I occasionally like to think of myself as a runner. Unfortunately, being an “occasional runner” does not lead to increased strength, endurance and overall improvement. What it ends up looking like is running for 2-3 days in a row, then taking a break for a  week or two. Inevitably, when I go to run again, it feels like I’m starting over. My muscles have to work back up to their prior strength and even though I might have been able to run 3 miles two weeks ago, I can no longer make it that far without walking & taking a break.

Note: This post is sponsored by Komodo Math, but all opinions are completely my own and based on my own use of the program with my 5th grade child. Read our full disclosure here.

Building math fluency is a lot like running. It requires consistency & dedication. Short, but purposeful practice actually doing math. What do you think will be more beneficial to a student who struggles with math–spending 2 hours slogging through problems once a week, or spending 15-20 minutes a day five times a week? Shorter, but more frequent practice & study sessions help kids become more confident in their math skills and helps their brain retain what they’re learning better than cramming it all into one huge session (plus, kids have short attention spans, so good luck trying to do 2 hours of math!)

This is one of the things I appreciate about Komodo Math: it is designed to provide short, regular practice that’s effective & aimed at exactly the skills your child needs to work on.

If you have a child or student in grades K-5 who could benefit from extra practice, I invite you to check out Komodo Math.

Komodo Math Review:

Here are some things my 5th grader and I have enjoyed about Komodo Math so far: 

• A real teacher is involved in creating a custom learning plan, based on your child’s needs and their score on the initial assessment
• There are short, clear teaching videos to teach & support each math topic
• The math practice sets are focused, without being overly busy or difficult to navigate
• Parents can further customize their child’s learning plan (you can decide how many problems they do in each set, what they need to score in order to move on, etc.)
• There is the opportunity to make corrections, allow students to reflect and learn from their mistakes (rather than simply telling them the answer as soon as they get it wrong)

(And just a quick note–my child is in 5th grade, which is the upper age range for Komodo, but this would also be a wonderful support for younger kiddos. There are lots of great visual models in the problem sets and videos, and personalized support from a teacher to create a learning plan that best suits them).

One thing that was a little stressful for my child initially was the timer on each problem set. This does not count down, but simply tracks their time spent. Once I explained that she didn’t need to feel rushed or pressured, that she can take all the time she needed, she felt better.

But I also love that I was able to easily turn the timer off with the click of a button in the parent dashboard. It’s not helpful or motivating for her, so I turned it off by clicking “hide lesson timer.”

The dashboard also provides transcripts and a dyslexia option that changes the colors in the app to minimize visual stress.

Although the math practice is not gamified, Komodo does emphasize motivation & celebrating milestones and wins in the learning process. They also strive to include parents in this as well, allowing parents to set specific goals and rewards for their children within the platform.

To motivate my child, I added a “pool time” reward to her account. Whenever she completes the requirements this summer, she can redeem her reward for some relaxing time at the pool.

After each session a short report is emailed to parents. They can then reply to the email with some encouragement and the message is sent to the child right inside the app. (<–This is such a unique feature and a great way for parents or other supporters to be involved in learning and cheering the child on!)

If you’re looking for something to help your child prevent the dreaded summer slide or something to help them fill in math gaps, or just give them a leg up in math for the next school year, see if Komodo Math is right for you.

Getting Started with Komodo Math:

You can get started with a free trial so you and your child can test it out to decide. Setting up the app and your family account is easy.

Once you sign up, you’ll need to download the app to your device(s) of choice. I downloaded it to my computer because I think that’s the easiest device to use, but it’s also available for Apple & Android tablets and phones.

Once you’ve got the app downloaded, you’ll create an account login and get your kids set up.

For each child, you can provide relevant information about their needs and learning (this includes current grade level, but also accommodations they might need, such as extra time, if they are dyslexic, etc.).

Then you’ll just have your child take a quick assessment. This is not long or overwhelming, but it allows the teachers at Komodo to get a snapshot of their current understanding, speed and fluency.

After that, you’ll need to wait while a teacher sets up a customized learning plan for your child. I heard back in about 15 hours, but that was because it was on the weekend. Typical turn around time is 2-3 hours. If you don’t hear anything in 24 hours, just reach out to them and they will help you out!

Once your child’s account is ready, they simply login and start their math practice!

Altogether, the app download and account set up took me less than 30 minutes. Then the next day we had our customized plan and my 5th grader has been working through the lessons since then!

Komodo Math Pricing Options:

No matter which plan you choose, you will start with a 2-week free trial.

Then you can choose between a monthly option and an annual option. The monthly plan (for one subject and one child) is the most flexible and is $14.99/month.

But you can also add language arts to your child’s plan for $21.99/month.

