Active Students? Try Scoot!

Today I'm sharing a game that helped me through those last hectic weeks of school where the kiddos just couldn't concentrate on much of anything...Scoot!

 

All you need to play scoot is a set of task cards (I know we all have plenty of those!) an answer sheet, and some desks or tables.

In the picture above, we put the desks into a big square, which is perfect for scoot, but rows, tables, or sets of desks in any arrangement can work. You just need to set a pattern for movement.

The basis of the game:

• There is a numbered task card on each desk. 
• Students do the task card at their desk, and write their answer on the answer sheet.
• When the teacher calls "Scoot", the children all move to the next desk in the sequence, and do that task card.
• Children continue to "scoot" from desk to desk until all cards have been completed.

 

 

After completion, I usually let the children self-correct while we go over the cards. (Self correcting with highlighters makes it more fun!)

For added fun for squirmy kids, replace one (or more) of the task cards with a brain break. My kids LOVE brain breaks, and look forward to that part of scoot!

 

 

If you're interested in task cards that work well with scoot, see HERE.

 

These Reading Comprehension for Active Learners sets are designed with Scoot in mind!

Try it out with this dollar deal! Social Studies Review Task Cards

How do you keep your active students learning?

 

Gotta Get a Gimmick!

There is a song from the Broadway show Gypsy called Gotta Get a Gimmick! Many of you may know I'm a big fan of musical theatre, and have performed in many, many productions of theatrical shows. 

 

In fact, I tend to be rather theatrical in my classroom, too. 

(You might have guessed this from my profile picture.)

 

This post has nothing to do with that show.

But, seriously, have you ever noticed how a silly little gimmick can grab the kids' attention and turn a mundane task into something exciting! I'm sure you've done it! 

Here are some gimmicks I've used!

 

Giant Dice: I'm sure you've seen these! I could have given these little guys a worksheet to practice adding 3 addends, but the giant dice and the whiteboards made them forget they were practicing a skill!

 

M&Ms! This lovely lady found the M&Ms a fun way to make sure she was leaving spaces between words!

Brain Breaks! These two cuties are doing wall push ups. The kids absolutely love this stuff! Plus, they need it! These two are playing a game that has the Brain Breaks build right in, but they don't need to be "built in". Brain Breaks should be a big part of every day! It's amazing what a small amount of movement or a change of pace can do for learning!

Mini Cards! These young gentlemen are practicing addition with 2 digit numbers. This is another case where a worksheet would be sufficient, but these little mini cards just make it so much more fun for the little guys! They love these!

Bracelets! These bracelets are simply beads (from any craft store) and pipe cleaners. This particular one was made for the new year, and was a chance for the children to practice facts that add up to 14. They can manipulate the beads to make 8+6 or 9+5 or other combinations.  My students love these bracelets so much, they even make them at indoor recess!

I have plenty more, and I'll bet you do too!

I don't believe in ALWAYS using a gimmick. Sometimes they just have to work. But sometimes they need a little something extra to get them going!

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For more Bright Ideas from lots of fabulous bloggers, browse through the link up below. You'll be amazed by the bright ideas!

An InLinkz Link-up

Practice Makes Permanent and Games Make it Fun!

I started playing a game during Math the other day that I hadn't played in years!

We were practicing skip counting in my second grade class, and I realized a lot of these kids really need to practice skip counting a whole lot!

 

After all, research on brains and learning tells us that practice makes permanent. (This is good if they're practicing the skill correctly, not so good if they're practicing the skill incorrectly! I suspect we all know the pain of unlearning a bad habit!)

So in order to practice the skill of skip counting, I remembered this game:  Countdown!

The children stand in a circle. The teacher decides which numbers will be repeated for the game. To start, we counted by 5s from 5 to 35. A child was chosen to start the game by calling out "five". The children went around the circle calling out the next number in the sequence. Whoever said 35 would sit down. They repeat the sequence, eliminating the "35" person each time, until there is only one left standing, the winner!

Luckily, they enjoy the game, so they're glad to repeat it, with variations on the counting pattern! Plus, brain research tells us that adding an emotional element (fun) improves the memory!

This game works for ANY sequence that needs to be learned. Here are some examples:

• the seven continents
• the states of matter
• the seasons
• the times tables
• prime numbers

I'll bet you can think of more! 

What are your ideas?

In case you're interested, I've written these directions out so you can download and put them in your files!  Just click the image or click here: How to Play Countdown!

Give it a try: your students will love it!

We're in the Money!

We started working on money this week in second grade! 

 Money is all about skip counting, so if the kids don't know how to skip count, it's going to be tough. Counting by 5s and by 10s is pretty easy for the kids, but I use a little trick from my past to count by 25s.

Brain research tells us that adding movement, as well as repetition helps the memory.

Did I mention that I was once a cheerleader?

This one dates back to the early 70s, but I think I remember my mother saying this one, so I'm guessing it dates back to about the 40s. Some of my girls volunteered to pose for the photographs. I usually call it a chant, not a cheer, so it doesn't scare away my little guys! These movements can be done in quite a manly manner, despite the daintiness you see in these lovely ladies.

A Chant for Quarters!

Twenty five! (punch arms up and left.)

Fifty! (punch arms down and left.)

