On Beyond a Million: An Amazing Math Journey
What’s inside...
Professor X and his dog, Y, teach children how to count exponentially by powers of 10, starting from 1 and going up to a googol and beyond. This counting book uses real-life examples to engage children and help them understand our number system, while answering questions like 'What comes after a trillion?' and illustrating fun facts such as the amount of popcorn Americans consume annually. It's a fun and educational way for kids to grasp large numbers and the concept of multiples of 10.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think understanding large numbers can help us in real life?
What was the most surprising thing you learned about numbers from this book?
Can you think of something you would like to count to a million? How would you start?
Why do you think the author chose to take us on a journey beyond a million?
How do numbers help us organize or understand things in the world around us?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the conversation by sharing your own fascination or fun facts about numbers to spark your child's interest.
Relate the discussion back to personal experiences or familiar objects, such as counting stars or leaves, to make large numbers more tangible.
Encourage your child to come up with their own ridiculously large numbers and discuss what could possibly be counted using them.
After reading, engage in activities that involve large numbers, like estimating the number of beans in a jar or grains in a bag of rice, to apply concepts from the book.
Praise your child's attempts to understand and apply mathematical concepts, reinforcing their confidence and interest in math.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding large numbers
Explanation: The book explores the concept of large numbers and counting far beyond the usual limits, using imaginative scenarios.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this knowledge to better comprehend big numbers they encounter in daily life, like distances, populations, or stars in the sky.
Example Lesson: Appreciating mathematics
Explanation: Through engaging illustrations and stories, the book presents math as an intriguing and accessible subject.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to approach their math studies with enthusiasm and confidence, seeing math as a fun part of everyday thinking.
Example Lesson: Sequential thinking
Explanation: The progression from smaller to exceedingly large numbers teaches children how sequences build upon prior knowledge.
Real-World Application: Kids learn to think step-by-step, a skill useful in problem-solving tasks at school or in daily activities.
Example Lesson: Curiosity and exploration
Explanation: The book challenges the reader to think beyond the conventional, sparking curiosity about numbers and beyond.
Real-World Application: Curiosity fostered by the book can lead children to explore other academic subjects with an open and inquisitive mindset.