Adding additional learners is easy and can be done at time of sign up, or later once you decide to stick with the program. Additional learners can be added at a 50% savings.

If you’re concerned about saving money, annual plan options will save you 25%, offering the best value.

Ready to get started? Learn more and start your Komodo Math trial HERE!

The post Komodo Math Review & Tips for Getting Started appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

Are you excited for the new year? I am so ready to start fresh and jump in feet first. I absolutely LOVE January and the start of all things new (and it doesn’t hurt that it’s my birthday, too!). If you’re excited to try a new daily math approach this January, you’ve come to the right place. This set of easy, low prep math calendars is a great way to work on important math skills. Kids love the daily challenge, and you will love how easy and motivating they are! Read on to learn about the January Math Problem of the Day Calendars, and how to get a copy for your home or classroom.

*Please Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links which help support the work of this site. Read our full disclosure policy here.*

January Problem of the Day Calendars:

Not sure what these calendars are all about? This FREE download includes 3 one page, black and white calendars for the month of January. One calendar for grades K-2, one calendar for grades 3-5 and one calendar for grades 6-8.

Each day of the month includes a math problem, covering a huge variety of math skills.

>>>The fun twist? Each day, the solution is equal to the date!

This means kids can know whether or not they’ve solved it correctly, and can make corrections if necessary.

This may also mean that some kids will try to write the answer without actually solving the problem. I’ve got some ways to help prevent that though!

Ways to Use the Math Calendar:

1. One way to use this is as a simple, daily warm up. This can be during morning time, as soon as kids come into class, or during your daily calendar time.

Allow kids to work out the solution independently and then discuss it as a group.

2. If you have kids who are likely to skip the math and just write the day’s date, require them to write out their thinking for how they solved it.

This would be an easy way to incorporate a daily math journal time.

3. Or you could simply use the daily problem as a class discussion starter and talk through different ways to solve it.

Once one child explains or shows how they can solve it, ask someone else to solve it differently.

4. Another really fun way to mix things up is to cut the calendar into pieces and have your kids solve it like a puzzle.

Print out a blank calendar page, and as they solve the problems they can glue them onto the correct dates on the calendar.

This will also eliminate the temptation to write the solution without actually doing the work.

Topics Covered on the January Problem of the Day Calendars:

Grades K-2 Problem of the Day Calendar Topics:

• Addition and subtraction
• Money (U.S.)
• Time
• Comparing numbers
• Word problems
• Place value
• Math vocabulary

Buy the Complete K-2 Calendar Set HERE!

Grades 3-5 Problem of the Day Calendar Topics:

• Place value
• Addition and subtraction of 3-4 digit numbers
• Multiplication and division
• Long division (new)
• Adding fractions (like denominator)
• Elapsed time
• Word problems (1 and 2-step)
• Area and perimeter
• Math vocabulary

Buy the Complete 3-5 Calendar Set HERE!

Grades 6-8 Problem of the Day Calendar Topics:

• Multiplication and division
• Operations with fractions and decimals
• Exponent properties
• Order of operations
• Solving linear equations
• Area and perimeter
• Surface area and volume
• Math vocabulary
• Word problems

An additional challenge included on the middle school calendar (level 3) are “create your own” problems. Occasionally, rather than a given problem, kids are asked to create a math problem with a given solution.

This helps them think about the math they’re learning at a higher level, and gives them the chance to challenge their friends.

Buy the Complete 6-8 Calendar Set HERE!

So I hope you and your kids love these calendars as much as I do, and if you have any other fun or unique ways to incorporate them into your daily school routine, shoot me an email to share!

{Click HERE to go to my shop and grab the FREE January Problem of the Day Calendars!}

More Fun Winter Math Ideas:

• Build a Snowman Place Value Set
• Snow Day Math Outside
• Create a Snowflake Fractal
• Hot Chocolate Math Investigation
• Winter Solve & Color Addition Pages
• I Spy Winter Counting Booklet

The post January 2024 Problem of the Day Calendars {FREE} appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

As students learn the four math operations, it’s imperative that they learn to apply the operations to show higher level thinking.  Students should be able to determine which one to use and apply it to real-life situations, especially considering that our end goal is to create productive thinkers who can change the world.

One way we do this is by providing students with word problems that highlight the math operation and include problems that may happen in the real world.  Let’s explore some common reasons why students struggle with math word problems and learn two word problem strategies to help them overcome these challenges.

*This is a guest post from Jessica at Math with Purpose.

Common Reasons Students Struggle with Word Problems:

1. They’re Developing Reading Comprehension Skills

It’s no surprise that word problems can be a challenge for many students.  After all, many of these students are developing their own reading skills and then being asked to read and interpret informational text in a word problem.

