Cognitive Cardio Math
  • Cognitive Cardio Math
  • Math Blog
    • Math Blog Table of Contents
  • Shop
  • Free Math & ELA Resources
  • Problem of the Week
  • Math Games
  • Privacy Policy

How Does Coloring Help Improve Math Skills?

12/11/2017

0 Comments

 
This post is from my old blog, and was written in April, 2015, but I thought it was worth transferring here and sharing:-)
Pin it
How does coloring help improve math skills? Blog post with free color by number.
Today, as my students were working on a color by number in math class (which I thought was a fun, different way to practice math), one of them asked "How does coloring help with math?" The question was asked with a "there's no reason I should have to do this" attitude. I explained that it helped with motor skills and helped one to use the brain in a different way, and that exercising the brain in different ways could help in all things that require thinking (not just math). I don't think he really appreciated my answer:)

So, I decided to do a little research, to see what I could find. Most of what I found (not a super-long time of searching, because I didn't have that much time!) was related to the benefits of coloring for young children (and did relate to math skills) and for adults. Here are a few things that I found, as coloring relates to adults:

According to the Huffington Post (10/13/14), coloring benefits adults (and I would assume children as well) because it "generates wellness, quietness and also stimulates brain areas related to motor skills, the senses and creativity." In addition, psychologist Gloria Martinez Ayala states that when we color, we activate different areas of our two cerebral hemispheres. "The action involves both logic, by which we color forms, and creativity, when mixing and matching colors. This incorporates the areas of the cerebral cortex involved in vision and fine motor skills [coordination necessary to make small, precise movements]. The relaxation that it provides lowers the activity of the amygdala, a basic part of our brain involved in controlling emotion that is affected by stress."
Free integer operations color by number.Click to download from TPT.
According to PenCentral, coloring benefits adults in helping them to maintain fine motor skills -this requires extra work by your brain to coordinate your actions and muscle control in your hands and arms. Coloring can help delay the loss of fine motor skills as people age. Coloring may also help fight cognitive loss, especially
​if challenging pieces are completed every so often.


I didn't necessarily find research to answer my student's exact question, but what I found was quite interesting! If anyone knows of other articles or published research to support the role of coloring in improving math skills, please let me know!


Picture



​If you'd like to receive a free color by number each month, check out the Color by Number Club!

Picture
Read next:
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    Hey there! I'm Ellie - here to share math fun, best practices, and engaging, challenging, easy-prep activities ideas!
    Looking for a particular topic or activity? Check out the Blog Table of Contents.

    Pixel art create your own color by answer
    math color by number activities for grades 5 to 7
    note taking graphic organizers for 6th grade math

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    September 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    March 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    January 2013

Back to Free Page
  • Cognitive Cardio Math
  • Math Blog
    • Math Blog Table of Contents
  • Shop
  • Free Math & ELA Resources
  • Problem of the Week
  • Math Games
  • Privacy Policy