Showing posts with label fun stuff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fun stuff. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Gimkit: You and Your Students Will Love It
Does your class love Kahoot? Now is the time to learn about Gimkit! Gimkit was definitely a new favorite last year, but I found there was a learning curve to figure out how I liked to use Gimkit. Here are some of the reasons why I really love Gimkit.
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Talk Like a Pirate (and Practice Order of Operations!)
Today was the best day. One of those days that your lesson goes exactly like you want it to, the kids are amazed at what you're doing, and it all just falls into place.
The first part of the day that was so awesome was related to the fact that is was International Talk Like a Pirate Day. I've been looking forward to Talk Like a Pirate Day for awhile for two reasons. Reason #1...my son has an awesome pirate hat that I looked forward to wearing to school. I also had an old Pi Day shirt (Pi-Rate, When Good Numbers Go Bad) to wear...so perfect!
Reason #2....I had this idea this summer of making a pirate name generator. I figure I could make up a problem (I used an order of operations problem) and the kids could roll dice, and plug the numbers into the problem. The answer to the problem then generated the kids' pirate names. So for example, in the first problem, the kids rolled 4 numbers and plugged them into this expression (___ + ___)^2 + ___*___. So let's say you rolled 4, 2, 3 and 5 then your answer would be 51. Then I had a table that told them different names for different number ranges. So 51 meant the first part of your name was "Thieving".
The first part of the day that was so awesome was related to the fact that is was International Talk Like a Pirate Day. I've been looking forward to Talk Like a Pirate Day for awhile for two reasons. Reason #1...my son has an awesome pirate hat that I looked forward to wearing to school. I also had an old Pi Day shirt (Pi-Rate, When Good Numbers Go Bad) to wear...so perfect!
Reason #2....I had this idea this summer of making a pirate name generator. I figure I could make up a problem (I used an order of operations problem) and the kids could roll dice, and plug the numbers into the problem. The answer to the problem then generated the kids' pirate names. So for example, in the first problem, the kids rolled 4 numbers and plugged them into this expression (___ + ___)^2 + ___*___. So let's say you rolled 4, 2, 3 and 5 then your answer would be 51. Then I had a table that told them different names for different number ranges. So 51 meant the first part of your name was "Thieving".
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| Click on the picture if you're interested in purchasing this pirate name generator. |
My pirate name generator had two parts. My absolute favorite nickname of the day was Salty Fishlips! Some of the other awesome nicknames: Parrot Plankwalker, One-Eyed Devil, Jolly Dog, Bearded Cutlass, Gold-Toothed Buaccaneer....it was a blast! And the kids got a little bit of order of operations practice in. As I walked around, I really enjoyed hearing students explain to their classmates how to do the problem as they tried to get their pirate name.
The only disappointment was that I really wanted a name that involved Scurvy Legs or Plankwalker, and the dice never let that happen for me!
Now, the other really awesome part of today's lesson was the part where I showed the kids how to use a spreadsheet....and they got it, and they were as amazed as I thought they should be at the power of spreadsheets. But I'll leave that for another post!
Thursday, August 18, 2016
How to Play These 5 Games Your Class Will Love
I have officially survived the first two days of school. That first day is always a killer. I'll admit it-I came home and took a nap that day. But day two was a little bit easier, and here on day three, my family might even get a hot meal for dinner (that is not take-out).
As the year gets going, I've been thinking about which things I'm most looking forward to introducing to my students. One of them is the games that we play. So today, I'm thinking about my favorite kinds of games....ones that require little prep work and no extra supplies, plus work with whatever content I'm teaching! I can usually just pull questions right off of worksheets, study guides, etc....Some of these are my creations and others I've learned from other great teachers, but they all make my classroom a fun place to be. One reason I love to play games is that it is such a great way to give my kids feedback.
1. Math Poker--I learned this game at an NCTM conference in Kansas City several years ago, at the absolute best session of the day. Only I don't remember the name of that great teacher....so whoever you are, here's to you! The idea of this game is that everybody starts at $100. You can bet as little as $1 or up to all of your money. You get the question right, and you add your bet on to your total; miss the question, and deduct the money.
Now, the reason my kids really love this game is what happens if someone loses all their money. I have a deck of cards filled with silly actions such as "Waddle like a duck" and "Dance around the room like a ballerina", so if you lose all of your money, you get a $10 loan from me by taking one of these cards. My kids love this part so much I've had to make a rule that you can't miss questions on purpose, and anyone who wants to draw a card for fun at the end of the game is allowed to.
2. Trashketball (or Mathketball)--This is probably my favorite game to play, and the kids love it too. I keep seeing pins on Pinterest about Trashketball, so I know I'm not the only one who has thought this up, but here is how we play in my room. I divide my class into teams of 3 or 4. I put a question up, and every team works it out. I roll the dice to decide which team gets to answer the question. If that team gets it correct, they get one point and a chance at a bonus.
