Searching for ways to get kids interested in a new math topic? Check out my Top Math Read Alouds for elementary kids. Plus try these simple math activities.
We used this worksheet to count as our final assessment over exponents before jumping in to the Order of Operations.
Save yourself time and frustration with an easy to use Chrome extension that is perfect for math teachers (and students).
Make practicing simplifying fractions FUN with this super cute, free printable, Fraction Board Games. This math game is perfect for 3rd-6th grade students.
Do you dread having early finishers in your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade classroom? Every classroom has them. Grab some free challenges in this post!
If you are looking for math project ideas for 6th grade, you are in the right place! This list contains fifteen of my favorite 6th grade math project ideas.
Learn how create questions that promote productive struggle during your math instruction. Creating complex tasks in math thru word problems builds conceptual understanding.
Project-Based Learning for a Unique Hatchet Novel Study Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen, is a classic survival story that resonates with tweens and teens alike. It lends itself well as a middle school read aloud or book club choice, and offers ample project-based learning activities so that your students can experience Brian's adventures right alongside him. I have read and reread this book multiple times, each time exploring ways to make this book really come alive for kids. While there are many possibilities for STEM challenges, I have narrowed it down to three building challenges that can be done either full scale or small scale. If you can get out in nature to do this it will make even more of an impact and give the kids a real feel for what it might be like to solve problems with items found in nature. Watch the video or read on! Disclaimer: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you downloads of value and information about educational resources. The link below is an Amazon affiliate link. You can read my full disclosure here. I also wanted to make sure to add in some math and science activities that could have helped Brian in his isolation. **Spoiler Alert** If you have not yet read this book, you may want to stop here. I will be referring to several happenings in the book, so be forewarned. How Far Off Course Could Brian Have Gotten? When we aren't yet too far into the book, and Brian has successfully survived the first leg of his adventure (crash landing), he at first thinks a search and rescue team will find him before long. At one point, though, he realizes that he could be quite far off course of his original flight path. How far off course? This is the first exercise in the Hatchet STEM resource I created to accompany this book. The page shown above is one of three options so that kids can work at the level that is appropriate for them. Brian quickly realizes he needs a shelter, so the first STEM challenge is to create a lean-to shelter. Design a Shelter for Brian STEM Challenge for Hatchet This one is amazing to do outside if possible! It can be quite challenging to create one that will hold up to weather and animals. In addition to shelter, the other main important survival issue is food. Can you design and create a bow? Design a Bow for Brian Hatchet STEM Activity The bow ties in nicely to two science experiments, springs and refraction (when Brian tries to catch the fish but they are at a different location than they appear). Science Activities for the book Hatchet For these, I created a simple Hooke's Law experiment that you can do with springs or rubber bands to measure the deflection of a spring and calculate the spring constant, and then a refraction experiment to explore how light bends through water. Measure the Deflection of a Spring for Hooke's Law For the Hooke's Law experiment, measure the deflection of a spring depending on the weight applied. You can do this as I've shown above, hanging a spring off a craft stick supported be two cardboard tubes. Explore Refraction of Light Science Activity For the refraction, use a laser pointer to shine a light on graph paper or a coordinate plane, record the results, then place a glass of water in the line of the laser light and see where the light lands. The final STEM challenge ties in to the end of the book when the plane's tail becomes visible and Brian seeks out the survival pack in the plane. Design a Raft STEM Activity for Brian in the Read Aloud Hatchet Design and create a raft: In addition to the challenges, there are engineering vocabulary cards and background information to go with the challenges. Another great challenge to do after this one is to create an FM receiver/radio. It could be fun to create a transmitter too, but likely not a good idea based on local laws in your area. You can find a few simple FM radio kits, such as this Snap Circuits one (which I favor, because you can build and rebuild it over and over): or this one from WeMake if you are doing this as a homeschool project or group science fair project: I hope you can use some of these activity ideas while studying Hatchet. If you would like the supporting resources that I have created, please click on the image below to head to my Teachers pay Teachers shop, where you can purchase them: Not interested in the paid version? No problem! Pin this post so you can come back later to remember all the challenges I've shared above:
Are you looking for an exponent activity for your 6th grade math students? This exponent card game is your answer!