Many word problems include multiple steps which require students to infer what to do first.  In fact, the National Foundation for Educational Research found that poor inferring skills lead to poor comprehension.

It is a skill that students must be explicitly taught and is usually one of the later skills due to its complexity. That means our students are expected to do a higher level of reading comprehension every time they read that short word problem in math class!

2. They’re Relying Only On Keywords (Rather than the Meaning of Operations)

Students can encounter difficulty when translating words into mathematical symbols or equations. They may struggle to identify which mathematical operations are needed to solve the problem and how to represent the problem in a mathematical format.  Many teachers teach students to circle key words and memorize them to determine which operation to use.

Students may learn that addition means to “add to” or “make a total” while subtraction is an action of “taking away”.  Students look for keywords that they can circle to determine whether adding or subtracting.   But what happens when the action is there, but students actually need to solve using a different math operation? Here’s an example:

Gabbi had some stickers.  She earned 12 more stickers for completing her homework.  Now she has 56 stickers.  How many stickers did she have at first?

In this problem, it’s clearly an “add to” situation.  Gabbi is adding to her collection.  However, to solve the problem, a student would need to subtract from the total to find the missing part.

While keywords can help with some problems, they don’t actually work for the variety of word problems students will encounter.

In fact, according to the University of Arizona, students will solve 15 different addition and subtraction problem types by the end of Grade 2 and 9 different multiplication and division problem types by the end of Grade 4.

Read more about the problems with relying on key words in word problems here.

Word Problem Strategies to Help Students Comprehend Operations Before Solving

In order to help students comprehend and solve complicated word problems, math educators have to think like a reading teacher and acknowledge there is a whole set of skills required for students to do the mathematics.

Instead of using basic strategies such as circling key words and plugging in numbers that may work some of the time, teachers can push for greater depth and understanding using two easy word problem strategies.

1. Make connections to prior knowledge and experiences:

One of the first reading strategies students learn is to make a movie of the text in their head and make real-world connections to the story.  The most meaningful connections are text to self connections where students relate the text to their own lives.

Students can do the same thing with a word problem!  They can read the story and make a picture of what’s happening– maybe even act it out with real life objects.

Teachers can also change the nouns in the word problem to be more relatable for each class including student names in the problems and objects that they enjoy doing each day.  This one simple change will help students engage with the text and want to find out more.

2. Visualize the problem by drawing a picture:

Once students are connected to the story of the word problem, it’s time to connect it to mathematics.

Instead of relying on keywords, students can draw visuals of the part-whole, comparison or equal groups models to show what operation will be needed to solve the problem.

Through drawing bar models, students will identify the variable and lay the strong foundation for algebra even beginning in Grade 2.

These visuals aren’t complicated and can be taught easily while students are comprehending the word problem.  You can find out more about these visual models for word problems in this blog post and even snag free posters for each representation for your classroom.

Solving math word problems is a valuable skill that empowers students to apply mathematical knowledge in real-life situations, but it also requires students to use a variety of skills to accomplish.  By thinking like a reading teacher, math educators can employ the skills they use during reading to truly help students master word problems by making connections and visualizing the problem.

If you are looking for more support to help students walk through the variety of word problems they will encounter, consider The Problem Solving Handbook.

It includes 3 video lessons for each problem type, plus practice and challenge problems for students to truly master word problems.

The post How to Tackle Math Word Problems & Make Sense of Operations appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

The struggle that I hear about probably more than any other math skill is mastering multiplication facts. And while I do think it is helpful and important for kids to grow in confidence and multiplication fluency, I think it’s much more important that they have a solid conceptual understanding of what it is. This means thinking about multiplication as repeated addition, equal groups, skip counting, etc. rather than simply facts to memorize. If you’d like to help your kids better see and grasp their multiplication facts, grab this set of St. Patrick’s Day multiplication pages! This free download includes simple visual models to build understanding and fluency.

St. Patrick’s Day Multiplication: Number Lines

In this download, you will first find 2 pages of multiplication practice with number lines. This can help kids make the connection between multiplication and skip counting.

To use, they can circle the numbers as they skip count or they can draw arrows for each “jump” on the number line. Or both!

They will then see that they arrive at the final answer.

St. Patrick’s Day Multiplication: Hundred’s Chart

You will also find a fun St. Patrick’s Day hundred’s chart, which you might want to laminate so kids can refer back to it again and again.

Kids can use this in a similar manner to the number line, skip counting and looking for patterns as they multiply.

There are 2 pages of multiplication facts which you can print front and back, and then kids can keep these as a reference in the future as well.

Once they have completed both pages, you might have them look for patterns. For example, what do you notice about the x9 facts? What do you notice about the x10 facts? 

