Jenga games have always been a hit with my students. Since trying out Jenga with my students and seeing how engaged they were, I brainstormed even more math games to create (and share with you). This post will share a Jenga whole number game that reviews whole number skills and is perfect for 3rd-5th grade students (depending on the numbers you choose to use). Whole … [Read more...] about Whole Number Game | FREE Jenga Game
Valentine’s Day Science Activity: Dissolving Candy Hearts in Varying Temperatures
Valentine's Day is one of the best holidays for candy science activities. I typically do the candy hearts in various types of liquids, but a lot of times, by 5th grade, students have done that before, and we do similar science activities for dissolving candy pumpkins and dissolving candy canes in various types of liquid. One of my new go-to Valentine's Day science … [Read more...] about Valentine’s Day Science Activity: Dissolving Candy Hearts in Varying Temperatures
Valentine STEM and Reading Activity | Free Printables
Holidays are a great time to implement STEM activities. This post will share a fun Valentine STEM and reading activity involving Cupid's bow and arrow. I am obsessed with adding in the reading component to STEM activities to integrate literacy so this will share a reading passage to activate students prior knowledge and get them excited before the activity. For … [Read more...] about Valentine STEM and Reading Activity | Free Printables
Subtracting Mixed Numbers with Regrouping (Using Manipulatives)
Subtracting mixed numbers with regrouping can be super tricky for some (or most) students. There are many ways to teach subtracting mixed numbers with regrouping using manipulatives that may help your students conceptualize the process. On this post, Rachel from You've Got This Math will share three of her favorite ways to teach subtracting mixed numbers when borrowing is … [Read more...] about Subtracting Mixed Numbers with Regrouping (Using Manipulatives)
Free Fraction Game | Jenga Fraction Review
Adding Jenga in a small group center is one of my favorite ways to liven up ordinary review or task cards. Jenga is extremely versatile, and even the plain ones can be used with any set of task cards (read about playing Jenga this way for test prep here). This post will specifically share how to use the colored sets to review fractions (4th and 5th grade fractions games … [Read more...] about Free Fraction Game | Jenga Fraction Review
Free Decimals Game | Jenga Decimal Review
Jenga is such a fun game to play in the classroom to review different tasks. Click here to read more about how I use Jenga for test prep review with any set of task cards. In addition to using Jenga for test prep, I also like to use it to review specific skills. With the colored Jenga blocks, I created a fun decimals game that works great for reviewing 4th and 5th grade … [Read more...] about Free Decimals Game | Jenga Decimal Review
Explaining Answers in Math: How to Help Your Students Explain Their Thinking
Have you ever asked a student to explain his or her answer in math and get a blank look, a quick change in answer, or the response, "I just did it in my head"? To be honest, each year my students pretty much start the school year this way. But, through purposeful instruction, I am able to get even those students with blank looks explaining their answers in complete … [Read more...] about Explaining Answers in Math: How to Help Your Students Explain Their Thinking
FREE Reading Games and Centers for 4th and 5th Grade
While I am a firm believer in students reading real books that they choose and doing this often, I also love to include reading games and reading centers in my instruction. On this post, I will share three of my favorite types of reading games and centers for 4th and 5th grade, free reading games and centers for each type, and links to buy more if you are interested in … [Read more...] about FREE Reading Games and Centers for 4th and 5th Grade
How To Make Spiral Review Work for You and Your Students
Spiral review is truly the most powerful thing I do in my classroom to help my students master skills, retain skills, and make connections between the topics they are learning. In this post, I will break down all the ways I make spiral review work for me to help it work for you and your students. Why Use Spiral Review? Recently, I had a conversation with a teacher … [Read more...] about How To Make Spiral Review Work for You and Your Students
Random Acts of Kindness Ideas for Students: FREE Christmas RAK Bingo
The holidays are the perfect time of the year to teach students the importance of being kind. To do this, I like to have my students complete random acts of kindness throughout the month of December using a holiday-themed RAK bingo to guide us. In this post, I will share the bingo board that I use with tips for how to use it in your classroom. Ways to Use the Random … [Read more...] about Random Acts of Kindness Ideas for Students: FREE Christmas RAK Bingo
Christmas Games for the Classroom
Fourth and fifth graders are definitely not too old to enjoy Christmas games (or holiday games). This post shares some of my favorite Christmas games for the classroom. Many of these ideas also double as Christmas gifts. The games are pure fun and not educational. If you are looking for educational Christmas activities for your 4th and 5th graders, then click … [Read more...] about Christmas Games for the Classroom
Christmas Party Activity for Upper Elementary
I love all things holiday and am always looking for ways to engage my students and keep them motivated to behave and work during the months leading up to a major holiday. Even though my students are fifth graders, I still want them to enjoy a bit of the magic of Christmas. In this post, I will share a super engaging Christmas mystery bag activity that works well for a … [Read more...] about Christmas Party Activity for Upper Elementary