This resource includes math enrichment choice boards, rubrics, and instructions for every single 6th grade math Common Core State Standard for ratios, proportional relationships, expressions and equations, statistics and probability, geometry, and the number system. These are great for early finishers and students who need enrichment in math. Included in this pack are the math enrichment boards I use for my sixth grade learners who have mastered any of our math concepts and are now ready for a challenge. The choice boards are broken up by each standard so that students who need enrichment can focus on the standard(s) you think they are ready for. There are three different activities for every single CCSS math standard for 80+ different extension activities. Also included are instructions for students and rubrics for assessing student enrichment work. Also Available: Sixth Grade Math Enrichment: The Number System Sixth Grade Math Enrichment: Ratios and Proportional Relationships Sixth Grade Math Enrichment: Geometry Sixth Grade Math Enrichment: Expressions and Equations Sixth Grade Math Enrichment: Statistics and Probability
So you may not remember a time when I taught math, but I did. Full disclosure: Before I was actually forced into an accidental English Language Arts position, I was actually a WAY BETTER math teacher than I was an ELA teacher. Why? When I taught 5th grade, our school had really high reading and ... Read more
This is an amazing art and math lesson that I got from a teacher at a conference who did teach a district over from me, but is now getting her PhD. She always had amazing stuff to present at conference. (You're amazing, Mary Franco!) Anyway, this lesson involves Paul Klee and multiplication. I made a little three page Smart Notebook lesson about Klee's work "Once Emerged From the Gray of Night" (where I used to show a poster of it) and have the students talk about what's more important--the words of the poem or the colors and composition? Then we talk about putting two things (like writing and art, or math and art together). It's SUCH an amazing lesson, here's a sneak peek: So, students get a little background knowledge of Klee, then we talk about tessellations and multiplication (and practice on the Smart Board). Then, students get a page of one-inch graph paper and write out a one digit by one digit multiplication problem with a two digit answer. I tell them to choose one that's hard for them to remember, or their favorite one. They then repeat that problem seven times, dropping down and over one square for 4 times, then down and back a square for three times, making them into interlocking tessellation shapes: After they've drawn it all out in pencil and I've checked it, they choose ONE color of fine-tip marker to trace it with, then use colored pencil or watercolor pencil to color. The coloring is a bit of a challenge for them, because they need to forget that they're numbers and only look at the space. They then color it in patterns/designs to make it visually interesting and play with people's minds ('math? I dont' see any math!') It's an awesome lesson that really challenges their thinking. This one really shows the patterns and designs. Oh, it's also important that their numbers COMPLETELY fill the one inch box of the graph paper. I always try to do this lesson at a time of the year when classroom teachers are complaining about students not remembering their math facts. I usually do it with fifth grade, but I did it with sixth one year at the teachers' request.
A few days ago we did some learning station work in my regular math classes. We made three different learning stations and rotated them between the six table groups in my class. It certainly was much easier to do these learning stations this quarter because I have a student teacher. Two teachers are definitely better than one! My fifth hour class is my inclusion hour and there were three of us. The stations were pretty loud and sometimes chaotic with more than one group finishing different centers simultaneously, but the students were really engaged in their problem solving and most groups collaborated really well. Two of the learning stations were activities I found in the binder Tangrams and Pentominoes purchased many years ago from Nasco. I was shocked how many of my students had never used tangrams or pentominoes. In past years they were really familiar with tangrams and this year some students said, they had used them in previous years. No one knew what a pentomino was. The tangrams with the introductory tangram packet. Students working. This girl really wanted her hand in the photo! :) The pentomino station seemed to be a student favorite. They really enjoyed solving the pentomino puzzles. Several students asked to do the next pentomino packet after they finished the three learning stations. Pentominoes with the intro packet. Students really worked together on this and had fun. Many wanted to keep doing pentominoes. The final station was measuring the radius or diameter of cut out circles in either centimeters or inches. Then students needed to calculate the area and circumference of the circle. Our text teaches circumference and then area of circles separately and we definitely felt that this center really helped students to be able to keep the formulas for area and circumference straight. The special ed teacher who teaches with me cut out all these circles, bless her heart! I had the idea for the center, but no time to cut circles and she volunteered to do it. I was thrilled with how the station turned out. This is a complete station (we stored it in a large ziploc bag. They needed a full sized ruler for the large blue circle. Working on the station. Measuring and calculating. I made a chart on the SMARTBoard where we kept track of each group's progress on the stations. While a group was working we put a check mark under that station and after they checked their work with one of the teachers we changed the check mark to an X. It was important for us to have a visual record of where everyone was to minimize the chaos. These activities were perfect to keep students focused for the last two days before Spring break. Can we say it was a bit crazy?! I was really proud of how well the majority of the students worked together. I would love to hear about any learning stations you have been using in your math class. For more learning station ideas shared by other teachers check out this post on Corkboard Connections.