St. Patrick’s Day Multiplication: Equal Groups

Understanding multiplication as sets of equal groups is an important foundational building block when it comes to learning multiplication.

These visual models will help kids see the number of groups as well as how many are in each group. Then they can determine the product, which is the total number of objects in all the groups.

Multiplication Word Problems:

Lastly, there is a page of St. Patrick’s Day themed word problems involving multiplication.

Although you might think that this has to come last, after students have “mastered” multiplication, I would encourage you to start with problems in context.

You might need to discuss all together as a group, but this will help kids visualize a situation, draw pictures to represent it and then understand how they can use multiplication to model and solve it. If they are new to learning multiplication, they might use counting or addition, but that’s ok! It gives you an opportunity to then show how repeated addition relates to multiplication.

Included in the Download:

• 2 pages of multiplication practice on a number line
• A hundreds chart + 2 pages of fact practice using the hundreds chart
• 2 pages of multiplication practice with equal groups
• 1 page of St. Patrick’s Day multiplication word problems
• 1 color by number St. Patrick’s Day multiplication page
• Answer key for all worksheet pages

Ready to grab this download for your students? Click the link below to go to my shop and grab your free copy!

{Click HERE to go to my shop and grab the FREE St. Patrick’s Day Multiplication Practice Set!}

More FREE St. Patrick’s Day Math Resources:

• St. Patrick’s Day Counting: Hands On Games {FREE}
• St. Patrick’s Day Math Pack {K-1}
• St. Patrick’s Day Fractions: FREE Clip Cards
• {FREE} St. Patrick’s Day Triangle Game | Grades 4-6
• Leprechaun Tricks: Integer Challenges {FREE}
• The BEST St. Patrick’s Day Math Activities {All Ages!}

The post {FREE} St. Patrick’s Day Multiplication – Grade 3 appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

One of the most essential math skills in the early years is addition. Helping kids build a solid foundation with early addition within 10 and 20 will set the stage for not only addition with larger numbers, but for subtraction as well. If you want to weave some meaningful math practice into your St. Patrick’s Day plans, this set is for you. In the download you will find a variety of low-prep addition to 20 practice pages but also hands on puzzles. Learn more about this free St. Patrick’s Day addition practice set below!

St. Patrick’s Day Addition Practice:

There are so many ways to explore, see and make sense of addition. And not every child with think about it in the same way! But to help kids build their own number sense, it is essential that they are given and shown lots of visuals so their brains can attach an abstract concept to a visual representation.

In this set of addition practice pages, you’ll find a page of practice with pictorial representations as kids add up the leprechaun’s coins.

This helps kids move from counting objects one by one to actually adding two sets of numbers together. This can also provide an opportunity to practice counting on or making ten.

In addition, there is a page with “shamrock number lines,” providing another visual and another way to think about addition. Again, kids can use the number line to practice counting on.

You will also find a “fact family” true or false page. This is a great challenge for kids to think about what makes a set of numbers a “fact family,” and also begin to lay the foundation for subtraction and part-part-whole thinking.

Lastly, there is an addition color by number page for print-and-go practice, as well as an addition facts matching page.

St. Patrick’s Day Addition Puzzles:

Lastly, in the download you will find a set of 10 addition matching puzzles.

Kids must find a pair of numbers that have the sum of each number from 11-20, along with a picture to match.

This will challenge kids to think of different ways to decompose each number, while looking for puzzle pieces that fit together appropriately.

These take a little bit of prep, but can then be a great early finisher challenge, math center or choice board option for St. Patrick’s Day or anytime in March.

How to Prep the Addition Puzzles:

To begin, print the 3 sheets of puzzles on card stock paper for durability. I also recommend you laminate the puzzles before cutting them out.

Then carefully cut out each puzzle, along with each individual piece along the thick black lines. There are 4 pieces to each puzzle.

Then mix all the pieces up and store in a large ziplock bag or small plastic box for students to grab and complete.

Included in the Addition Practice Download:

• 5 low-prep addition practice pages for St. Patrick’s Day
• Set of 10 printable puzzles – Compose the numbers 11-20
• Answer key for all worksheet pages

Ready to grab this download for your students? Click the link below to go to my shop and grab your free copy!

