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10 Creative Ways to Teach Math Through Storytelling

Writer's picture: H. & N. BlackburnH. & N. Blackburn

Storytelling has been a part of human history for thousands of years, and for good reason: stories captivate, inspire, and educate. When it comes to teaching math to kids, storytelling offers a unique way to make complex concepts relatable and memorable. Whether you're a teacher, tutor, or a homeschooling parent, here are ten creative ways to blend math and storytelling to spark curiosity and enthusiasm in your learners.


1. Turn Word Problems into Mini Adventures

Transform standard word problems into mini-adventures that kids can personalize. For example, they might create a story about climbing a tree to rescue a kite or helping a friend solve a real-world problem using math. Kids can choose their own characters and scenarios, drawing inspiration from books they’ve read or even creating entirely original ones. If they enjoy Marvin the Math Cat, they might incorporate him and his friends, but that’s just one option. For example:

John needs to climb a tree to rescue his kite. Each branch is 3 feet apart. How many branches does he need to climb to reach a height of 15 feet?
A kid climbing a tree to rescue a kite.
Child's kite rescue mission: Climb 5 branches, each 3 feet apart, to reach the kite 15 feet high.

2. Create a Math Comic Strip

Invite students to create their own short comic strips where a character solves a problem using math. This activity combines creativity with problem-solving skills. Kids can invent new characters or draw on familiar ones from stories they love. If they’re fans of Marvin, they might weave him into their strips, but the main focus is on having fun with storytelling and math.


Canva offers customizable blank comic strip templates. These templates feature multiple panels, each providing space for illustrations, dialogue bubbles, and captions. Additionally, you can incorporate a prompt to direct the storyline, such as:

"Create a story where your character needs to use a specific math skill (like fractions, angles, or multiplication) to solve a problem, such as finding hidden treasure or baking the perfect cake. What challenges will they face, and how will math help them succeed?"
Three cartoon cats converse in a grassy landscape. Speech bubbles show curiosity and decisions about finding treasure. Bright, colorful setting.
Dusty, Marvin, and Keisha embark on a treasure hunt adventure, using math problem-solving to find their way.

3. Solve Mysteries with Math

Kids love mysteries! Create a story where characters must solve clues using math to unlock the next part of the adventure. For instance:

The code to the treasure chest is the product of two numbers: one is 73, and the other is 89.

This type of activity encourages logical thinking while keeping kids engaged. While Marvin could feature in these stories, kids are encouraged to invent their own detectives, adventurers, or explorers for a unique spin.

Detective in green with magnifying glass examines a treasure chest. Text reads: "Code is product of 73 and 89." Mood is curious.
Unravel the mystery: Calculate 73 times 89 to unlock the treasure chest's secret code.

4. Use Math Journals as Story Diaries

Encourage kids to keep "Math Diaries" where they document their own math discoveries and experiences. They might write about how they solved a tricky problem, share real-life scenarios like dividing a recipe or budgeting for a party, or reflect on their challenges and successes in math. They could also create fictional stories inspired by math concepts or scenarios, crafting imaginative tales about explorers, inventors, or adventurers using math to achieve their goals. Journals can include drawings, short stories, or even comics to make them more interactive and fun.

A cat with a green bow tie named Marvin the Math Cat looks at a planner with "I LOVE MATH" text and dates. Pens, a calculator, protractor, and compass are nearby on a desk.
A creative approach to integrating math and storytelling, as seen through the eyes of Marvin the Math Cat using a math journal as a story diary.

5. Bring Math to Life with Real-World Scenarios

Engage kids by creating stories about everyday math applications. For example, if a baker has 12 pies and 4 customers, how many pies does each customer get? Or, how many pies are left if 3 customers each buy 2 pies? These real-world scenarios encourage kids to use division and subtraction in practical ways. If some customers buy more than one pie, students must calculate how many pies remain. They could also explore percentages, such as offering discounts to attract customers or calculating how many pies are needed to fill an order.

Cartoon baker smiling in a bakery with pies, bread, and cakes. Text below explains pie distribution. Warm colors and cheerful mood.
Baking up Math: Using a bakery setting to teach division, where 12 pies are equally shared among 4 customers, illustrating practical math concepts.

6. Introduce Math Through Poems and Rhymes

Create short rhymes or poems that tell a story while teaching a math concept. For instance:

A pirate sailed to find some gold, He found some chests, so I am told. Six rows of chests, eight in each line, Let’s do the math and make it shine!

Expand this activity by encouraging kids to write their own rhymes about everyday math problems or scenarios. They could explore topics like dividing a pizza, sharing toys among friends, or solving a riddle about shapes. Kids can also illustrate and compile their rhymes into a short poetry book.

