Diamond Mom's Treasury

Multiplication Strategies For Kids: Alternatives To Drills

4/18/2021

Multiplication is a difficult concept for many children to grasp. Drills are one way to learn, but multiplication strategies will work better. Relating multiplication to what is already known will really help. A simple place to start is by thinking of it as repeated addition.

Girl doing worksheet questions and boy doing multiplication facts on the board

Strategies To Visualize Multiplication

There are many ways to visualize multiplication. We can use circles and add an equal amount of objects into each one to see that it is grouping things together.

We can use arrays so that we can see the equal rows and columns. Again, we are looking at equal groups, just in a different set up.

We can also actually share objects between people, one for you, one for you, one for you, and so on. This way it is easy to see that they are equal. The number of objects times the number of people equals the total number of objects.
This could also be a good way to visualize division as the objects are actually being divided equally among the people.

Elastic circles with counters in them to represent equal groups

The word array and picture of rows of windows and picture of array of batteries

Memorizing multiplication facts used to be the way kids were taught to use multiplication, but many kids didn't understand how this worked and they found memorizing difficult. It is helpful to know multiplication facts, but by also adding some strategies, if they get stuck or don't remember one of the facts, they can still solve the problem.

Wooden blocks with multiplication facts on them

Whiteboard with examples of repeated addition

Sometimes we need to simplify situations so that they make sense. We can't just share an algorithm and expect everyone to be able to do it correctly.
I worked with some grade 5 students that were really struggling with math. They were so confused that they were unable to do the work given in class. We went right back to basic addition facts and how to do addition with larger numbers using some strategies that made sense to them. Once they felt confident with this, we moved on to simple multiplication questions. If multiplication is like repeated addition, it makes sense that they would need to have a solid understanding of addition before moving on to multiplication.

After working on some strategies for single digit multiplication questions, we attempted to do 2 digit times 1 digit questions. By applying the strategies from addition and expanded notation, this process was successful. They were able to see it visually and it finally made sense.

Multiplication strategy resource image on tablet.

What multiplication strategy should I use?

It is important to remember that not everyone uses the sames strategies to figure out the answer. Just as we all take different routes when we travel to school or downtown, so people take different routes when they solve math questions. As long as the route works and gets you to your destination, that is great. If you have difficulty because you took a wrong turn, it is important to correct that and redirect you. This means that you need to be able to explain your thinking process. I always encourage my students to tell me the route they took.

Girl looking at multiplication card with a thought bubble of a road map

Girl thinking What strategy should I use?

When I was working with a group of 5 students, it was interesting to hear all the different ways they took to get to their answers. What was especially good, was that the others listened and realized that they didn't have to take the same route, but also, that sometimes the route someone else took might be a better route to try next time. When the route didn't work out, sometimes one of the others was able to explain how to get back on track. This was very exciting. It meant that they were getting it and that they were able to share what they had learned with others.

Circles with objects in them and whiteboard image with a multiplication strategy on it

After practicing strategies for awhile using visuals, it is important to be able to move to a more abstract model. We don't always have materials available to make a visual model. In real life situations, we need to be able to figure things out either mentally or with paper and pencil. This is where the strategies really are useful.

I created a resource that shows some of the strategies and how to use them. If you are interested in checking it out, click the image.

$Girl using calculator and picture of tools that can be used for math.$

I tutored a couple of girls with these strategies, and it was amazing to see the growth and confidence they had after working with them for awhile. The following year, they went to middle school and the teacher started to give them more difficult material to work with. At first they were confused, but as we broke the material down and looked at it, they were able to see that it was the same process only with larger numbers.
The teacher gave them the traditional algorithm to use and this actually confused them because it wasn't explained. They tried to follow the example but didn't understand what was really happening. When we broke it down and used the strategies they had learned, they figured it out and then they were able to actually use the algorithm. One thing I did tell them was, if you don't get it, use the strategies you know. It may take more space, but it will get you to the right answer. They took this advice and they were able to get through the material.

Laptop with image of reference sheets of strategies on it.