So you may not remember a time when I taught math, but I did. Full disclosure: Before I was actually forced into an accidental English Language Arts position, I was actually a WAY BETTER math teacher than I was an ELA teacher. Why? When I taught 5th grade, our school had really high reading and ... Read more
Searching for ways to get kids interested in a new math topic? Check out my Top Math Read Alouds for elementary kids. Plus try these simple math activities.
A detailed list of math projects, for all grade levels, to use in your class or tailor to fit your grade level.
The school year is winding down for me, and for my students it marks the end of their junior high experience. I have a hard time with the end of the year. I get sad
Time to Tile: Long Division is a hands-on activity that takes students’ thinking beyond procedures and rote memorization. This engaging resource activates critical thinking and problem solving skills, all while developing algebraic thinking. Students must place 10 number tiles (0-9) on the Time to Tile cards in order to correctly complete the division problems. This resource includes: 30 different Time to Tile cards An “Answer Recording Sheet,” where students can record their answers so they can be corrected later. This allows the resource to be used as a perfect independent or center activity. Answer keys Management and organization tips for successfully implementing Time to Tile in your classroom.
The few weeks between fall and winter break can be hard for student engagement. Use collaborative projects for review or enrichment.
I develop curriculum for middle school math. I focus on using critical-thinking skills in my content so the math makes sense to the students.
*A DIGITAL OPTION HAS BEEN INCLUDED FOR GOOGLE SLIDES/GOOGLE CLASSROOM* Be sure to re-download! There are directions and links inside the pdf. This morning work is a unique way to get your students warmed up in the morning that helps incorporate the 4th Grade Language Standards, Vocabulary Practice, and Reading Comprehension skills.Save money by purchasing the growing bundle and get all future months of morning work:ELA Morning Work 4th Grade Growing BundleOR purchase the ELA + MATH MORNING WORK BUNDLE About the ResourceThis resource is a unique way to get your students warmed up in the morning that helps incorporate the 4th Grade Language Standards, Vocabulary Practice, and Reading Comprehension skills.Each month contains 4-5 weeks of ELA morning work, which will have a theme around the season, national holidays, or events associated with that particular month. The morning work is focused on ELA 4th Grade Common Core Standards. Each day has a thematic structure to cover those Language Standards as well as enhance Vocabulary and Comprehension skills.Meaningful Monday: Monday is focused on making meaning. Tasks will focus on synonyms, antonyms, vocabulary words, context clues, and making meaning in a short amount of text. Some tasks may require students to make meaning in the text (inference, message, adages, proverbs, etc) or build vocabulary skills.Text Structure Tuesday: Tuesdays will have a paragraph that requires students to identify the text structure, signal words, and a question or two related to main idea, author's perspective, or vocabulary. Wordy Wednesday: Wednesday is all about working with words. Tasks include working with shades of meaning, homophones, or a short writing task using pictures or a word bank.Throwback Thursday: Thursday is all about grammar usage and conventions. Figurative Friday: Figurative Friday tasks include working with various types of figurative language including similes, metaphors, idioms, and more! I created this resource after seeing success with the Math version in my 4th grade classroom that you can find HERE! 🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.This ELA + Math Morning Work is available for the following grade levels: ELA + Math Bundles 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade ELA Bundles 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade ELA Weekly Assessments 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade Math Bundles 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade Let’s connect! The Literacy Loft Blog The Literacy Loft on Instagram The Literacy Loft on Pinterest The Literacy Loft on Facebook I hope this resource works for you! Please be sure to FOLLOW US so you get the email when the rest of this series comes out! You can contact us at [email protected] with any questions, comments, or feedback. -Jessica
Math Projects & Activities I have a passion for creating engaging, meaningful, real world projects for my students to complete. My math projects and activities are often designed as enrichment and opportunities for teachers to differentiate their curriculum. Thousands of teachers around the world use these projects (which blows my mind!), and I hope you...
