Math Freebie - Steal the Treasure (X Version)

While I was recreating an addition game I first saw in a fabulous post by Aimee of Primarily Speaking, I decided a multiplication version was needed.

Here's a snapshot of the multiplication version of Steal the Treasure.

The game comes with teacher directions, student directions (shown), and a game board. 

Download the multiplication version of Steal the Treasure!. Please let me know if you try this with your students and how they liked it.

Math Freebie - Steal the Treasure!

While pinning resources yesterday I came across a fabulous post by Aimee of Primarily Speaking. In it she describes a game she learned about at a workshop. Using a number line written on a paint stick, students roll dice, add the numbers, and remove each other's markers. Called Walk the Plank, I thought it looked like great fun.

After writing to Aimee to ask if I could take this idea and run with it (she said yes!), I changed the title and made several different game boards. Here's a snapshot of this new version called Steal the Treasure.

The game comes with teacher directions, student directions (shown), and three different game boards. 

Download Steal the Treasure!. Please let me know if you try this with your students and how they liked it.

A Pinterest Update and a Thank You

I blame Loreen Leedy for this! On December 21st last year she wrote a post entitled Pinterest for nonfiction (and everything else)!-- a post that convinced me to ask her for an invitation. I started my account on January 8th and began with a bit of trepidation. What exactly was I going to use this for?  I played around a bit and realized very quickly just how very useful these boards could be in my teaching. Here's a glimpse of my page.

Nearly 11 months later I have 113 Boards, just over 3900 pins, and a growing collection of resources for teaching math and science, and to a smaller extent, social studies.

For years I've developed web sites for my classes. In this particular iteration I'm using both Weebly and Google sites. I like them both for different reasons, but I must say the visual nature of Pinterest is highly compelling. Students SEE very quickly what I'm talking about. Both the Weebly and Google sites are text heavy. With Pinterest I can point them directly to resources they can use in planning lessons. It has significantly changed how I think about sharing some of the more practical, applied components of the pedagogy I teach.

So, while I blame Loreen for this new obsession, I also owe her a great deal of thanks for helping me add yet another tool to my arsenal of teaching ideas. Thanks, Loreen!

Geology Kitchen

Have you seen Geology Kitchen? I'm enamored of this twelve episode video series that uses food metaphors to explain earth science concepts. The host is terrific and offers up a hefty dose of science in an engaging way. Here's the pilot video on the three types of rocks.

The videos are free and can be either watched online or downloaded from iTunes.

This is a terrific resource, so be sure to check it out!

Domino Math - Addition and Multiplication

I've been working with my class on the operations of addition and subtraction. I like to use dominoes to practice basic facts, so I've been exploring different ways to do this. Here's a form I created for students to sort dominoes and then record corresponding addition sentences.

Download Domino Addition Sort.

In anticipation of where I'm going with my class, I went ahead and created a similar page for multiplication.

Download Domino Multiplication Sort.

If you download, please let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Monday Math Freebie - Paper and Pencil Shut-the-Box

Last week my class started looking at activities for practicing basic facts in addition and subtraction. I created this recording sheet so that they could play a version of the game "Shut-the-Box" with paper and pencil. (You can learn more about the game at Board Game Central.)

Here's what it looks like.

Download Paper and Pencil Shut the Box.

If you still want the tactile aspect to this game, try writing the digits 1-9 on poker chips. As students flip or remove the chips they can record the results on this page.

I hope you get a chance to use this in your home or classroom. Please let me know if you try this and how your kids like it. 

Monday Math Freebies - More Picture Sudoku

Last week I created my first of a set of puzzles to ease kids into Sudoku. These puzzles contain a 6x6 grid (instead of 9x9) and use pictures instead of numbers. Today I've added three new sets of picture puzzles to the Monster Sudoku puzzles.

Each file contains 5 different challenges with pieces that can be used to solve the puzzles. Answer keys are also included. Please note that every set has different puzzles, so if you download all 4 sets you get 20 different puzzles!

Here's a sneak peak at one puzzle from each set.

Download Sports Sudoku.

Download Desert Life Sudoku.

Download Star Wars Sudoku.

Enjoy! Please let me know if you try these and how your kids like them. I'll be working on number versions and 9x9 puzzles next.