For the bonus, I give my kids a couple of options: shoot baskets (hence the name of the game) or roll the dice. I have three different options: two three-point shots, three two-point shots, or a roll of the die. This way, no matter what, you have the possibility of 6 bonus point.
3. Treasure Hunt--Playing this game is easy. Ask the questions you want to ask. Randomly choose a student to answer the question (or possibly a couple of students). If the student gets the question correct, they get to pick a spot on a simple 10 x 10 grid. I decide in advance on some "winning" squares, and if students pick those squares they win.
This game has lots of variations that will work. Sometimes I use a grid that has simple prizes "hidden" in some of the squares. (I use a SmartBoard file to do this). When I do this I give away simple things like a pencil, candy, etc.... You could also put different point values in squares, and have the person with the highest point total at the end declared the winner.
4. Grudgeball--I can take no credit for Grudgeball, but my kids sure are glad that I read about it. They have a blast taking points away from another team, and I love watching 7th graders and their total lack of logical strategies. Click to see Grudgeball directions.
5. Mission Impossible--This simple game just requires a couple of spinners (or dice) and a grid. I use a poster-sized grid. In one of the squares, I put an American flag. I tell my students that they are spies, and they are in possession of important papers that must be delivered to the American embassy. Every time I give a question, every group that gets it right gets to move. One die represents direction: 1 or 2 moves left/right, 3 or 4 moves up/down, 5 moves diagonal, and 6 is any direction. The other die represents the number of spaces. If a group lands on a space that is already occupied, that group must return to the beginning. The first group to the embassy wins.
As the year gets going, I've been thinking about which things I'm most looking forward to introducing to my students. One of them is the games that we play. So today, I'm thinking about my favorite kinds of games....ones that require little prep work and no extra supplies, plus work with whatever content I'm teaching! I can usually just pull questions right off of worksheets, study guides, etc....Some of these are my creations and others I've learned from other great teachers, but they all make my classroom a fun place to be. One reason I love to play games is that it is such a great way to give my kids feedback.
1. Math Poker--I learned this game at an NCTM conference in Kansas City several years ago, at the absolute best session of the day. Only I don't remember the name of that great teacher....so whoever you are, here's to you! The idea of this game is that everybody starts at $100. You can bet as little as $1 or up to all of your money. You get the question right, and you add your bet on to your total; miss the question, and deduct the money.
Now, the reason my kids really love this game is what happens if someone loses all their money. I have a deck of cards filled with silly actions such as "Waddle like a duck" and "Dance around the room like a ballerina", so if you lose all of your money, you get a $10 loan from me by taking one of these cards. My kids love this part so much I've had to make a rule that you can't miss questions on purpose, and anyone who wants to draw a card for fun at the end of the game is allowed to.
 |
| This is how I have the kids set up their paper. |
2. Trashketball (or Mathketball)--This is probably my favorite game to play, and the kids love it too. I keep seeing pins on Pinterest about Trashketball, so I know I'm not the only one who has thought this up, but here is how we play in my room. I divide my class into teams of 3 or 4. I put a question up, and every team works it out. I roll the dice to decide which team gets to answer the question. If that team gets it correct, they get one point and a chance at a bonus.
For the bonus, I give my kids a couple of options: shoot baskets (hence the name of the game) or roll the dice. I have three different options: two three-point shots, three two-point shots, or a roll of the die. This way, no matter what, you have the possibility of 6 bonus point.
3. Treasure Hunt--Playing this game is easy. Ask the questions you want to ask. Randomly choose a student to answer the question (or possibly a couple of students). If the student gets the question correct, they get to pick a spot on a simple 10 x 10 grid. I decide in advance on some "winning" squares, and if students pick those squares they win.
This game has lots of variations that will work. Sometimes I use a grid that has simple prizes "hidden" in some of the squares. (I use a SmartBoard file to do this). When I do this I give away simple things like a pencil, candy, etc.... You could also put different point values in squares, and have the person with the highest point total at the end declared the winner.
4. Grudgeball--I can take no credit for Grudgeball, but my kids sure are glad that I read about it. They have a blast taking points away from another team, and I love watching 7th graders and their total lack of logical strategies. Click to see Grudgeball directions.
5. Mission Impossible--This simple game just requires a couple of spinners (or dice) and a grid. I use a poster-sized grid. In one of the squares, I put an American flag. I tell my students that they are spies, and they are in possession of important papers that must be delivered to the American embassy. Every time I give a question, every group that gets it right gets to move. One die represents direction: 1 or 2 moves left/right, 3 or 4 moves up/down, 5 moves diagonal, and 6 is any direction. The other die represents the number of spaces. If a group lands on a space that is already occupied, that group must return to the beginning. The first group to the embassy wins.
What's your favorite game to play with your students? Leave a comment below telling me about it!
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