Quick, Easy, Engaging Independent Math Activities

Raise your hand if you like to have quick, easy, engaging, independent math activities on hand in the classroom?  

I'm talking about activities that take minimal materials, are quick to clean up, require thinking, and are enjoyed by the students. 

If you are like me, then you love those kinds of activities.

I've spent the last week or so going through all my school stuff little by little. I've been weeding things out and organizing like crazy. One of the things I tackled was my Math Stations bin. I pulled out games that I hadn't used in years. I had things from my first year of teaching that I'm not even sure I've ever used. Gasp! It was labeled, it was organized, but...it was never used. No bueno. I made a pile of stuff to give away, a pile to recycle, and a pile to trash. Purging... it feels good. 

But, I digress.

What I really wanted to share with you was some of the really great activities that I had in my bin that I have used and  enjoyed. Some of these I've shared in the past, but just in case you missed it I'm including them again.

Block It Out
Addition Facts/Problem Solving

Materials: game board, expo marker or colored tiles

Objective: Create addition equations using adjacent squares on the game board to cover the entire board.

Details:  Like a word search, students look for addition equations that can be created with adjacent squares within the game board. (7+2=9) Students then cover the 7, 2, and 9. If the puzzle is done correctly, all squares will be covered. If not, dump the tiles and begin again. This set includes 4 boards that get progressively more difficult.

Appropriate for grades 2-4.

You can download this fun game for free at TPT by clicking here!

Bowling Facts
Addition/Subtraction Facts

Materials: game board, expo marker, number cube (die)

Objective: Create equations using three numbers to eliminate as many bowling pins as possible.

Details: Students roll the number cube three times and write down their numbers. Then, using only those three numbers, come up with as many equations possible that equal 1-10.  All operations welcome. Equations can include more than one operations. Each equation knocks over that number pin.

For example, if you roll a 3, 6, and 2 you could come up with the following equations:
3+6=9
3+2=5
6-3=3
6-2=4
6+3-2=7
6-2-3=1

Using these equations, you would have knocked down pins #9,5,3,4,7,1.

If you can knock down all pins on with your first three numbers, you get a STRIKE!
If not, roll three more numbers and try for a SPARE!

Appropriate grades 2-5.

You can also download this fun game for free at TPT by clicking here!

Puppy Place Value Paths
Ordering Numbers/Place Value

Materials: game board, expo marker, digit cards

Objective: Complete the path by placing putting numbers in order from least to greatest.

Details: Students draw 3 digit cards to arrange into a three digit number and write it somewhere on the path. Play continues until a path is created with numbers in order from least to greatest.

This is also available in my TPT store for free, just click here!

Appropriate grades 2-4.

Leapfrog
Problem Solving

Materials: game board, 8 colored counters (4 of each color)

Objective: Following the rules of Leapfrog, switch the colored tiles on the right with the colored tiles on the left (See my full post on this logic puzzle here!)

Details: Leapfrog is a logic puzzle game that is simple in design but difficult to solve. To set up your game board, you need 8 game pieces of 2 different colors. I like to use the two-sided math counters. Put one color on one side and the other on the other side. The counters represent the frogs - red frogs and yellow frogs. To play, you can move any counter you want, but you must follow these rules.

You can only move each frog forward - never backward.
You can leap over 1 frog at a time.

The puzzle has been solved when both colors on the board have switched places and the rules have been followed.

You can also download this logic puzzle for free at my TPT store by clicking here! 

So, that's it. Four super simple games that are easy to use, fun to play, and promote mathematical thinking. These are not *new* ideas by any means, but they are great activities my kiddos have enjoyed over the years. I hope they are just as helpful in your classroom as they have been in mine.

 I'm linking up with Classroom Freebies for Manic Monday!

Questions?  Comments?  Let me know!

Build Number Sense with an ABACUS

How many of you have used an abacus?  Ever tried to solve some simple addition and subtraction problems using one? It is an amazing tool and learning how to use it promotes number sense, increases mental math skills, and reinforces place value.

Up until this year, I had never used an abacus. So, what do we do in this day in age when we don't know how to do something?  We consult YouTube! There, I stumbled upon a 6-part video series from GuruParents that teaches adults how to use to the abacus.