Not every strategy works with every person. It is important to try them and figure out which ones are the best fit. This will provide a set of tools for real life situations. I hope this has given you some ideas for ways that you can help your students to feel more confident and successful with multiplication.

Here is a simple resource that will help to remind you of some of the strategies to choose from. If you are already a subscriber to my newsletter, you will find it in the free resources section.

Boy holding his head and looking frustrated. He needs multiplication strategies to make it easier.

I hope these tips help with teaching your students multiplication. Don't forget to grab your copy of the strategies reference sheets by clicking the image or here. You can also click the sign up image below to get this free product plus any others that are already in the free resources section.

Multiplication strategies that empower learners. Elastic circles with objects in them.

$Ideas for how to help math make sense. Boy and girl doing activity together$

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Earth Day Activity For Kids

4/14/2021

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Spring is here, and it is time to think about Earth Day activities and what we can do to protect our Earth. During the pandemic, there has actually been some positive impact on the environment. Fewer people are driving, so less smog. People are staying home and cooking more meals, so less fast food packaging waste.

Hands holding model of Earth at top and hands holding a new seedling at bottom.

That doesn't mean that all is well though. We still need to continue to focus on ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle. What we do now will make a difference in the future. If each household makes a commitment to do even one thing they weren't doing up until now, imagine the difference it would make.

Children shouldn't underestimate their effectiveness in getting the message across to others. I remember our children coming home from school and suggesting changes to what we were doing. Now that they are grown, they continue to do some of the same things and encourage their own children to do the same.

Here is an activity that I did with my grade 2/3 students one year. The theme was "WE TAKE CARE OF OUR WORLD" and each child was to choose a way that they could make a difference, draw a picture, and add a title or labels. We used them for a bulletin board display, and later on, we created calendars with them. We called it "Power of R Calendar". Check out the images below. It might be an activity that your students would enjoy doing.

A group of 5 teachers over at Classroom Freebies have put together some free Earth Day products for you. Here is what you will get. Hopefully, these will help your students to focus on the positive things they can do to protect our environment while having fun doing some activities as well.

If you are interested in the full package of math activities with an Earth Day theme, check it out in my TeachersPayTeachers store.

$Earth Day Math activity$

Have fun with your kids as you study about ways to protect our earth.

Recycle box, plant, and background with hands with plants.

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Strategies For Teaching Measurement

4/11/2021

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When we think of teaching measurement, we often think of it as 2 different parts: non-standard measurement and standard measurement. Today I would like to take a look at both of these parts.

Non-standard Measurement

Non-standard measurement is measuring using everyday objects as the unit of measure. It is often used for measuring lengths of things. Familiar objects are often used. Most classrooms have a variety of objects available to use. Here are some of the ones I used: blocks, links, erasers, pencils, paper clips, popsicle sticks, and straws.
Although these objects can give us a number of units of length, since they are of different sizes and shapes, the answers can vary. They also are limited to measuring short distances because of the number of units required.

Standard Measurement

Standard measurement uses units that are standard around the world. They may be measured using customary measuring units, imperial measuring units, or metric measuring units. Standard measurement of length is usually done with a ruler for shorter objects and a measuring tape for longer objects or distances.
When measuring short distances, we use a ruler that has 12 inches or 30 cm. When measuring longer distances, we use a yardstick or a metre stick. Other instruments would be needed if measuring longer distances such as miles or kilometres.

Measuring Mass

For measuring mass, objects can be used for non-standard measurement. For example, marbles could be placed on one side of the scale and the object being weighed on the other side. Marbles would be added until the scale was even on both sides. Then the number of marbles used would be counted and that would be the mass of the object. Since not all marbles or other objects have a defined weight, this would be fine for a classroom activity, but the results might not be the same for each person.

For measuring mass using standard measurement, weights of determined size would be used or a calibrated scale would be used. For smaller items, a kitchen scale would work. It would weigh things in ounces or pounds for customary measurement, and grams or kilograms for metric measurement. For larger items or people, a bathroom scale or a scale such as the one used at airports would be needed. This would weigh in pounds or kilograms.

