By allowing the kids to approach math problems that they would face on a regular day, you can get them solving their own problems. For example, if every other student at a table needs a pair of scissors, how will the child determine how many scissors to bring to his group? Or, if there are 20 crayons and every student gets the same number of crayons, how many crayons does each student get?
Instead of giving elementary school students numbers that are written out, you can help them visualize by using toys or other fun items that can be counted. For example, five elephants went to the park, a mother, father, two brothers and a sister. The two brothers and one sister decided to play on the merry-go-round; how many elephants are playing on the merry-go-round? How many are left in the original group?
A story will help children be entertained when thinking about numbers. You can change the complexity of a story according to the age of your students. For example, a train went on a trip to deliver lettuce to three communities full of rabbits. The train was carrying 20 barrels of lettuce. Each community was given one barrel for every 100 rabbits. The first community received 10 barrels, the second received five. How many rabbits lived in the last community? Answer: 500.
Students often forget to account for the decimal point in numbers. By creating a decimal dance on the chalk board they will always remember. For example, when a number is written on the chalk board, count the number of spaces over a decimal will be placed by drawing large half circles for each time the decimal "dances" past a number. Calling it a decimal dance will help the kids to remember to place the dot.