in summer math programs for elementary students creates a joyful, confidence-building environment where learning can truly flourish.
So what are the essential components of a good summer mathematics program for elementary schools that incorporates academic growth, movement, and fun for all students?
Strengthening number sense is crucial to future mathematical learning. Core concepts like place value, number recognition, skip counting, and number lines build a foundation of knowledge that students will use throughout their lives.
Effective summer math programs for elementary students include active, hands-on activities that reinforce number sense. Math & Movement offers a variety of materials that are ideal for integrating kinesthetic learning into number sense activities.
Students can hop down the Number Line to 10 floor mat to practice counting, 1 to 1 correspondence, number recognition, and number names. This mat features numbers zero through ten in numerals, words, and symbols representing the quantity.
Use our Place Value Hop Mats to teach the fundamentals of multi-place number building and how to read large numbers aloud. Students create a number using the included cards and step on the corresponding blocks to read the number aloud.
These activities transform abstract concepts into tangible experiences, making math for the summer both fun and meaningful.
Developing fluency in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division is another essential component. However, rote memorization isn’t enough. Students need to truly understand how these operations change quantities.
Math & Movement has floor mats where students can physically “step out” math problems or literally move through equations to visualize numeric changes. These physical models foster greater comprehension and memory retention as students use their full bodies to solve problems.
The Add/Subtract 1-100 mat is our large hundred-number grid. Students can add numbers by moving from left to right across the mat and subtract by moving right to left.
This mat is one of our most popular and versatile products, as it helps students see important number patterns.
Our Skip Counting Mats are another popular choice for schools. These number lines have large blocks for each multiple of the main factor. By hopping on these mats, students can visualize multiplication and division problems.
For example, to solve 2 x 6 on the Skip Counting by 2s mat, the student will begin on zero, then jump forward as many times as the factor is being multiplied. In this example, the student will jump forward 6 times while only landing on multiples of 2.The final number that they land on is the product.
Give students opportunities to explore geometry and measurement in concrete, engaging ways, especially during a flexible summer math program for elementary students. These topics come alive when students can move, observe, and interact with math in their surroundings.
Encouraging students to identify shapes in the environment, compare sizes, and explore spatial relationships helps develop essential visual and reasoning skills. Incorporating simple measurement activities, using both standard and non-standard units, reinforces key concepts while building real-world connections.
The Geometric Shapes Hop allows students to do exactly that! The kinesthetic approach allows students to become familiar with shapes and measurements in a large-scale, tactile way.
Mathematics programs for elementary schools can also utilize our Measurement Hop Mat (0-12 feet)! This floor mat introduces students to feet, inches, and yards. The layout makes it easy to compare lengths between standard units of measurement.
Incorporating age-appropriate word problems, logic puzzles, and critical thinking games helps students approach math as a process of inquiry and discovery. These activities promote mathematical reasoning, persistence, and communication – skills that are just as important as content knowledge.
One powerful strategy is to encourage students to verbalize their mathematical thinking. Math talks, collaborative problem-solving, and reflective discussions help students clarify their reasoning and learn from peers. Many Math & Movement activities include a speaking component, during which students explain their thinking or recite a problem aloud while on the mat.
One of the most effective ways to deepen learning in your math enrichment programs is through cross-curricular integration. For example, tracking plant growth in science, creating art projects that involve geometry or pattern recognition, and introducing math-themed picture books are all great opportunities to offer dynamic math lessons.
Math & Movement’s activities and materials provide numerous opportunities for cross-curricular lessons. We offer movement-based activities for literacy, science, and other subjects as well, maximizing instructional time and physical activity.
There are many strategies to consider when leading an effective summer math program. As you make a plan, these methods will help ensure your summer math programs are impactful, inclusive, and inspiring for every learner.
Flexibility is key to a successful math enrichment program. A rigid schedule can make learning feel like a chore, especially when students are expecting a break from routine.
Instead, design your summer math programs around engaging, hands-on learning stations and a variety of activities that allow movement, creativity, and choice. Rotating through stations, such as math games, puzzles, real-world problem-solving, and physical math activities, keeps students energized and focused.
Low-stakes assessment is a valuable tool in any mathematics program for elementary schools, especially during the summer. By using informal strategies, such as observing students during hands-on activities, asking open-ended questions, or conducting quick check-ins, educators can gently gauge students’ understanding without adding pressure. These methods help tailor instruction in real time.
Differentiation is important when designing a summer math program that is inclusive for every learner. A few simple strategies can go a long way:
Let students demonstrate their knowledge in various ways, such as through drawing, writing, movement, or discussion, and provide follow-up questions to challenge those who are ready. These small adjustments help every student thrive in math enrichment programs without needing completely separate lessons.
One of the joys of summer math programs is the flexibility to think outside the classroom—literally! Take advantage of larger spaces like gymnasiums, hallways, or outdoor areas to bring math to life through movement.
Whether it’s using number line mats in a hallway, setting up hopscotch courses on the blacktop, or running skip-counting relays in the gym, changing the environment helps keep energy high and minds engaged.
Collaboration is another powerful tool. Incorporating partner and group activities encourages peer support, shared problem-solving, and joyful learning experiences. As students work as a team, they’re not just practicing math—they’re building communication and confidence.
Related Reading: How to Create the Ultimate Summer Math Program for Your Students
Summer is a time for fun, stress-free activities. Math can be one of those activities! Math & Movement combines physical activity with math practice, creating a natural fit for summer math programs for elementary students. Our program helps learners avoid the summer slide while having fun!
When integrated into your summer math program, Math & Movement:
Incorporate Math & Movement into your summer math program. Through kinesthetic activities and materials, each student will find the fun in math as they strengthen their knowledge and understanding. By the end of summer, they will have developed a newfound confidence in learning and will be well-prepared for the upcoming school year.
Suzy Koontz, CEO and Founder of Math & Movement, has spent over 25 years helping students achieve academic success. She has created over 200 kinesthetic teaching tools adopted by schools nationwide and has authored over 20 books. As a sought-after national presenter, Suzy shares how movement can transform the way students learn.
Movement isn't just for recess
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