{Click HERE to go to my shop and grab the FREE St. Patrick’s Day Addition Practice Set!}

More FREE St. Patrick’s Day Math Resources:

• St. Patrick’s Day Counting: Hands On Games {FREE}
• St. Patrick’s Day Math Pack {K-1}
• St. Patrick’s Day Fractions: FREE Clip Cards
• {FREE} St. Patrick’s Day Triangle Game | Grades 4-6
• Leprechaun Tricks: Integer Challenges {FREE}
• The BEST St. Patrick’s Day Math Activities {All Ages!}

The post St. Patrick’s Day Addition Practice – Grades 1-2 appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

If you teach third grade or fourth grade (or even fifth grade!) you know how essential and foundational the basic multiplication facts are. But you also know how those really tricky facts (x7, x8, x9) can be the cause of frustration and tears. Even after exploring with hands on materials like base ten blocks, or using visuals like a number line, kids will still need practice. But rather than flipping through yet another stack of flash cards or a timed worksheet (please no!), how about a fun and festive classroom scavenger hunt? I have used this type of activity with my own kids as well as in the classroom with 8th graders. It’s just such a nice change of pace from the normal routine and gives kids a chance to get up and move. Learn more about the Christmas themed multiplication facts scavenger hunt below!

Multiplication Facts Scavenger Hunt:

This hunt includes 10 problems, so obviously there is no way to include all multiplication facts up to 12×12. So I decided this would focus on some of the most tricky facts in order to give kids practice with the ones they likely struggle to solve or remember.

This includes: 6×7, 8×8, 9×7, 12×6, 9×6, 7×7, 7×12, 8×6, 11×12 and 9×9.

Even if your students are not learning (or are not required) to learn their x12 facts, I would encourage you to give them this challenge still.

Let them know that they will be reviewing facts they should know, but will also encounter some “challenge” problems. Let them use whatever strategy they prefer to figure out the solutions. This might be repeated addition (though it will be time consuming), using the distributive property, skip counting, etc.

Then you can have a discussion when everyone is finished to explore different methods!

Setting Up the Scavenger Hunt:

To set this up, you’ll need to print the scavenger hunt cards. There are 5 pages, with 2 problem cards per page.

I recommend printing on card stock paper for durability and laminating so that you can use this again year after year.

Once you print the pages, cut them in half so you have 10 separate problems.

Hang all 10 problems around your classroom. They don’t have to be in any particular order, as students will be moving around looking for the correct answers, not completing them in order.

Then be sure to print a recording page for each student.

I recommend giving each student a clipboard along with the recording sheet so it’s easier for them to write their work and answers as they move about the room.

Then you’re all set!

Scavenger Hunt Bundle for 3rd Grade:

Do your kids love these scavenger hunts to review math skills? My 3rd Grade Math Review bundle includes 5 different scavenger hunts so you are ready to put one together for a variety of skills, all year long! Plus, you save 20% when you buy the whole bundle!

Learn more about the 3rd Grade Math Scavenger Hunt Bundle HERE

Review The Tricky Multiplication Facts:

Once the scavenger hunt is set up, your kids are ready to get started! If you have a small group, students can work independently. But I have found that this works well when students work with a partner. Then they can discuss and compare answers as they go (and they have more fun!).

To begin, all students start with any of the 10 problems. If your class is large, you may want to assign them a starting number so they don’t all bunch around the same problem card.

Students then find the solution to the multiplication fact on the card and record their answer on their paper.

Then they go “hunting” for the answer on one of the cards around the room.

For example, the answer to the problem on card #1 is 42.

42 is shown on card #5, so they would move to #5 and solve the multiplication problem on that card.

They then continue solving each multiplication problem until they end up back where they started. If they get back to the beginning and have answered all 10 problems, they should have answered them all right!

If students can’t find an answer, or they think they’re finished but have not made it to all 10 cards, they know they have a mistake somewhere and should try again.

Assessing Students’ Fact Fluency:

Once students are done, you can have a whole class discussion about strategies they used.

You can also collect their recording pages to see how they solved each problem (or at least see the solution they got for each problem).

An answer key is included in the download to make it easier on you.

Of course, you will also get a sense of fluency as you walk around the room and listen and observe students. If they progress quickly and confidently, they may be ready to move on to more challenging multiplication. If they are consistently getting stuck and frustrated and unsure how to solve these, they may need to go back and review multiplication models, and easier facts.

I hope in the midst of the craziness of December this provides a fun way to practice multiplication and a good review for older ones who might be preparing for 2-3 digit multiplication!

If you’d like to try this out with your students, go to my shop at the link below and grab a free copy.

{Click HERE to go to my shop and grab the FREE Christmas Multiplication Facts Scavenger Hunt!}

Looking for more Christmas Math FUN for 3rd-4th grade? Try these activities!

