4 Math Activities That Work

Engaging students in math activities can be both fun and educational when it’s done right. When it’s not? Well, things can get tricky!

Here are four effective math activities that not only reinforce concepts but also make learning enjoyable for students in special ed and the general education setting. Each activity includes a list of supplies and detailed instructions to make them easier to implement with your students.

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Jelly Bean Groupings

Supplies Needed:

Instructions:

1. Introduction to Multiplication: Start by explaining the concept of multiplication as repeated addition. Use jelly beans to illustrate this visually. For example, 2 x 3 can be represented by drawing 2 circles with 3 jelly beans in each circle.
2. Group Activity: Divide students into small groups and provide them with jelly beans and dry erase boards. Ask each group to create their own multiplication problems using the jelly beans. For instance, they can represent 3 x 4 by drawing 3 circles with 4 jelly beans in each.
3. Sharing and Discussion: After the groups have created their problems, have them share their representations with the class. Discuss the products they calculated and encourage students to explain their reasoning.
4. Reward Time: Conclude the activity by allowing students to eat a few jelly beans from a separate bag as a reward for their hard work.

Math War with Flash Cards

Supplies Needed:

Instructions:

1. Setting Up: Gather the students and explain the rules of Math War, similar to the traditional card game. Each student will draw a flash card and compete against another student.
2. Playing the Game: Students take turns flipping over their flash cards simultaneously. The student with the highest answer wins that round and collects both cards. If there is a tie, they draw again.
3. Participation Rewards: Ensure that every student receives a mint or reward for participating. If they win a round, they earn an extra reward. This encourages friendly competition and rewards effort – plus, their breath smells amazing!
4. Reflection: After the game, discuss the problems that were challenging for them and review any concepts that need reinforcement. This is a really important step whenever you do math activities because it helps you identify where your students need additional support.

Correcting Number Reversals

Supplies Needed:

Instructions:

1. Identifying the Issue: If you notice students struggling with writing numbers correctly, especially reversals like 3 and 6, address this directly by showing them the correct formations.
2. Practice on Whiteboards: Have each student practice writing the troublesome numbers on their small whiteboards. Guide them by writing the number correctly first and then having them copy it multiple times.
3. Smartboard Activity: For additional practice, invite students to come up to the Smartboard and write the numbers. This adds an interactive element that can help reinforce correct formation.
4. Monitor Progress: Provide worksheets for at-home practice and monitor progress over time, praising improvements to boost confidence.

Domino War for Counting and Multiplication

Supplies Needed:

• Dominoes
• Playing area (table or floor space)

Instructions:

1. Counting War for Younger Students: For younger students learning to count, use dominoes to play a counting war. Each student draws a domino, counts the dots on it, and the one with the highest number wins that round.
2. Multiplication War for Older Students: For older students who are ready to multiply, have them draw two dominoes and multiply the numbers on them together to determine who has the largest product.
3. Collecting Dominoes: The winner of each round collects both dominoes. The game continues until all dominoes are drawn, and the student with the most dominoes at the end wins.
4. Discussion: After playing, discuss strategies used during the game and review any multiplication concepts that were challenging.

These activities not only help reinforce mathematical concepts but also promote teamwork, communication, and critical thinking among students. They can hit a lot of those social IEP goals! Enjoy playing these games during math lessons in your classroom!

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