“So, what did you learn today?”
You pick them up from school and ask the big question. The answer is usually “nothing.” Planet Ponder turns it into a conversation: pull up a puzzle or two and ponder it together. In about 10 minutes your Kindergarten to Grade 5 child reviews the day's reading, spelling and math, from patterns and addition to multiplication and division.
Ask, ponder, talk it through
Ask what they learned
In the car, on the walk home or over a snack, ask what they learned today. Even a shrug and a “stuff about numbers” gives you somewhere to start.
Ponder a puzzle or two
Open today's riddle or puzzle together and pick the one that matches their day: a word mystery after a reading lesson, a number puzzle after math. It takes about 10 minutes.
Talk it through
Ask how they cracked it. Explaining a guess out loud is when the day's lesson really sticks, and you get a real answer to “what did you learn today?”
What did they learn? Try this
Reading & spelling
Ask: “Which word in the poem gave it away? Can you think of another word that rhymes with it?”
Numbers & counting
Ask: “Can you count it a different way? Which number is bigger, and how do you know?”
Patterns
Ask: “What comes next, and what's the rule? Can you make up a pattern for me to solve?”
Addition & subtraction
Ask: “Did you add or take away to get there? Can you check it by going backwards?”
Multiplication & division
Ask: “Is there a group you could count by 2s, 5s or 10s? How could you share it out equally?”
Ideas for every age
Kindergarten, Grade 1 & Grade 2
Read the poem together and let them listen for sounds and rhymes. On the math side, count out loud, spot simple patterns and practise adding and taking away small numbers.
Grade 3, Grade 4 & Grade 5
Let them take the lead and explain their thinking to you. It's a quick review of vocabulary and spelling, and of the times tables, division and multi-step math they're working on in class.
We're the gym equipment, not the textbook. School teaches the lesson; a few minutes of pondering together each day is the rep that makes it stick.
Questions from parents
Is Planet Ponder free?
Yes. Planet Ponder is free to play on the web, iOS and Android.
How long does it take each day?
About 10 minutes: one or two puzzles, short enough to fit between pickup and dinner.
What grades is it for?
Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4 and Grade 5, with English practice in Wordoem and math practice in Number Nebula.
Does it replace homework?
No. Planet Ponder doesn't teach the curriculum; school has that covered. It's a short daily review that helps what they learned in class stick, like a worksheet reinvented as a riddle.
What if my child gets stuck?
That's the good part. Work through the clues together, talk about what you each notice, and remember there's a fresh mystery tomorrow.
Hapoo, Tapi and Clover have today's mysteries ready for after school.