• {FREE} Christmas Multiplication Practice for Kids
• Christmas Themed Elapsed Time Practice {FREE}
• Christmas “Color a Fraction” Pages {FREE}
• Grow a Christmas Tree Farm! {FREE Math Game}

The post Christmas Multiplication Facts Scavenger Hunt – Grades 3-4 appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

What do you do when you reach that point in December when every kid is bouncing off the walls and no one has any interest in learning? Combine purposeful review with fun activities! Building confidence and fluency with addition is essential early on. But achieving that level of confidence and fluency takes time, practice and multiple opportunities. So even if your first or second graders have already learned addition within 20, circling back and providing some additional review will likely be helpful for  most students. And those who have already mastered it? Well print the more challenging addition pages included in this download!

Materials Needed for the Christmas Addition Practice:

This activity is super low prep! To begin, you will want to gather a few materials though.

• Printed cut and paste pages (link to my shop at the end of the post)
• Scissors for each student
• Gluestick for each student
• Crayons or colored pencils (optional)

Practice Addition Within 20

In the download, you will first find 2 pages of problems to add numbers within 20, Practice A and Practice B. In order to help Santa out, they have to add up all the presents going into his sleigh.

To begin, they can cut out the sleighs at the bottom of the page.

Once they have solved each addition problem, they glue the sleigh in the corresponding box.

Encourage students to use whatever strategies they prefer as they solve the problems. This might include drawing a number line on a white board or scratch paper. Or it might be making ten to add. Or grabbing a pile of blocks (or other manipulative) to model each addend and then count on to add them together.

After students complete their page, discuss different ideas and strategies as a group. Hearing ways other students thought about and tackled each problem will benefit everyone!

More Christmas Math for K-2:

Looking for fun and engaging Christmas math games that you can use to practice all sorts of math skills in the month of December? This set of Gingerbread Math activities includes hands on practice, simple games, and tasty fun with gumdrops that your kids will love!

LEARN MORE AND GRAB THE GINGERBREAD MATH COLLECTION HERE

Practice Addition Within 50

If you have students who are ready for a bigger challenge, there are 2 additional cut and paste pages, allowing you to easily differentiate.

Practice C includes addition problems up to 50 without needing to regroup.

Practice D includes addition problems up to 50 which require regrouping.

These pages look the same, and are completed the same way, so you can give students different levels if needed.

Or you can start everyone on Practice A and gradually work through each addition page so they can increase in difficulty and apply their knowledge and strategies for addition to larger and more challenging numbers.

I’ll bet your kids will be surprised and proud of themselves when they get to the most challenging addition problems!

I hope these simple and low-prep Christmas addition practice pages provide a fun and easy way to review in the days leading up to Christmas break. Or save them in your sub folder and let your kids complete them in February! Who’s going to mind?!

Whenever you use them, I hope it helps save you some time and sanity!

{Click HERE to go to my shop and grab the FREE Christmas Addition Practice for First Grade!}

Looking for more Christmas Math FUN? Try one of the activities below:

• Christmas Shopping: Money Math Practice {FREE}
• Christmas Make Ten Sort {FREE}
• Christmas Addition and Subtraction Maze Challenges {FREE}
• Simple Problem of the Day Christmas Countdown!

The post {FREE!} Christmas Addition Practice – 1st Grade appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

Ahh fall. The time for cooler weather, changing leaves and all things pumpkin. Fall is my favorite time of the year, and I love picking out the perfect pumpkin with my kids, so of course I’m going to find ways to incorporate math! But along with learning math with pumpkins and pumpkin seeds, it’s the perfect opportunity to combine math with science and reading as you learn about pumpkins, their life cycle and read all the adorable pumpkin picture books. If you’re looking for an easy way to save all that new pumpkin knowledge in one place, look no further. This hands on “All About Pumpkins” project is a great way to kick start your unit on pumpkins!

*Please Note: This post contains affiliate links which support the work of this site. Read our full disclosure here.*

Materials Needed for the All About Pumpkins Interactive Folder:

This interactive folder, or lapbook, is super easy to assemble and only requires a few supplies. But once your kids have it put together, they can add to it, refer back to it, and make it their own.

For this hands on pumpkin activity, you will need:

• A single file folder (such as these)
• The printable pages (get them in my shop at the link at the end of this post)
• Scissors
• Glue sticks
• Markers or colored pencils (optional)

You may also want to stock up on some books about pumpkins so your kids can read more or add to their folder after they assemble it.

Getting Started:

To begin, you’ll want to open the folder and fold each side in halfway so that they meet in the center, as seen below.

Then print out the interactive pieces that will go in your folder.

Note: the first page does not need to be printed. It is to show you the layout of the inside of the folder, so you can see where all the pieces go.

Once your folder is prepped, cut out all the pieces that you will use to assemble the interactive folder.

Lastly, simple glue the different pieces into the inside of the folder!

Be careful as you glue things down, however, so that they maintain their interactive elements.

For example, the pieces on the left flap are meant to be pockets, so you will only glue down three sides, leaving the top open.