I am always on the lookout for some new first-week activities to do with my 6th grade math students. In addition to "get to know you" activities, I like to find projects that are fun, math-related, and motivating for students during those first few weeks. One of these projects that I have always done during the first week of school (but you could really do any time of the year) is my Math is Everywhere tile activity. Before the year starts, I buy some white card stock (or white-ish...this year I got some silver/metallic card stock). I then cut them into square tiles. This year I cut them into tiles with 5 inch sides, but I think I have done 6x6 in past years. Whatever works for you! I use a corner rounder from Target to round of the corners of the tiles. Here are the tiles and the start of my example tile that I created to show my students. For the project, students must think of a place that they see or use math in the real world. I usually brainstorm a list as a class, and then students can either use one from the list or think of their own topic! Once they choose a topic, they use a tile, pencil, ruler, and colored pencils to show how they see math in their topic. Being the baseball fan that I am, I chose to make my Math is Everywhere tile about how we see and use math in baseball. Below is my finished example tile! *Tip: Many of my students who choose a sport want to know the dimensions of the court, field, etc. Last year, I printed out sheets that had the dimensions to save the time and hassle of students looking them up! Once the students are finished creating their tile, there is one more step. On the back of the tile, they must write at least three sentences describing what they chose and how math is seen in their topic. Here is the example that I wrote for baseball. Finally, once all of the tiles are finished and turned in (don't forget names!), I put them all up on my bulletin board. I cut out the words "Math is Everywhere" and staple them in the middle of the board, surrounding it with all of the finished tiles! Here is a shot of this year's tiles! I have a few more still to add, but it's already starting to come together! Update: I posted the "Math is Everywhere" bulletin board letters for free in my TpT store. Be sure to grab them at the following link! Also included in the resource are letters that say "Welcome to 6th Grade" that I use for my hallway bulletin board. Link to Bulletin Board Letters For more ideas about setting up the middle school math classroom, be sure to check out my post titled 6 Ideas for Setting Up the Middle School Math Classroom. I am excited to link up this post with Miss Math Dork's awesome monthly Math IS Real Life link up! Click the link or picture to see some other great ways we see math in the real world!
The Number Devil Math Project An engaging teaching resource particularly suited for grade 6 to 8 students. Its primary effect is making mathematics an engrossing subject through the medium of a fascinating novel: The Number Devil. Storyline: The story follows Robert, a young character who initially struggles with understanding mathematical concepts until he encounters the Number Devil in his dreams. This interaction kickstarts his journey exploring different aspects of numbers. Beyond Just Teaching This math project offers teachers an instrumental tool and also helps students find joy in learning mathematics. In twelve dream sessions, students explore a wide range of numerical subjects including: Infinite numbers Prime numbers Fibonacci numbers Creative Extensions Beyond Textbooks: The project stands as ideal supplementary material alongside reading The Number Devil, enhancing learning through its array of creative extension activities. Presentation Options: The package comes as a 15-page PDF file and corresponding 15-slide PowerPoint presentation — offering versatile content delivery across homeschool settings or large classrooms. Synthesizing Educational Domains: Specially designed to integrate the following disciplines : Language Arts Math disciplines with major emphasis on literature subsubjects Looking forward to mold mathematical perceptions one student's dream at a time with "The Number Devił Math Project". "The Number Devil" Math Project
In this hands-on STEAM activity, students are tile pattern designers, creating a design for their client, Mr. Buzz. To draft their work, they will be using pattern blocks.Like any tile art designer, they'll need to stay within budget, know the area they are covering with tiles, and create a visually...
Can you believe it's already close to the end of the 1st nine weeks? I mean seriously?! We have been in school for almost a full quarter already! My kiddos got their interim report about two weeks ago now, and my grades are due for report cards in only about two weeks! This is absolutely crazy! So, needless to say, I thought it was about time for a check-in on what we've been up to. This is my first year teaching only one subject, and I have to say, it's fabulous! My schedule begins with planning until about ten in the morning. Then I have an Algebra and PreAlgebra class for an hour each, before lunch, followed by my Academy class, and ending the day with another PreAlgebra and Algebra class again for an hour a piece. My days fly by! I mean it's October for goodness sake! Currently in Algebra we have moved into our actual Algebra curriculum. No more review for these kiddos! We have done the overview of function families; everything from linear, quadratic, exponential, and absolute value functions, and are now moving into really analyzing and understanding linear functions. To begin the overall unit, we started our lessons by reviewing scatter plots and what it takes to make a scatter plot. One of my colleagues, Allison Stanford, who recently moved back to the Clover area from a brief year in Mississippi, shared her idea for reviewing scatterplots. Students each get a shoe to color and decorate as their representation on a classroom graph. I gave students their shoe template on a Friday after they finished their last review test. Over the weekend students were to color and decorate their shoe, find out their shoe size, and their height. All students were