Fraction Review {Math Lab}

One of my favorite things about teaching where I teach, is the freedom to go outside. 6th graders NEED to go outside sometimes, and this is a PERFECT math lab to get their never ending energy out, while maintaining their focus and keeping them accountible for learning. I do this at the end of our unit on fractions (which since it's 7th grade level math is working towards mastery, so they're pretty confident on these concepts)


Fractionopoly:
Fractionopoly is a game-based math game that I created help get my students outside, and also have a fun way to integrate fractions, estimation, and integers. I guarentee your students will have fun playing this game just because they get to go outside!

Materials:

• Colored sidewalk chalk (or sidewalk paint)
• Open space for creating life-sized game board
• Foam dice (2)
• 1 small whiteboard and whiteboard marker per team
• Candy
• Master Game Board (for answer key)

Time Period: 1 class period (30 + mins)






 Procedure:

Select an appropriate place to create your game board. Depending on the size of your game board, you may need a lot of space, or not so much space. Also, if you have gravel, I suggest using chalk paint. I used regular chalk and the gravel pretty much ate my chalk!

Next, outline your game board and remember to count the number of squares you are using. I used white chalk to outline and colored chalk to write inside the squares.

Use your master copy of the game board (that has the problems and answers) to write in each of the squares. Be sure to include "fun" squares like "move ahead 3 spaces", "Go back to start", "Send one team to jail", "Candy" (like free parking) and plenty of problem spaces for students to solve.

This should be done before your class starts. I did it before school and I think if I would have used chalk paint it wouldn't have taken as long, although total I spent about 30 mins. creating the board.

During Class:
Place your students into three or four equal teams and give each team a small whiteboard for working problems, and a whiteboard marker to write with. I remind my students that their grade for the day depends on their participation and behavior outside and during the game.

Playing the Game:

• This is a classic-game in that each team takes turns rolling the dice.

• The team that arrives back at "Start" safely is the winning team.
• Students walk around after each roll to their designated spot.

• Teams take turns rolling and must have a CORRECT answer to their problem by the time it is their time to roll again, or they forfeit their turn.

• An incorrect answer warrants a loss of a turn. If a player rolls the die and lands upon an occupied square, they are required to more to the square directly behind and follow instructions on that square.
• Students that land on the "Candy" square earn 1 piece of candy (or other small-but-fabulous prize).

I hope that you have as much fun as I did playing this game. It's a great way to review before a holiday like Thanksgiving!

Math Properties: BINGO GAME!

Is it me, or is teaching "The Properties of Math" kinda difficult? I mean, teaching it so the students will not only remember them, but understand them.....

I found a GREAT game to help reinforce the properties of math once you've introduced it in your math notebook. It's Math Properties: BINGO!

Here's the materials you'll need:

1. Visit the website and printoff your BINGO cards (I mounted mine on colored paper and had them laminated for longer use)
2. Cut up index cards or post-its to use as "markers"
3. Place students in groups of two

 **Modification to the game that I did - Instead of calling out the properties on the call sheet that came printed, I wanted to challenge my students by giving them an example on the board and then having them mark the corresponding property on their boards.

This game was surprisingly fun to play and the kids have done really well at remembering the properties in the weeks since we've played. A good reinforcement tool!

Scavenger Hunt {Review Game}

I like LOVE to play games in my math class. The more interactive, the better. It's hard being a teacher and trying to compete for my student's attention when they've got things like Nintendo, facebook, sports, Playstation, etc. on their minds. So at the end of each chapter, we have a review right before their test. One of my favorite reviews is the "Scavenger Hunt."

Here's what you'll need:

• Index Cards to write the "clues" on
• 15 - 20 math questions covering concepts you want your kids to know for their test.
• A "Small, but fabulous prize" for everyone that finishes before class ends :)
• A class period (45 - 60 mins) to play

Instructions for Play:

• Number each card in the upper left-hand corner.
• Write a math problem on the first card.
• Take another card out of numerical sequence and write the answer in the upper right hand corner.
• Write another math problem on the card you just wrote the answer to the first problem on.
• Repeat until all cards are filled up.
• RECORD your numerical sequence (this way you can help students who have made a "wrong turn" along their hunting)
• Place cards in random places around the room to encourage students to "hunt"

What you will have is a numerical sequence that allows the kids to HAVE to work the problems out to find the next card. I always tell them "Don't think you can cheat because you are on card #2. The answer is NOT on card 2, or 3 or 1!"

• Pair up students in groups of 2 - 4 (depending on class size). Have each group start at least 3 cards apart from each other.
• No matter where students start, they will all be able to complete each card since the system allows for a "loop"
• Students will know when they have completed all the cards when they arrive back at the card they started with.
• I give the team that finishes first with the correct sequence an added bonus of 5 test points on their test average. We don't play this game often, but they LOVE it!

Here's some photos of my 6th graders during Friday's "Hunt":