Measuring mass using non-standard units of food.

Measuring mass using a standard measurement scale.

Measuring Volume

When measuring volume, non-standard measurement is not as common, but it can be used. The idea is to see how many objects would fit into something to fill it. Cotton balls, marbles, blocks, or similar items could be used.
Usually we measure volume when using liquids, or ingredients for baking or doing science experiments. It is best to use standard measurement for these situations.

In customary measurement, it is usually measured in cups, portions of cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, half teaspoons, quarter teaspoons. Liquid measure could also be in ounces, quarts, and gallons.
In metric measurement, it is usually measured in millilitres. Liquid measure could also be in litres.

Measuring volume for dry ingredients using standard measurement tools.

Liquid measurement using standard measurement units.

Measuring Temperature

Temperature is measured in standard measurement. It is measured using the Fahrenheit (°F) scale or the Celsius (°C) scale. Depending on what is being measured, one of these scales is used. For customary measurement, the Fahrenheit (°F) scale is used. For metric measurement, the Celsius (°C) scale is used. In some cases both scales might be used. For example, I use metric for outside temperature, but customary for baking.

Starting out with non-standard measurement with young children works because they don't need to learn all the terms right away, but it is important that they start to use standard measurement and become familiar with the units used once they have explored and had hands on experience to understand the concepts of length, mass, and volume.

One of the ways I introduced the ruler and the term feet to my students was by having different children count footsteps along a given line to see how many feet it was. I made sure to choose children with varying foot sizes so they would get different answers. Then we discussed building a fence and going to buy the lumber. We talked about how the fence would be a different length depending on who's foot was used. Then, I introduced standard measurement. I talked about how the ruler we use is one foot long (or in metric situations, about 30cm). If everyone used the same ruler length, the fence would be one standard length.

Measurement activity using shoes for measuring length.

Measurement activities for kids using standard measurement tools.

When teaching about mass and volume, baking examples or science experiment examples could be used. It is important to make connections to real situations so that they understand why they are learning about things. It is also important to give them opportunities to use the standard measurements and get practice using the terms as well. Check out this blog post for real life activities that use measurement.

Measuring volume examples in the kitchen and in the lab.

Here is a little measurement booklet that I made for you that might help your students with understanding the difference between non-standard and standard measurement. I have also included a measurement activity using non-standard objects. You can get your free copy here or by clicking on one of the images.

measuring activity with non-standard measuring units

If you would like to have some fun with using non-standard measurement in some team activities, check out this resource. If you are looking for other measurement resources, check out the measurement category in my TeachersPayTeachers store.

So there you have it. These are some of the ways that I have taught measurement in my classroom and some of the activities that I have used.

I would love to hear how you teach measurement in your classroom. Let me know in the comments.
Don't forget to get your free measurement booklet and activity. If you are a subscriber, you will find it in the resources section.

measurement using standard and non-standard measurement units

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Activities And Resources For 2D And 3D Geometry

4/5/2021

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Kids love to play with blocks, build structures, and experiment. 2D and 3D geometric shapes and solids activities are perfect for this kind of experimentation. They allow for creativity while also teaching important skills and information about how they can be used.

Learning about shapes around us: 2D and 3D geometry

What are 2D shapes?

2D shapes are closed figures that are flat surfaces that may have edges and points (vertices). A circle doesn't have vertices, but it does have a flat surface and it is a closed shape. Although pattern blocks are not really 2D, we often use them in activities that are 2D and we refer to them as 2D shapes. Kids love to use these blocks to create patterns and then count the number of each shape used. Some of the most common shapes are circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, and trapezoids.

It is fun to learn about the different shapes and also how to identify them in our environment.

2D shapes activities, both traditional and environmental shapes

rectangle information from a 2D activity.

What are 3D solids?