told to measure their shoe size in men's sizes, and get their heights in inches. The graph after students established the independent and dependent quantities. On Monday students came in, and in their groups, created a quick sketch of a scatterplot to represent their small group of three or four. Students had to decide the independent and dependent variable, their quantities, and then plot themselves, as dots, on their sketch. After all groups had sketched their group graph, we began plotting the points on a larger classroom graph that I had created on the wall before beginning class. Students plotting their shoes on the classroom sized graph. After the graph was complete, and all students had plotted their shoes, we analyzed the graph in terms of it's characteristics. We reviewed the terms surrounding graphs such as independent and dependent variables (and why they were those quantities), outliers, increasing or decreasing trends, and associations. This lesson then lead into the discussion of lines of best fit to represent the data. This was a great lesson to use to get students thinking about, if we were to draw a line through the shoe plots, how would we represent all the data that was presented. Students really understood how to analyze lines of best fit as we began writing the equations for the lines later in the week! The final graph after 3rd period plotted their points. For my PreAlgebra crew we are beginning our lessons into functions as well. However, instead of beginning with scatterplots and lines of best fit, we begin our overall unit with sequences and patterns. The idea is to relate functions as ongoing patterns and that sequences will fit into the equations that we can write for linear functions. Students were also seated in groups to begin, and were given two sequences from our Carnegie text. Students were given manipulatives that they could work with to demonstrate and continue the given sequence. Sequences ranged from building toothpick houses, to building block stairs, beaded necklaces, and penny pyramids. After students created their sequence using their manipulatives, they could then answer the questions in their text about the term numbers, patterns, and overlying question. Students working together, with their manipulatives and iPads to determine their sequences. After students finished their sequences, they took pictures and uploaded their patterns to our My Big Campus group in order to present their findings to their classmates. Students really enjoyed being able to work with their hands, create their sequences using manipulatives, and then present their unique versions of sequences to their peers. We have had a great, wonderful, fantastic, amazing start to the year and I could not be more impressed with how hard my students are working. They are doing a great job! They come into class everyday ready to learn, enjoy math, and learn new skills. We are off to a great start and I can't wait to see, and share, what our year has in store! Until next time... :)
teaching students to identify functions using a song. ideas for notebook are included.
I am so excited to be linking up with Holly’s FIRST EVER Tried It Tuesday Linky!! This is one I’ll definitely be consistently linking up to! 🙂 The rules are to write about anything you have tried and describe what worked (and maybe what didn’t). This week, we are wrapping up area and perimeter, so […]
**4th Grade TEKS ALIGNED**Your students will love these activities as an extension or part of independent practice/centers. Engaging activities that allow students to create and think deeper to demonstrate what they really know about Map Skills. The 4th grade Texas History choice boards are writte...
In this inquiry lesson, students draw, measure, and use area models to discover the Pythagorean Theorem for themselves. Students play the role of real mathematicians, finding patterns and discovering a mathematical rule. This activity has helped my own students understand the concept and remember the formula. In this lesson pack, you will receive: • 4 pages of student friendly handouts outlining important terms, guiding students through an experiment with right triangles, and giving students practice (PDF and word doc) • Lesson Guide for the teacher (PDF) • Answer key for handouts (PDF) • PowerPoint highlighting key points of the lesson (PPT) I love discovery learning, and I hope this lesson will be as successful for your students as it has been for mine. Here is what other teachers are saying... "Fantastic lesson. Students were engaged and I was very impressed by their observations." "Highly interactive, easy to follow, and engages students." Thank you for your interest in this product by Rise over Run. Reviews are greatly appreciated! Common Core Standards: CCSS.Math.Content.8.G.B.6 Explain a proof of the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse. CCSS.Math.Content.8.G.B.7 Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to determine unknown side lengths in right triangles in real-world and mathematical problems in two and three dimensions.
Engage students in content by using math choice boards that promote rigorous practice plus real world and cross-curricular connections.
Showing students that math is a flexible subject can be powerful. So many kids (and adults) believe that math is all about getting right answers. But it's not! When we can show students that there
Download a printable or digital copy of the 8 Sticks Puzzle from Henry Ernest Dudeney. Can you arrange all eight sticks to form three squares of the same size?
Interested in trying project based learning but not sure where to begin? This project based learning example from start to finish will show you.
Lesson and extensions for using the array game with polyhedral dice in upper elementary or middle school math classes.
" Check out these 12 ideas to help students become masters at adding and subtracting integers. Includes a FREE download to give students more practice with integers." " Practicing the same skills day after day can sometimes feel a little stale, so we practiced with a lot of different games and activities. This list has some that we used and some that I plan on using this upcoming year."
