I recently received a request to share my Puzzle of the Week Poster. So, I thought I would turn it into a mini blog post in case anyone else was interested in

Here’s a fun STEM challenge, and the materials couldn’t be simpler! Challenge kids to build the longest possible paper chain with just one sheet of paper and tape. That’s it! This math activity will appeal to a wise range of ages. I’d recommend it for kids age 5 to 10. If they can safely cut […]

This Twosday Challenge is the perfect way to infuse a bit of mathematical fun on an upcoming mathematical holiday - Twosday!

I decided to take on my own challenge of incorporating a STEM activity every day for a week. It turned out to be a huge success where both my students and I had a blast. Here were the various …

Several years ago, I heard about the Let's Make Squares activity from an OKMath Newsletter sent out by Christine Koerner. She recommended Let's Make Squares

THIS PACKAGE IS INCLUDED IN A GROWING BUNDLE. This specific French Problem of the Week package includes 13 Math word problems related to Patterning and Algebra (Les suites et l'algèbre) and 3 reflection activities. Each problem includes a little graphic organizer to help students organize their information, ideas and calculations. The file also includes a cover page for the unit, a poster and bookmarks highlighting problem solving strategies and a rubric. THIS WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE ON GOOGLE SLIDES, so you will have two options when using this resource. The problem of the week is a great addition to your Math program and very manageable given that it only takes place once a week or as often as you choose. Students really enjoy the challenge of completing the problem. You can also photocopy the problem of the week on larger paper to give the students more space to free write or simply use the problem on its own and have students complete it in pairs on a piece of chart paper. These problems are geared towards Grade 5 students. There is also a Grade 4 version of this. ***************************************************************************** Related Products and Other Strands: PROBLÈME DE LA SEMAINE: LES MESURES PROBLÈME DE LA SEMAINE: LA GÉOMÉTRIE PROBLÈME DE LA SEMAINE: LA NUMÉRATION PROBLÈME DE LA SEMAINE: LES SUITES ET L'ALGÈBRE PROBLÈME DE LA SEMAINE: LA PROBABILITÉ Related French Math Products: MATH WORD WALL BUNDLE - 152 WORDS FRENCH FRACTIONS TASK CARDS FRENCH 2-D GEOMETRY ACTIVITY ***************************************************************************** Customer Tips Keep in Touch FACEBOOK PINTEREST INSTAGRAM For more French resources, feel free to browse through the rest of MY STORE. Be the first to know about my new discounts, freebies and product launches. Look for the STAR under my store logo and click it to become a follower! You can earn TPT CREDITS by leaving feedback on any of the products you purchase. You can do so by going to your MY PURCHASES page and clicking on the "Provide Feedback" button. You will earn 1 TPT Credit for every dollar you spend! *****************************************************************************

Wow...my hat goes off to those of you who blogged regularly throughout your first week back to school. I literally was lucky to make it home without falling asleep at the wheel! Teaching procedures to 8th graders is SO much easier than teaching them to 6th graders. In fact, since I am new to the school, many of them were super helpful in telling me how things are done there and so on. The bell schedule is a little different than the one I was on last year, so I have new dismissal times to memorize. I would just ask my kids how much time is left and wouldn't you know...most of them ACTUALLY know how to read a clock!? Amazing. I was so impressed with how my students behaved all week. These are some of the most polite kids I have ever taught. My classes are widely diverse, but the kids don't even acknowledge it, which is awesome. I am so privileged and blessed to have these kiddos to call my own. After our first day of getting to know you activities (I actually saw all of my classes for about 30 minutes a piece that 1st day!), I knew we were ready for team building on day 2. I had already gone over my syllabus on the first day which I hadn't ever done before, but I felt like I could since I didn't have to give a school tour, etc. I am the one who needed the school tour! (True story...my kids walked me down to the textbook room so that I could issue them textbooks!) I know I have COMPLETELY rambled, so let me get right to it! I read about The Marshmallow Challenge earlier this summer and KNEW that I wanted to try it in my class! If you want to read more about The Marshmallow Challenge, click here. I spent about $10 on supplies for 6 classes which equates to about $0.06 per student. I am so willing to spend that on any lesson that students are going to get something out of. Here is the basic challenge: Students use the following materials: 20 pieces of spaghetti 1 yard of tape 1 yard of string and 1 marshmallow I also include scissors for easy cutting The challenge is that students must create the tallest freestanding structure out of these materials with the marshmallow on top--in 18 minutes or less. It is super easy to do this, but the marshmallow is the key to keeping it upright. Many students build the structure as tall as they can and then put the marshmallow on top...and then watch it collapse before their eyes. We all think of marshmallows as light, airy, and fluffy, but in this challenge, they might as well weigh as much as a brick! I did have several groups that were successful, but sometimes I was too excited that I forgot to take a picture! The tallest one was in 7th period and it was 22 inches. I did not let the students tape anything to the desks and that is what was harder as well. Here are some of the successful groups: This was the first one done in 1st period, and they were so proud. They had started doing some large contraption that of course fell right over after putting the marshmallow on top. This must have been Plan B. Or Plan E. Either way, they were only 1 of 2 groups that were successful in that class! This was the winner in 1st period at 18.75 inches. They said their inspiration was the Eiffel Tower! I was so shocked that this one stayed up! This one was the 3rd period winner. This was the winner in 7th period and overall! 22 inches...super proud of these boys! I can't wait to see what else I can throw at these kids to do this year. They are all begging me to do this again so that they can fix their mistakes--I promised that we would do it in the spring to see how much they had improved! The best part was the recap at the end of the challenge where we discussed that most everything in life has a "marshmallow aspect" to it where it kind of throws a wrench in the plans and how we can overcome it in math. Did I mention I love my kids?!? If you made it this far in my post...thank you! If you are looking for an easy way to incorporate this into your classroom without much setup, you might be interested in this product that can be found in my TPT store: Looking for more Back to School activities to use in your math class? Check these out! Be sure to drop me a line and tell me how it went in your class!

