Remember the belt loops are for the scout doing their best to learn about the sport or academic activity, and by putting the new techniques to practice with fellow scouts, in their community, or working with an adult.

1. Do five activities within your home or school that require the use of mathematics. Explain to your den how you used everyday math.

2. Keep track of the money you earn and spend for three weeks.

3. Measure five items using both metric and non-metric measures. Find out about the history of the metric system of measurement.

What is Mathematics?

When most people think about mathematics, they think about adding and subtracting, multiplying and dividing, memorizing formulas, and other ways of working with numbers. But making calculations is only one part of mathematics. Mathematics also includes recognizing shapes and forms (geometry); measuring the properties of things (how long, how wide, how deep, how fast, how far away, how hot, how cold, how much); collecting, organizing, and manipulating numerical information to better understand events (statistics); and finding out how likely it is that certain events will happen (probability).

Everyday Mathematics

You use math every day and all around you without even thinking about it.

• You measure when you cook, build something, sew.

• You count when you use money, or even when you play music.

• You use math when you keep score at an athletic game or when you figure sports statistics, such as batting averages in baseball.

• You measure time when you estimate how long it will take you to walk to the store or when you'll get back from a movie.

• You use your knowledge of measurement and fractions when you cut a pizza into equal pieces.

Resources

Check the children's section at your local library for information on astronomy. If you have access to the Internet, try using various search engines to look for the information you need.

See also the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics: Web Site:    http://www.nctm.org/