Category: Early Math Skills

1st Grade, Curriculum, Early Math Skills, Hands on Math, Homeschool, Online Math, Science

SPORK Butterfly Math & Science 1st Grade: A Perfect Blend for Young Learners

Little Learner and Mom

We received SPORK Butterfly Math & Science 1st Grade for our honest Review!

Why Combining Math & Science Makes Learning Fun and Engaging!

As a long-time homeschool mom, I’ve explored many different curricula over the years, and SPORK Butterfly Math & Science 1st Grade has caught my attention for its innovative and hands-on approach. This curriculum seamlessly combines math and science into a unified program, which is not only practical but also exciting for young learners. I can’t help but wish this program was around when my science-loving son was in 1st grade!

Who Would Benefit from SPORK Butterfly Math & Science 1st Grade?

SPORK is an ideal choice for any homeschool family with a child who:

  • Thrives with hands-on learning and loves experimenting with real-world concepts.
  • Is naturally curious about science and how things work.
  • Needs a curriculum that integrates different subjects, reducing the need for separate lessons.
  • Enjoys a mixture of online interactive components and physical, tangible manipulatives.

SPORK combines these subjects in a way that feels natural and fluid, allowing children to develop a solid foundation in both math and science while fostering a love for learning.

A Science-Loving Child’s Dream

Looking back, I know this would have been a great fit for my son when he was in 1st grade. He was always drawn to science, and having math lessons woven into his favorite subject would have been a perfect match for his interests. SPORK Butterfly Math & Science 1st Grade provides opportunities for students to engage in hands-on experiments and investigations, which would have captivated his attention and made learning math concepts feel relevant and fun.

Why the Integration of Math and Science Works

Combining math and science into one curriculum is a brilliant concept. Children naturally encounter math during science experiments (think counting, measuring, comparing), so this integration helps them understand the connection between the two. Rather than treating them as separate subjects, SPORK brings them together in a way that builds a holistic understanding. This approach also reduces the need for separate lesson planning, which is always a win in a busy homeschool day!

Hands-On Manipulatives and Interactive Learning

One of the highlights of the SPORK curriculum is the hands-on manipulatives that come with the homeschool bundle. These materials allow children to physically interact with math and science concepts, helping to solidify their understanding. Whether it’s measuring tools, counting objects, or science experiment kits, SPORK offers tactile learning that suits kids who need to “learn by doing.”

On the online side, SPORK has developed interactive lessons and activities that further enhance learning. These components include:

  • Virtual labs where children can simulate scientific experiments.
  • Interactive math problems that adjust to your child’s learning pace.
  • Engaging videos that explain scientific concepts in a kid-friendly way.

The blend of online learning with physical manipulatives makes SPORK a versatile curriculum that appeals to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.

What’s Included in the SPORK Butterfly Math & Science 1st Grade Homeschool Bundle?

The homeschool bundle is packed with all the essentials you’ll need for a successful year:

  • Purchase includes 18 month license
  • A comprehensive teacher’s guide that walks you through daily lessons and activities.
  • Access to the online platform with interactive math and science lessons.
  • Physical manipulatives like counting blocks, measuring tools, science experiment kits, and more.
  • A student workbook that includes engaging activities, practice problems, and space for journaling scientific discoveries.
  • Printable worksheets and extra resources to further support each unit.

Learning Styles Supported by SPORK

SPORK Math & Science is an excellent fit for several learning styles:

  • Visual learners will appreciate the colorful, interactive online lessons and videos.
  • Kinesthetic learners will thrive with the hands-on activities and experiments.
  • Auditory learners will benefit from the narrated lessons and verbal instructions provided in both the online component and teacher’s guide.

SPORK Butterfly Math & Science 1st Grade is a standout curriculum that brings the best of both subjects into one cohesive package. With its engaging, hands-on approach and seamless integration of math and science, it offers a rich learning experience that would benefit any child. If you have a little one who’s curious about the world, loves to explore, or simply needs a dynamic, well-rounded program, SPORK might just be the perfect fit for your homeschool!

Early Math Skills, Education, Family, Homeschool, Preschool

Creta Class: Math Class

Little Learner and Mom

This review is in partnership with Creta Class. I received access to the app to facilitate my review all opinions are my own.

Math is one of those skills you want to start your children on the right path. As parents, we are our children’s first teachers and we play all kinds of finger play games for counting and read tons of picture books with numbers and counting. What if there was an app that could start your little learners on the right path. Well, the creators at Creta Class have created a wonderful educational platform for children ages 3-8.

At first glance, I was captivated by Creta Class graphics and Momo and his friends. Creta Class was designed by early education experts to ensure your little mathematicians kickstart their math skills on the right foot. Creta Class experts have really outdone themselves with the app. We have reviewed many apps and I was very impressed with how this app was designed.

Creta Class learning approach is systemic there are 5 stages of learning, starting with the very basics of 2D & 3D shapes. Students will work over the week concentrating on that week’s skill. I really appreciate that the app is done daily for as little as 10 minutes a day. Creta Class Math Class lessons are presented with fun animation between the videos students practice the skill 3 times. Creta Class is a mastery math class, students will practice skills and review until they move on to the next week’s unit. Parents receive a detailed report after each week’s unit as well as students can see their progress. Creta Class Math Class is a great way to lesson plan if you are a homeschooler and supplement learning.

What I really like about Creta Class is it’s not a video game or overly loaded with games. The lessons are meaningful and designed to keep your student’s interest and help them learn basic math skills, without all the extra distractions. Creta Class lessons cover:

  • Problem Solving
  • Arithmetic
  • Logical Reasoning
  • Builds Confidence
  • Spatial Awareness

Creta Class 5 stage plan has 240 lessons with one lesson a day for 12 months. I also like that the platform combines lessons that use both real-life pictures and illustrations. With me having background in Montessori I really appreciated the simplicity of the lessons and they are child-led and focus on the whole child.

My son and I tried out several of the units. My son is older than the app appeals to but he found the app fun and agreed with me that this would have been great if he was younger. I really enjoyed the weekly challenge at the end of Unit 1 week 3, he said it was cool how they reviewed all the week’s concepts at the end of the week with a racetrack race. I personally also liked that Thursdays is a review of all the week’s lessons. Creta Class is a safe and educational app that I would feel comfortable using with a younger child. This purposeful screen time with a focus and goal, I wish this app was around when my son was younger.

I really like Creta Class Math Class for ages 3-8 years the program lays a solid foundation for early math skills. With 1000+ lessons, personalized lesson plans, and engaging activities math is fun and easy to master. Students develop a healthy growth mindset toward math and build self-esteem.

Creta ClassI highly recommends Creta Class, you can learn more about this fabulous math app by clicking the banner below or clicking here. Creta Class is available on IOS and Google play. If you are looking to start your students on a great path to math excellence Creta Class is definitely where I would start.

Until the Next Time,

Mom and J