Build It is a cooperative, team building activity that encourages students to work together, communicate, and think logically as they construct a geometric

Free Download of 1-4-5 Square Challenge. Can you make a square using exactly 1 piece? 4 pieces? All 5 pieces?

Estimation is an essential math concept. Make learning fun and engaging with this engaging hands-on activity and math worksheet.

Four weekly 5 Senses Activities that is perfect for PreK, Kindergarten and Grade 1. Enjoy!

3 Awesome Art Challenges for the First Week of School Creativity % %

This fun STEAM activity for preschoolers combines sharks with hands-on play and exploring. Preschoolers will have fun engaging with sharks, marbles and play!

Three {FREE} math challenge and brainteaser activities teachers can use with their advanced 2nd and 3rd grade mathematicians.

Post Contents hide 1 Petals Around the Rose 2 Figuring it Out Myself 3 Online Version of Petals Around the Rose 4 Fraternity of Petals Around the Rose 5 Playing Petals Around the Rose with the Document Camera 6 Petals Around the Rose Downloads This blog post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate,...

I came home from school yesterday and cried. And not because the end of the year is so overwhelming, busy, and exhausting...{although that may be where part of the tears are coming from. JK! #AmIJustKiddingThough??} But because I’m going to miss my kids SO much. For 180 school days, 23 of my third grade students and I have laughed, cried, worked hard, learned so many new things together, and have built some really amazing relationships with one another. I’ve watched them grow not only as readers and mathematicians, but in their growth mindset, their confidence and in their character. We

Here are some printable resources for Week 15: Latin First Declension Packet, Highest Mountains on Each Continent and Metric Equivalents. You can download the 3 .pdf files here: Highest Moun…

Looking for fun math problem solving activities to boost your students’ critical thinking skills? You'll love the 5 ideas.

Students choose different ways to create the longest paper chain out of one sheet of construction paper in this easy to prep and complete STEM Challenge.

Teach beginning-of-the-year gluing skills using this activity based on Too Much Glue. Grab a free download!

This math education blog helps elementary teachers keep afloat with diverse and rigorous resources, activities, and ideas for the math classroom.

Plan these simple and fun Paper bag STEM challenges for kids! Easy STEM activities that use what's around to encourage invention and design.

A blog about teaching middle school ELA and math.

STEM challenges are the best way to begin building classroom community and teamwork at the beginning of the year. They are also a great way to introduce problem-solving skills and get students thinking creatively and outside the box. The best part is students LOVE them, and they don't eve

This cars and blocks measuring experiment is a great quick play idea that practices number recognition, measuring, and other science skills.

The best beginning of the year STEM challenges have 3 things in common: 1.) They help students get to know one another and start building teamwork and collaboration. 2.) They allow students to start practicing classroom procedures. 3.) They are incredibly fun and get students excited about STEM!

In need of some capacity activities or ideas? This post includes hands-on and engaging ideas for teaching capacity in a third grade classroom

The school year's end is fast approaching and if you are like me it's time for Panic Mode! How on earth are you going to get everything finished and keep the kids busy and engaged with meaningful work and still have some end-of-the-year fun? Is this even possible? Well, I have some

The blog post about the Cup Stacking Challenge has been moved! Click on the image to see it!

These math puzzle worksheets make it easy to help your students build critical thinking and problem-solving skills while having fun!

Everything you need to know about the 12 Week Year so you can accomplish the goals you've been dreaming of and finally see results!

Upper elementary blog with practical, rigorous, classroom tested ideas to implement with your students.

The best kind of kindergarten STEM challenge is one that has children working together to find a solution to a fun, engaging problem using simple supplies that don't take lots of prep time. Enter The Floor is Lava STEM activity for kindergarteners. It's so simple, you can do it with preschoolers too! Don't forget to

Discover some fascinating, no prep, STEM activities and challenges you can do with your students using paper! Engineering, math and science.