They can then add their “pumpkin facts” strips into the “about pumpkins” pocket and can add some dried pumpkin seeds into the seed pocket (if you have any).

Then in the center, you will fold the “life cycle of a pumpkin” in half and glue down the bottom so that it opens. Then you can glue the large pumpkin on the top flap, so it looks like you are opening the pumpkin.

On the right side, students can match the pumpkin vocabulary words with their definitions. I would encourage you to either work together to be sure they have matched the words and definitions correctly, or have students match them first before they glue everything down. That way you can check it before things are glued into the folder.

Lastly, have kids glue the “Parts of a Pumpkin” label to the very top of the folder, above the short blurb about pumpkins.

Then they have a ton of vocabulary words, pumpkin facts and pumpkin life cycle all stored neatly in one place!

Using the All About Pumpkins Interactive Folder:

Once kids have their folders assembled, they can quiz each other on the different parts of a pumpkin, review the pumpkin life cycle or take turns reading the “fun facts” strips with a partner.

You can also combine this with pumpkin seed math activities, allowing kids to store a small handful in their “seed pocket” when they finish.

Math with Pumpkin Seeds:

• How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? Fall Estimation Fun!
• Hands On Pumpkin Seed Math with a Number Bond {FREE}

And of course, you’ll want to read great pumpkin books. Here’s a fun book that you can use to read about pumpkins and practice math with the free printable game: {FREE} Sixteen Runaway Pumpkins Board Game!

However you use this interactive folder, I hope you and your kids have a blast learning all about pumpkins! Be sure to take a trip to a pumpkin patch to complete your study.

Grab the free printable set at the link below!

{Click HERE to go to my shop and grab the FREE Printable All About Pumpkins Interactive Folder Set!}

Looking for more pumpkin math ideas? Check out the links below:

• Pumpkin Pie Counting Cards | Printable + DIGITAL
• Pumpkin Number Bonds to Ten Cut and Paste {FREE}
• {FREE} Multi-Digit Multiplication with Pumpkins for Fall
• Fall Multiplication Games | Low-prep and FREE

The post {FREE} All About Pumpkins: Interactive Folder for Kids appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

Two math topics that have tons of real world meaning and significance are area and perimeter. We see and use these all the time, though we may not always realize it. So it’s important for kids to have early exposure to these concepts, the vocabulary terms and lots of practice to make sense of them. When first teaching or introducing area and perimeter, it’s important to use hands on manipulatives, visuals, real world examples, etc. But it is also important to provide additional practice with the concepts once kids know and understand what they are. That’s where this classroom scavenger hunt comes in! I LOVE using scavenger hunts as a way to review skills because it gives kids a chance to get out of their seat and move, work with their classmates, and review important math, all at the same time.

Use this as extra practice with kids in 3rd grade who are still working to master area and perimeter problems, or as a review for kids in 4th grade who are still struggling.

How the Scavenger Hunt Works:

The scavenger hunt includes 10 problems for kids to solve. To set it up, post all 10 problems in various locations around your room. Give each student a recording sheet and then you’re ready to get started!

To begin, kids can start with ANY of the problems. They solve it on their recording sheet and then have to FIND the solution somewhere around the classroom.

When they find the answer to the problem, they solve the NEXT problem in the scavenger hunt.

Eventually, they will end up back where they started and they’ll know they have completed the hunt correctly.

Area & Perimeter Skills Covered:

This scavenger hunt is based on 3rd grade math standards, but you may want to use it as a review with students in 4th or 5th grade if they have not yet learned about area and perimeter, or if they need a refresher before moving onto more challenging problems.

The following math skills are included in this scavenger hunt:

• Find the area of an irregular shape by counting unit squares
• Finding the perimeter of rectangles
• Finding the missing side length (when given the perimeter)

Tips for Using This Scavenger Hunt in the Classroom:

• Give kids a clipboard to make it easier to record their work and answers as they move about the room
• Let kids work with partners as they make their way through the scavenger hunt
• If you have a large class, assign kids a starting problem so they’re not all bunched together at the same location
• Collect the recording sheets as an informal assessment of how your students are doing
• Use this as an end-of-unit review, end-of-the-year review or as a substitute activity (be sure to do this with your students prior to leaving it with a sub so students know how it works)

No matter how or when you decide to incorporate this into your lesson plans, I am sure your students will enjoy the change of pace and the chance to get up and move!

Ready to get started? Just click the link below to grab this freebie from my shop.

Even MORE Scavenger Hunts for your Classroom:

If you love this simple review activity, you may be interested in the entire 3rd grade bundle! This includes 5 different scavenger hunts. Each hunt not only comes with the scavenger hunt whole class activity and answer key, but they each come with individual practice worksheets for additional review or assessment.