Here's the first video with the basics. It is surprising simple once you get the hang of it.

This year, I offered my students extra credit for building their own abacus at home and learning how to use it. I sent home directions for constructing the abacus from the Scholastic resource book MathART.

Students used a shoebox, string, beads or Fruit Loops, and a piece of cardboard to construct their ancient calculator.

My students built the abacus with 2 heavenly beads on top, instead of the one. I prefer this model, however, you can also build one with only 1 heavenly bead on top. Below the 4 bottom beads, you will see labels to identify the place value position. We did not include decimals.

You can see that beads or Fruit Loops worked perfectly. This bottom one looks a bit shabby, but that is just because I waited SO long to take the pictures and there was a bit more wear and tear on it when I finally got around to snapping the photo. Oops!

Out of my 24 students, I had about six make the abacus at home and share it with the class. We all learned how to use the abacus and practiced adding simple numbers with the beads. At first, kids were frustrated, but when they finally started to get it and it made sense, there was a huge sense of accomplishment.

The abacus was so successful, I can't wait to do more with it next year. Anyone else ever ventured into working an abacus with students? 

Place Value Parade and Building Numbers

Can you ever do enough activities to reinforce place value?

 Nope... never.

As any new or veteran teacher can tell you, understanding place value is the foundation of building solid number sense.  Am I right, or am I right? 

Even teaching 4th grade, I have an amazing amount of kids that come to me every year without understanding place value.  And the scary part is, it seems to be getting worse!!  Anyone else?! This lack of fundamental understanding makes everything we do in math class more difficult.  Pile on top of that, the lack of mathematical vocabulary and it's an absolute mess. So, what do I do to combat this mathematical nightmare?  We place a lot of Place Value Parade.

Place Value Parade is very simple and the kids LOVE it.  It helps kids build their math vocabulary, master place value, and improves listening skills.

First, make copies of the Place Value Parade sheet on card stock.  You can choose to laminate if you want, but I find it works just as well on thick paper. 

Have students cut the paper in half to separate the numbers from the place value frame. Then, have students cut out all the numbers.  (Teacher Tip: Remind them to put their initials on the back of each number so that lost digits can be returned.)

Now, you are ready to begin.  It is time to build numbers.  Give them clues that fill in one digit at a time.

Try these clues below to build your own number. Ready, set, go...

Mystery Number 1:

1. The digit in the tens place is double the number 4. 
2. The digit in the ten thousands place is half of 10. 
3. There are no hundreds.
4. The digit in the millions place is the difference between the digit in the tens and the digit in the ten thousands.
5. The digit in the ones place is 3 times more than 2.
6. The digit in the thousands place is greater than 8.
7. The last digit you need is the sum of the millions and the hundreds.

 Did you build 3,359,086?



Mystery Number 2:

1. The digit in the millions place is a product of 3 and 2.
2. The digit in the ones place is half the digit in the millions place.
3. The digit in the thousands place is the sum of the digits you have used.
4. The digit is in the hundreds place is five.
5. The digit in the hundred thousands place is the difference between the hundreds and the thousands.
6. The digit in the tens place is the sum of the ones and the hundred thousands place.
7. The digit in the ten thousands place is the only odd digit you have not used yet.

Did you build 6,419,573?

After building the number, we then read the number together.  Write it in expanded or word form.  Discuss the value of each digit. Etc.

My kids think it is great fun to listen to the clues and figure out the mystery number.  We check each digit before reading the number aloud and you will hear the whole class go "Yesss!!" after we call each digit. They are so proud.

Your clues can be anything from simple to very complex.  Use as much math vocabulary as possible. (greater than, less than, sum, difference, double, half, more than, less than, even, odd, product, quotient, etc.)

I started pretty easy, but soon found out that I could get quite complicated.  The best part is that my students are no longer stumped when they see some of these math words on tests.

My students keep their digit cards in a plastic bag and the place value frame in their math folder.  We used them for a week solid and now pull them out about once a week.  The kids still love building numbers and are ready to start writing clues for their own mystery numbers.

Of course, you can do this very same activity on white boards or notebook paper.  I like the tactile model I showed you above, but it's completely up to you. If you would like a copy of my Place Value Parade, click here or on the image below to download it FREE from my TN store.

 

Enjoy!!