Week 1: Back to School Math Idea Share by Holly Switzer

2023-08-14 20:15:48 UTC

I split my class into groups of 5. Each group gets a 48 piece puzzle. They have to work together to finish it. Then we switch puzzles and they have to work silently. This helps me see who works well together. It helps me realize quickly which groups I need to make changes to.

Getting to Know you with Math

2023-08-15 14:53:46 UTC

This is similar to the activity we did in class with sticky notes using numeracy. It also allows me to get to know the students and for the students to get to know each other. I observe their interactions when they pair-share.

2023-08-16 21:06:46 UTC

We played 101 and Out. This allowed me to model "math game" expectations, students to practice expectations and for me to get an idea of who has a strong number sense and who may need extra support.
This paper and pencil game works well in second to fifth grade classrooms and can be played by teams of students or in pairs. To play you will need a sheet of paper, a pencil, and one dice. The object of the game is to score as close to 101 without going over or “out.”
To play, students take turns rolling the dice. As they roll, they can either take the number as a one or a ten. For example, if a student rolls a 5, they could take it as a 5 or a 50. Students keep a running record of their total as they play.
I love how the kids start to form a strategy for what numbers they want to roll next. It’s a great way to build mental math strategies. To introduce this game, I played it as, “The Teacher vs. The Class”. This allows time for me to model while keeping the kids in on the action.

Monster Math

2023-08-17 14:28:20 UTC

We played Monster Math. I was able to use this as a model for the "G" station in "GUIDE". Students were able to practice their multiplication facts in a fun way! They get super competitive but have so much fun with it! I loved being able to use this as an implementation to my "G" station. I forgot to take a picture, though!

Multiplication Number Battle

2023-08-17 17:41:47 UTC

This is a quick and fun hands-on game that I chose to use as part of my station work. Students pick one partner and get a deck of playing cards. They split the deck into two stacks, they each pick up two cards, multiply them, and whoever has the larger product wins the round. The point of the game is to win the most cars. This is an example of one of my students who recorded her rounds to get credit for doing the game. They had to record at least 20 rounds to get full credit. I know this seems a little kiddish but my 6th graders truly loved doing this and need extra practice with their fast facts. This was their favorite station they said because they love a good competition!

Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe

2023-08-17 21:30:02 UTC

We played this game the first day, and my honors students have begged all week to play again. We learned about teamwork, strategy and planning ahead, coaching each other, and sportsmanship.

Directions are from https://www.thegamegal.com/2018/09/01/ultimate-tic-tac-toe/
1. Draw a very large tic-tac-toe grid.
2. Inside each section of the grid, draw a smaller tic-tac-toe grid. (My students used dry erase boards as the smaller grids and the spaces between the boards as the larger grid.)
3. To win the game, you have to win three of the larger squares in a row, and to win a large square, you have to win three in a row in the smaller grid inside it.
4. Here’s how it works. Say X goes first. Now, just like in normal tic-tac-toe, O gets to go. But O can’t just go anywhere. The smaller grid O must play in is determined by X’s move. So since X went in the bottom right corner within his small grid, O must go in the bottom right corner of the large grid.

Figure Me Out

2023-08-17 23:21:33 UTC

I used this activity on the first day to allow students to learn a little more about me. I have them solve the problems on a pre-made sheet where they can solve the problem for each fact about me. After allowing them time to "figure me out," students create their own "figure me out" chart. First they use numbers to describe themselves. Then they create an equation that gives them that number.

I allow students to use addition, subtraction, or multiplication equations to describe themselves. I let them know that it is okay to only use addition or subtraction sentences to describe themselves if they do not know how to do multiplication.

Having students solve equations about me helps me see if they can set up an equation on their paper. Especially with the two digit equations I can see if students are able to set up the equation on their paper based on place value. It also helps me see if students can break apart numbers. Including numbers that represent doubles. Or if they have any higher level mathematical skills.

Sell that Property

2023-08-18 11:43:32 UTC

Students had to create a slogan, explanation, and show examples of assigned mathematical properties. The students worked in groups and presented their properties in order to "sell" them to the class.