3D solids are closed figures like the 2D shapes with flat surfaces that may have edges and points (vertices) but they have another dimension, height. A sphere is an exception because it doesn’t have any flat surfaces or edges or points, but it has a curved surface and depth. A cone has edges, a flat surface, a curved surface, and a point (vertex). Because of the different combinations of edges, vertices, and curved surfaces or flat surfaces, the characteristics are different from those of the 2D shapes. Some solids can roll, some can slide, and some can do both. Some common 3D solids are spheres, cones, cubes, prisms, pyramids, and cylinders.

3D shapes activities, both traditional and environmental

Here are some posters that give the attributes or characteristics for some 3D solids.

How characteristics affect creating structures

It is always fun to try out different objects to see if they roll, slide, or do both. Also, how many times have you tried to balance something on the point of a cone or pyramid? Depending on the shapes, different structures can be created. Here is a resource I created that tests out some of these things.

geometric structures activities resource

Sampler activities and other resources for geometry

I have created a geometry scavenger hunt activity and a sampler bingo game for you. You can get your free copy here or by clicking the image below.

Geometric Solids Scavenger Hunt and Bingo sampler activities

Our environment is made up of many different shapes and solids. It is fun to try to identify the different shapes or solids that are around us. There are many opportunities to explore and learn about geometry around us. Check out some more ideas here.

For more practice with the different 2D shapes and 3D solids, check out my geometry category in my TeachersPayTeachers store. I also have some resources for those who are doing distance teaching and require online resources.

$Boom cards for math online activities$

So there you have some ideas, activities, and resources to help your students explore 2D and 3D geometry and have fun along the way. I would love to know if you have any other favorite activities that you enjoy doing when teaching geometry.

Don't forget to grab your free copy of the scavenger hunt and bingo sampler here. If you are already a subscriber to my newsletter, you will find it in the free resources section.

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How To Create A 3D Community In Your Classroom

3/28/2021

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Part of learning about the world around us in primary grades is learning about different kinds of communities. One of my favorite activities to do with primary kids is create a 3D community in my classroom. This is a very child centered unit and involves many different aspects before the community is actually created.

Steps For Creating A Community

Have you ever thought about creating a community with your class? I have done this a few times and it has always been a favorite memory for my students.

First of all, it is important the children understand what a community is and what kinds of communities there are. We look at resources that represent urban, suburban, and rural communities and we talk about what makes them the same or different. We talk about what they look like, what kinds of services they might have, and what different kinds of community helpers might be involved there. We also talk about where we might find these types of communities.

Next we take neighborhood walks and we look at the area around us. We take note of the various types of buildings, services, parks, etc. We also think about where they are located in relation to each other. We discuss what other services might be nearby and why they might be important.

We also think about other services that might be in the community, but located in different areas. For example, the essential services might be located in the center of the community, but an airport might be located on the outskirts of the community.

We then think about what services are needed, and what services might be nice to have, but are not essential. For example, some shopping centres are needed, but it is not necessary to have several different ones.

Planning The 3D Community

Once we determine that some services are needed and some are maybe just nice to have, we decide which ones will be included in the community that we create. This is where the neighborhood planning come in. We decide on what our community will be like, what is needed, whether there will be a river or other body of water nearby, what type of traffic grid is needed, and where certain types of services and buildings will be located.

We talk about scale and how that will be important when creating the 3D community. In my classes, I use a small milk carton as the guide. The carton is the size of a typical home. Each child is given a piece of cardboard as their lot, and a milk carton as the basis of their home. It is important that they understand that anything they add to the property should be scaled to fit the proportions of the home. For example, a toilet paper roll would not work as a tree because it is way too big, however, a straw might work.

Once the plan is decided on by the class, then I divide up the different services so that each student is responsible for creating one. If there are more children than services, I will pair them up on larger projects such as the hospital or the school. I include things like parks and playgrounds as different extra places to create as well.

Putting It All Together

After all the planning and discussion, the fun begins. Each child takes home their materials and begins to create their properties and service buildings or parks, etc. While this is going on, the area where the community will be placed is prepared. it is fun to watch the children take ownership of the space and the excitement mounts as the land and water areas are added.
We then create a storyboard of our journey through the planning process and the completion of the project.

