Math Viking on TPT
I believe math instruction should inspire curiosity and develop reasoning. I like to give away as little as possible… and that means it all comes down to the questioning. The better our questions are.. the better our students will learn. Period.
I aim help students build more sophisticated understanding from visual models and great questions. My ultimate goal in creating math games… is to help teachers differentiate AS NEEDED. As opposed to deciding ahead of time who will get an a different version of the game. In other words… have a Plan B, but leave it Behind until you need it!
The Fraction Battle Royale Series offers an INTENSELY ENGAGING line of games your kids might play during recess!! And you will be SHOCKED at how some of them can decompose fractions! You know those kids who finish everything in 5 seconds? There is a far higher ceiling for them with this game. And those kids who need more time with the basic ideas? They can develop them with the same game.
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After students spin a fraction, they have a minute to “bust it up” (decompose it) Then they share their choices… “I broke 7/8 into 6/8 and 1/8.” “I did a half and 3 more eighths.” THIS DEVELOPS COMFORT with fractions as numbers that are made up of smaller numbers. I believe we need to do MORE activities that drive home the point that fractions are numbers!
Some students will split 7/8 into 6/16 and 40/80. After the first round of this game… take all those kids and make a new group out of them. SOMEONE WILL SURPRISE YOU! Every time I play this, I discover a student or two or three who BLOW ME AWAY! Students who might have been put into a modified version group- based on past experiences- WILL SHOCK YOU! Please give them that opportunity.
Their next level, is the one where kids add a new rule each round. (You are going to steal option that for other games!) They may come up with rules like: “No unit fractions.” or “You can’t use the same denominators.” THAT is how students learn vocabulary while decomposing fractions.
Fraction Battle Royale goes from simple composing/decomposing fractions to creating equivalent fractions, to comparing fractions using benchmarks…. to selecting the best method of comparing (benchmarks, numerators, denominators or equivalents) WHEW!
Teachers will quickly notice those who are not comfortable with this game! Those kids get pulled together to play HIDING FRACTIONS. Less confident learners will get a lot out of this game. They need more time with different manipulatives .. counting up wholes and comparing the size of the pieces. THIS RESOURCE IS FREE FOR THE WEEK OF THE BLOG LAUNCH! Grab one now!
This introductory fraction game is great for those still in the emerging level of understanding. It can be played with any manipulatives… and you can play with any amount. Start with one whole (say, 8/8) and when it seems too easy… try playing with 16/8. Consider 20/8. Some students will start to see that as 2 1/2 long before they learn about mixed numbers. These offer great early experiences to build on later. Perfect for a grade 2/3 introduction and grade 4 intervention.
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Fractions are absolutely one of MY FAVORITE MATH CONCEPTS! Why? Fractions really lend themselves to games! (Who doesn’t love games?) And fractions are all about relationships… which is how we connect all of our ideas about numbers! Check out my store for a ton of fun resources! When it comes to fraction instruction, if you’re looking for the best place to start, I suggest Graham Fletcher’s Progression video.
So this next game was created on a challenge. (Okay, perhaps it was a threat. Semantics.) A third grade teacher was so frustrated that her kids were not gaining comfort with their facts yet, and they were moving on to using the distributive property with even bigger numbers. “Which they give me like 5 minutes to teach before we have to move to division! How on Earth?!” So I suggested we give them something with which they could repeatedly work on their facts… while using the distributive property.
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This Distributive Shake and Spill is a LIFESAVER! Or at least, a LIFE PRESERVER. Toss it out there.. and let your kiddos play a game that they will enjoy… while working with whatever facts you want! Some kids may still be tossing threes, while others are play with sevens, but some have moved to twenty-fives because this is THAT EASY to differentiate!
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This fan-favorite Fortnite game is a great way to level up simple multiplication and division for your third graders… or introduce common factors in fourth grade… and review simple algebraic expressions in fifth grade! (It also has positive reviews from middle school teachers.) Included with these task cards, is a student project packet, where they can make their own algebraic equations. This is a HUGE HIT in grades 3-5. I just started using it with some bored second graders. Go figure. Put a llama picture on something, and kids will persevere until victory is theirs!
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Because I have had SO MUCH SUCCESS with homemade master mind games over the years, I have recently added Fortnite to my Dr. Seuss, Marvel, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Spring themes… these are a blast AND they build reasoning skills WITHOUT NUMBERS and WITHOUT WORDS! They aren’t kidding when they say, “AGES 7 – ADULT” Try it. You can play with 3 cards… or go up to 6!
Many of my resources are “gamified” and many, simply offer puzzles worth solving. When teachers approach math problems like fascinating puzzles we are excited to solve… students will match our enthusiasm!