Math Alphabet

2023-08-18 12:09:33 UTC

I gave students a list of the ABCs and gave them time to brainstorm any math words they could think of. Then we went over the list together and they were able to share their ideas. I used this to see who gave up easily, who worked hard/tried their best, etc. AND what topics they remember pertaining to math from previous years.

Factile (Jeopardy game)

2023-08-18 13:10:26 UTC

This is a free jeopardy style game that my students and I have loved to play! We did a 4th grade review today (in a 5th grade classroom). It has a public games option where you can search for what you are wanting to review but you are also able to create your own game. Very user friendly! I have had really good luck finding overall review games to play that covers what we have done in class. Anything to save some time and not have to create something from scratch is always the way to go for me! :)

-Kelsi Buch

https://www.playfactile.com/

Link to our game we played: https://playfactile.com/l3tdnorecd/

shortcut for square roots/perfect squares

2023-08-18 14:43:43 UTC

I just recently ran across this quick memory game --you write numerous numbers as square roots on index cards and have the students determine and separate the perfect squares and non-perfect squares--the trick is that you give them the information that Perfect squares never end in the number 2,3,7 or 8.. they only end in 0,1,4,5,6 and 9 --quick memory game

Figure Me Out

2023-08-18 15:50:10 UTC

I also used the Figure Me Out activity at the beginning of the school year. I decided to just use numbers and not equations because I knew there would be a lot of questions and little fires to put out everywhere (I'm in 3rd) :) The kids were amazed at my "big" numbers like my age and why my birth year is so different from there's!

Let's make a connection!

2023-08-18 20:46:27 UTC

Students worked together representing adding integers on a number line. The objective was for students to discover a pattern and explain the rules when adding negative and positive numbers.

Name tag and post-it introductions 4th

2023-08-19 00:26:44 UTC

I used both of the activities we did with Lisa as get to know you warm ups the first two days of class. I loved them and the students did a great job participating in both! The first day, students created a name tag and included their birthday, used math to describe something they liked to do, and included the last time they used math. This got the students sharing and helped me to learn everyone's name quicker :). On the second day we used the post its and they used numbers to describe their family. Another great get to know me activity! - Jenna Pinckney

Odd and Even

2023-08-21 00:39:04 UTC

We are moving pretty slow in 2nd grade and still working on routines and procedures. I did teach two games as a whole group this week and are going to work on independence this week!
1) Second Grade/First Grade
2) Odd and Even/Place Value/Comparing Numbers
3) Students simply grabbed a handful of buttons. They counted the buttons and then put the buttons in pairs to see if any were left over. We "discovered" that numbers with only pairs were even and numbers with 1 left over were odd. Then I introduced a game called "Even Elly and Odd Olly" that will go in our "G" rotation.
3b) We also worked on building numbers with units, rods and flats. This led into the discussion of the value of each digit. Students got with a partner to build two numbers and then used <, >, = to compare the two numbers. This will be a game that will go into our "G" rotation and stay there a while.

*I didn't get a picture of my two games that will be used in stations. I'm sorry!

Make worksheets fun

2023-08-22 16:21:55 UTC

I found this idea on MTM, but give each group the same set of problems. Have 1-3 tic tac toe boards drawn. Assign 1/2 of the class as x's, the other half as o's. When a group finishes, check their answers and if they are correct, they can put up their x or o. They then get a new set of problems. Everyone keeps working until the game boards are full.

50/50! (A quick game)

2023-09-05 02:30:21 UTC

50/50 is a quick adding numbers game that really any grade can play! It is super fast and can be played as a break in the middle of class or when you have those few extra moments at the end of class that you want to fill with something math related! I normally call on 2 random students (using my Popsicle sticks), they come up to the front of the room and play rock/paper/scissors to see who goes first.......they can only say the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. Nothing else. The winner of RPS says the first number, then the other student says a number, I am the calculator and add the numbers together, and the first person to make it to 50, wins! I tell them that if they figure out the trick or the strategy, TO NOT TELL ANYONE! So when they come and play the game, that they will know what to do! Some students can figure it out very quickly, but some take a while to get the strategy involved. But it is a super fast game that they love to play!