Upon completion, it is time to share. Classes are invited to come and take a look, and families are invited for an afternoon of activities and a big celebration.

I have created this activity for those wishing to create a small neighborhood map. Click the image to get your copy.

If you would like to see a copy of the plan that we used and some of the materials included, check it out here.
My class had a great experience creating this community. I wish you success as you venture to create one in your classroom. I would love to see pictures or hear about it if you do create one.

Don't forget to get your free copy of the booklet, Creating a Neighborhood Map. If you are already a subscriber, you can access it in the free resources section.

Mapping skills and creating a community. Children looking at a map and pointing. Resource for mapping skills and a photo of a 3d community created by kids.

Using projects to demonstrate learning. Creating a 3D community resource on a city background.

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Teaching Mapping Skills To Kids

3/21/2021

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Mapping skills are fun to teach and they are important skills for kids to learn. They will be skills that can be used throughout life for reading and interpreting maps, travel, navigation, and understanding the vastness of a country and the world.

What are some of the different skills needed?

There are many different elements to understand in mapping. Primary children are able to learn how to use grids, directions, legends, symbols, and scale. One of my favorite ways to teach using a grid and coordinates is to play Battleship. We didn't own the game, but my father used to draw out grids on paper and we would play the game. I used to have 4 or 5 sets of the game in my class, so it was a popular choice for free time.

playing battleship to practice using coordinates

Once they become familiar with using the grid, they can move on to identifying objects on a grid and writing down the coordinates. It is important to practice this until they are able to easily find items and also explain where they are. Children need to understand how the coordinates work and how to be able to locate spots on the grid. This can then be transferred to actual maps.

Next Steps For Teaching Mapping Skills

Here are some of the next steps that I cover when teaching mapping skills.

Some of the materials and terminology and what they represent:
There are different ways to represent the world we live in. A globe is a sphere that represents the earth and shows the various continents and bodies of water. Paper drawings of places are called maps. There are many different types of maps.
Maps have symbols on them. These are pictures or shapes that represent real objects or places.
Legends are guides that show the symbols and explain what they are. Most maps have legends to help with identifying objects and places.

Learning to understand directions and how to follow them is important if you want to make sure you are going the right way. A compass rose is used to show where to find north, east, south, west, and the places in between.

Learning about directions and a compass rose

Maps can be used for fun activities also. Imagine finding a treasure map and having to follow the directions to locate the treasure.

Distance is another important thing to understand when learning mapping skills. In order to know how far away things are, a scale is used. For example, 1 inch could be 50 yards, or 2 cm could be 30 m.

Neighborhood maps are great for learning about areas where people live. Check out a few different types of neighborhoods and then maybe try to create one of your own.
It is a good way to practice using the skills learned in a practical way.

People use maps to plan trips, travel to different locations, and find specific places. Some people use paper maps, and others use electronic devices. It is important to learn how to read maps and follow directions.

A Freebie To Remember Different Skills

I created this little mapping skills booklet that explains many of the things written about here in kid friendly language. You can get your free copy by clicking on the image below. Subscribers to my newsletter can access it through the free resources tab.

Here are a couple of sample pages to check out.

Well, there you have a basic outline of how I teach mapping skills to my students. If you are interested in getting some of the mapping resources pictured above to use in your classroom or for online teaching, check out my social studies section in my TeachersPayTeachers store.

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Canada Resources and Activities For Kids

3/14/2021

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Canada is a big country with many different provinces and territories with special places and activities that make them unique. Learning about the many cultures and interesting facts can be fun, but depending on the resources and activities, it can also be difficult for some children. Informational text and reference materials often use much more technical language than some children are used to and this makes it hard for emergent readers to handle. That doesn't mean they can't do the job, but it does mean that they may need some extra support and resources that are less difficult to read.

Provinces And Territories Booklets

I have created a series of books about the provinces and territories in Canada that are suited for doing basic research and usable by students in late primary and early intermediate grades. They were created to help those who were overwhelmed with reference materials.

French is Canada's second language, and French Immersion is taught in many places. It is also the main language in some places on the east coast of Canada. I have created these materials in both English and French for this reason.