Plus, you save 20% when you purchase the entire bundle!

Learn more about the 3rd Grade Math Review Scavenger Hunt Bundle HERE!

{Click HERE to grab the FREE Area & Perimeter Practice for 3rd Grade Scavenger Hunt!}

Please note: The freebie only includes the scavenger hunt and recording sheet, not the answer key or extra practice worksheets. If you would prefer the entire product, grab it in my shop here, or grab it as part of the 3rd grade bundle.

Looking for more 3rd Grade math ideas? Check out the links below!

• Hands On Area and Perimeter Game {FREE Printable}
• Measuring Perimeter and Area {Hands On Lesson}
• Best Multiplication App for Kids to Increase Fluency

The post Area & Perimeter Practice for 3rd Grade – Scavenger Hunt Activity {FREE} appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

Way too often, when it comes to fraction operations, kids are taught procedures and rules first, then given endless practice problems until those procedures and rules become automatic. Can they then adequately find a fraction of a whole number? Perhaps. Do they actually understand what that means? Can they apply their knowledge to other, more challenging problems? Maybe, but maybe not. If you’d like to lay a more solid foundation for finding a fraction of a whole number and develop their fraction sense, I hope these simple coloring pages help. The goal is for students to think about what fractions mean, represent the problem visually and then solve it by coloring in part of the whole. Read on to learn more about these unique fraction of a whole number worksheets! Then they have a strategy they can use again and again until the process is more automatic.

How to Find a Fraction of a Whole Number:

If you were to google “how to find a fraction of a whole number,” meaning you want to solve a problem such as find 1/3 of 12, you would likely find videos and step-by-step guides that begin with multiplication.

After all, we use “of” to mean multiply, so to begin, write the problem as 1/3 x 12.

Then write 12 as a fraction, 12/1 and multiply the 2 fractions. Straight across.

This gives us the fraction 12/3. Simplify that, and your answer is 4/1 or just 4.

Easy, right?

Maybe, but if you are brand new to making sense of fractions, does this procedure make any sense?

WHY do we multiply? Why is there no longer talk of “part of the whole” that is normally associated with fractions? Why doesn’t 1/3 mean one out of three anymore?

Instead, I recommend walking through problems visually, applying what is already known of fractions to make sense. To develop an deeper understanding, that will eventually give way to formal procedures such as the one above.

It will also help make a connection between fractions and division, a connection that many of my middle and high school students still did not see or understand.

Fraction of a Whole Number with Visual Models:

This free set of practice worksheets is meant to challenge kids to apply a knowledge of fractions to a new type of problem: finding a fraction of a whole number.

To begin, a visual array is given.

To solve, students can divide the whole into parts. For example, if you want to know how many are in 1/3, divide the whole into thirds, or three groups, first.

Then they color how many circles are in one of the thirds.

Alternately, students can apply their knowledge of 1/3 to color one circle out of every group of three. In this case, they would find groups of three (rather than three groups). Then they color one in each group to find how many get colored altogether.

Or to find 2/3 of a number, they would do the same thing, but color in two groups out of three. Or color two out of every group of three.

With enough practice and discussion of different problems, students will begin to see fraction as division.

And many will likely see on their own that to find 2/3 they can divide the whole by three and then multiply by 2.

So in the end, they will still be able to solve problems fluently, but with a much more solid foundation and understanding that will serve them well as they move onto more challenging fraction operations.

Included Worksheets:

If you’d like this introductory set of visual coloring worksheets, you can grab it free in my shop using the link below.

This pdf download includes 3 different pages to introduce these problems to your students.

The first page includes fractions with a numerator of one, to get kids applying their knowledge of fractions to the set.

The second page includes fractions with a numerator other than one (such as 2/3 or 3/4).

The last page includes a variety of problems, but the visual array is not given for them. This allows students to draw a picture in the way that makes sense to them.

Or it allows them to apply a strategy they may have developed without needing to draw a picture.

Of course, you may need more practice with this skill than what’s included in these pages, but I hope this provides a nice springboard for problem solving, math conversation and building fraction sense.

Ready to get started? Just click the link below to go to my shop for the freebie!

{Click HERE to go to my shop and grab the FREE Fraction of a Whole Number Worksheets!}

Looking for more fraction FUN? Check out the resources below:

• How to Teach Dividing Fractions With Models | FREE Practice
• {FREE} Comparing Fractions Cut & Paste Practice with Visual Models
• {FREE} Convert Improper Fractions to Mixed Numbers Using Visuals
• Visual Equivalent Fractions Game Printable {FREE}

The post Fraction of a Whole Number Visual Worksheets {FREE} appeared first on Math Geek Mama.