A cat pirate on a wooden ship wears a black hat with a skull. Text reads a rhyme about finding treasure chests. Blue waves surround the ship.
A clever pirate cat embarks on a mathematical adventure, turning rows of treasure chests into a playful poem.

7. Act Out Math Stories

Turn math problems into skits where kids act out the story. For example, one child could be an adventurer, and another could be a friend, working together to calculate the length of a rope needed to cross a river. Alternatively, they might act out a scene where shopkeepers and customers use addition and subtraction to make transactions. Acting out these scenarios makes math tangible and fun.


Another example could involve kids playing "astronauts," figuring out angles to dock their spaceship, or engineers planning a bridge using geometry. Adding props and costumes can make the experience even more engaging.

A cashier in green helps a child with a red cart at checkout. Three smiling kids wait in line behind. Dollar signs float near the register.
Kids enthusiastically role-play a bustling grocery store scene, exchanging play money for pretend groceries.

8. Integrate Technology with Storytelling

Explore free online tools like Animaker, Scratch, or Pixton to help kids create simple, animated math stories. These platforms are user-friendly and allow kids to craft their own characters and narratives, making math concepts come to life. For example, they could animate a story about solving a geometry problem to build a house or measure land for a garden.

Collage of three colorful websites: Animaker (purple, video creation), Scratch (purple, coding), Pixton (blue, math story starters).
Explore creative platforms like Animaker, Scratch, and Pixton designed to empower kids in crafting engaging, animated math stories.

9. Design Math Escape Rooms

Set up an escape room scenario where kids solve math puzzles to unlock clues and advance in the story. They could design their escape room around anything that sparks their imagination—like a spaceship, a medieval castle, or an underwater cave.


To make it easy, encourage kids to design their own free escape games for math learning using Room Escape Maker. This tool allows students to build interactive escape room puzzles where math plays a key role in solving clues and unlocking new challenges.


For example, an escape game set in an ancient temple might involve:


  • Story Starter: A group of explorers is trapped in an ancient temple. The only way out is to solve math-based riddles that unlock doors.

  • Math Clue Ideas:

    • A locked chest that opens only if students solve an equation.

    • A hidden number pattern that reveals the next path forward.

    • A maze where correct answers determine the right turns.

  • Challenge: Students must use logic and math to find their way out!

Marvin the Math Cat and his friend, Dusty, in a modern living room; Dusty is on a sofa, and Marvin is on the floor examining a a clue containing a math problem. Light, neutral decor.
Marvin the Math Cat and his best friend, Dusty, unravel math puzzles in a sleek escape room, sparking young minds to crack codes and uncover secrets.

10. Create an "Interactive Adventure" Math Story

Write interactive stories where kids make choices to decide the direction of the story. For instance:

If you think Marvin should climb the ladder to the top of the roof, continue to the next page. If you think Marvin should go through the tunnel, turn to page 12.

When they turn to their chosen page, they’ll find a math challenge woven into the story before continuing. For example:

Marvin climbs the ladder to the house's roof, where he finds another clue: A number is a multiple of both 4 and 6. It is between 20 and 30. What is the number?

Each correct answer leads to the next part of the story. These adventures can include branching storylines, so choices lead to different outcomes. Encourage kids to write their own interactive stories set in unique locations, such as jungles, futuristic cities, or magical lands. Marvin the Math Cat fans might enjoy crafting adventures featuring Marvin and his friends, but the possibilities are limitless.

Open book with showing Marvin the Math Cat wearing a green bow tie. Left: house, tunnel options. Right: Marvin on roof with an envelope, facing a clue.
Marvin the Math Cat is on an adventure, deciding whether to climb the ladder or explore the tunnel. What will you choose for Marvin?

Why Storytelling is One of the Most Creative Ways to Teach Math

Stories provide context, making abstract math concepts feel relevant. They also engage both hemispheres of the brain, combining logic with creativity. Plus, storytelling fosters problem-solving skills and encourages kids to see math as an integral part of their world.


Conclusion

Teaching math through storytelling doesn’t just make it more fun—it helps kids retain what they learn by embedding it in memorable narratives. Whether it’s through comics, mysteries, or interactive adventures, these creative approaches will inspire kids to see math as a story worth telling.


Sign up for our Free Resource library to access printable templates such as Marvin's Fraction Pizza Party template, games like Marvin's Math Bingo Game and the Geometry Vocabulary Game, and other math activity resources that make math an unforgettable adventure. Let’s make math a story your kids will love to tell!

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