Seventy-five! (punch arms up and right.)

A dollar! (Punch arms down and right.)

Everyone for money, (Arms out to sides.)

Stand up, (bend forward, roll arms)

and holler!  (Put arms up high.)

The kids absolutely love it! (Yes, even the boys!) It makes a nice brain break, or just a warm up for math class. The kids get to move around and practice their skip counting by 25s as well.

Instead of saying "Everyone for money", we usually insert the name of our school.

With my musical theatre background, every time we get ready for math when we're working with money, I break out into the song We're in the Money from the musical 42nd Street. I have a couple of kids in my class that are musically inclined, so last Friday at snack time, I showed them this video:

Every single kid was absolutely mesmerized! They even asked to see it again. (A couple of kids watched it a third time, while waiting for buses!) Then, when it was time to get ready for science, they all started tap dancing. Of course I let them tap dance their way to get their science materials. You can't discourage a desire for musical theatre!

Once they understand counting money, here's a fun game to practice the skill: Coin Trading Game

That Day That Teachers Dread?

Did you realize April Fool's Day is coming??? Some teachers absolutely dread this day. Are you one of them?

I'm a true believer in any opportunity to laugh! As a matter of fact, laughter is healthy! (See THIS blog post on the benefits of laughter!)  It's also great for the brain! (See THIS blog post on brain fitness!)

I do enjoy making the kids laugh, and I enjoy their humor.  But I kind of like to "beat them to the punch".

I set the rules first thing: April Fool's Day is about making people laugh. It is NOT about making people mad.

I stuck around for a while after school today setting up some things that will hopefully lead to a few laughs.

I wrote the morning letter for Monday. I usually write about the morning routine, reminding them of their daily responsibilities, and if anything unusual were going to happen on that day. Monday's letter says we're going on a field trip to Disney World. The schedule is set up with the word "field trip" at the top, and nothing else!

Here's the date for Monday:  (They have actually earned 25 minutes, not 325!)

When you're 7, seeing things you normally see, but upside down, is pretty funny.  (Note the calendar arrow pointing to August, rather than April!)

Again, upside down is pretty funny when you're 7.

  Some of the names and stations for the morning literacy block are upside down... great stuff.  

This is where we often put "exit slips" for reading.  They put a post it on their number, telling something about the story they read.  I put a post it with a personality trait on their numbers. Hopefully this will make them smile!

How do I bring April Fool's Day into reading?  I bring out my joke books! (These are affiliate links to Amazon.)

• National Geographic Kids Just Joking: 300 Hilarious Jokes, Tricky Tongue Twisters and Ridiculous Riddles
• Kids' Silliest Jokes
• 101 Jokes for Kids

And, of course, who understands the sense of humor of a seven year old better than Robert Munsch? (More affiliate links to Amazon.)

• The Paper Bag Princess
• Stephanie's Ponytail
• Thomas' Snowsuit

How do I bring April Fool's day into Math?  With Problem-solving!  Check out my April Fool's Day Math  Stories!

Looking for more learning related to April Fool's Day?

Try these April Fool's Day Printables!

Interestingly, I have several of the same ideas, plus a few more on last year's April Fool's Day post! HERE is the link to see that one!

This resource is good for the whole year, but it's particularly enjoyable around April Fool's Day!

Facts About Comedy Boom Cards

Have a happy April Fool's Day!  
I hope you hear loads of laughter!

Making Slime

I've been wanting to share my experience with making slime with my students last week, but life sure gets away with us, doesn't it?  
 

  My district has a wonderful Distance Learning program, and our Tech person is able to bring the cameras right into the classroom!  We were lucky to be connected to an enthusiastic teacher from the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum. 

Click HERE for their website!  (Ever notice how the kids tend to tune out their regular teacher, but pay attention to a total stranger?). Well, we had all the "slime materials" all set up, which certainly helped hold their attention this dismal day during the week before vacation.  (We are no fools, we know when to schedule the good stuff!)

The activity started with a lively discussion of the three basic states of matter and the differences between them. The children even got out of their seats and moved around like solids, liquids, and gases!  (This is a group that needs to move!)

Then we made the first batch of slime.  One big advantage of having someone else do the teaching is that I get to pay attention to their reactions, which is great fun when watching the kids dig their fingers into slime!

Slime #1

• borax powder
• water
• white glue
• green food coloring (optional)

Mix separately: 
6 teaspoons glue, 6 teaspoons water and food coloring (optional)

1/4  cup water and 1/4 teaspoon borax

Mix together slowly.  When slime has formed, pick up and knead it.

The first slime had the consistency of silly putty, and they actually got to take a little bit of that home. 

Slime #2

2 parts Cornstarch  to 1 part water

The second slime was messier and very interesting. If you tapped it quickly, it felt hard. If you slowly touched the slime, it was drippy, and, well... slimy!

In conclusion, we realized that the slime was neither a solid, liquid, or gas. It was a state known as non-Newtonian fluids. Some other substances with this same state are jello, blood, and...boogers!  If you know second graders like I know second graders, you can bet there was a strong reaction to that tidbit of information.  And they will definitely remember it!

"Loved it!"

"It was squishy!"

"It was gooey!"

"Slimable!"