I’ve used this activity before but can’t quite remember when. Sometimes I get caught up in new activities that I forget about the great ones I’ve used before.
This is “Find Someone Who”
It’s a pretty simple concept that I’m sure most people have seen before. I love that this activity gets everyone up and moving and talking to each other.
I used it this week with a Types of Number review. Continue reading
At the start of this term I have been working on Logic and Reasoning with my S1 class. The aim is to focus on strategies, thinking, discussion, problem solving and perseverance.
As a class we have looked at two way tables, Venn diagrams and logic problems. But I also wanted to throw in a few strategy games and puzzles.
Firstly, we played the Traffic Light Game, which I wrote about previously. It was so much fun. I still love that it is a game that everyone can play no matter of mathematical ability and can develop strategies to win.
Then we looked at how to solve Futoshiki puzzles. Futoshiki puzzles are from Japan and the name means “inequality”. Continue reading
What is your favourite icebreaker or first day of school activity?
My first day of school with my classes actually happens in June not August with the exception of the new S1. So some of these icebreakers and first day activities I have already done this year.
I like to start classes with a problem solving task. This gives me great insight into how well the pupils follow instructions, tackle a problem, work with each other, communicate results and engage with a challenge.
Here are some of the different problem solving tasks I like to set: Continue reading
I previously wrote a blog about three activities that can be used at the end of a lesson. Here I want to share a few more little activities that I like to use in my classroom.
The first one is entitled “Pass the Bomb” – it is called this as I use a plastic bomb from the game “Pass the Bomb”. This is a word game (super fun) which I had and thought would be fun to translate into a maths game. Continue reading
As you know I love games, especially ones that involve dice. Here is one that I only found out about today from a colleague of mine. It is not an original idea I’m sure but here it is:
Write a number between 100 and 500
Write a number between 500 and 999.
NO ZEROES ALLOWED.
The aim of the game is to get both numbers to zero. Continue reading
I love playing strategy games with my classes. The games don’t have to be overly mathematical but help to develop logical thinking. I also love these games as everyone in the class can compete and win even if they are not as confident with maths as their opponents. I always hope that there are an odd number of pupils in the class so that I can play too!
Here is a game that I only discovered last week. It is from one of my favourite sites NRICH.
These are the rules: Continue reading
My S3 class have been learning how to solve simultaneous equations by elimination this week.
I set this problem for the class:
While this is not the most realistic of problems, it allowed the pupils to consider solutions in a familiar context. There were a few different methods used. Most tried trial and error but a few started with 20 chickens 80 legs and 1 pig 4 legs then adjusted the number of chickens until there were 30 heads.
After practicing the mechanics of solving simultaneous equations by elimination a few in the class were asking if next lesson we could do something more fun.
I wanted to provide an activity that would allow pupils to work together in a fun way that still allowed each pupil to practice solving simultaneous equations as an individual.
So I declared WAR! Continue reading
There is a game I play with my classes that all my pupils love (they even request it). I call the game RISK.
Here’s how to play:
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