Here is a video preview from one of the books in the series. Click on the image to view it.

More Canadian Resources

I have also created other materials for working with symbols of Canada. Here is a bingo game that I created. It has 6 different boards and is available in English and French. These 24 symbols represent Canada from coast to coast. There is one card that has the words with the symbols as well. I have created separate vocabulary cards as well that can be used for various activities.

les symboles Canadiens cartes de vocabulaire

I Have, Who Has? games are fun and help kids focus on both images and vocabulary. These task cards are 24 symbols of Canada. They are a great supplementary activity for your Canada unit.

If you are looking for some cute number cards for calendars or other activities, here are some with Canadian kids and some with Canadian animals.

If you are looking for a more in-depth study of Canada, check out my Canadian Social Studies section to find more materials. Here is one project in the section.

Canadian provinces and territories project

Well, there you have it. If you are looking for some resources for your late primary/early intermediate classroom check these out. Have fun studying Canada with your students.

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Representing Numbers With Place Value Activities And Games

3/7/2021

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Place value activities help children to understand numbers and what the digits mean. Here are some fun place value games and activities to help children to represent numbers in a variety of ways.

Representing numbers with place value games and activities

Different Ways For Representing Numbers

Here is a matching game that helps kids find the three different forms of the number: standard notation, expanded notation, and base ten form.

Standard notation is the way we usually see numbers written. Here is a set of numbers that are two or three digits. They are helpful for learning to practice saying the numbers and can be used for explaining what the different digits represent.

Expanded notation is like stretching out a number. It shows what each digit represents.

Base ten form uses base ten blocks to represent each of the digits in a number. Here are some hundred blocks, ten blocks, and units or one blocks. In this example there are 6 hundreds, 8 tens, and 7 ones.

bingo cards for representing numbers games

These bingo cards go with the number cards above. You can choose one set of numbers and play bingo with them. The base ten cards are more difficult to use, so I recommend that you do this with partners so that the players can look carefully at the cards to figure out the numbers. The expanded notation and standard notation cards can be used with larger groups.

Place Value Games And Resources

Here are some base ten shapes that can be printed on card stock and laminated for use when actual base ten blocks are not available. You can find out more by clicking on the image.

Themed place value worksheets are a great way to move from concrete activities to abstract practice. These worksheets are great for year round use. They give practice with standard notation, expanded notation, base ten form, and number words. I have made a generic one as well. You can get a copy here.

Click the image below to get your free place value practice worksheets.

This is the product that I used in the above examples. It contains the three forms of representing numbers and 6 bingo cards. Click on the image to find out more.

Get your place value worksheets here.

building base ten numbers online version

If you prefer on online version, you can try these Boom Cards. Click on the images to find out more.

Get your free worksheets here

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Making Tens With Dice And Ten Frames

2/28/2021

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Addition is not easy for all students. Even the basic facts are difficult for some kids to remember. It is important that we teach several strategies so that children can find ones that will work for them. Today, I am going to focus on making ten. This is a very useful strategy to teach, because it can be used when more difficult addition questions need to be solved.

I am a firm believer in starting with concrete, hands on activities so that kids can see and practice the concepts being presented before being handed worksheets or other abstract materials. Here are a couple of my favorite activities.

Making tens with dice

Using dice to make ten is a great way to see the numbers and make connections with them. In this first activity, I use the dice from a game. There are 5 dice with the numbers 1,2,3,4, and 2 Ws. There are 5 dice with the numbers 5,6,7,8,9,and 10 on them. The goal is to find 2 dice that go together to make 10. I usually do this with pairs. Each person gets 3 rolls. On the third roll, a W may be used as a wild card to make 10. It can be fun to see who gets more 10s on their turn.

In order to allow several groups of children to play at once, I bought some wooden cubes from the dollar store and I labelled them to match the dice from the game.

It is amazing how quickly kids move from having to count fingers to figure out which numbers go together to be able to automatically see the corresponding numbers.

When they get really good at making tens with the six sided dice, I give them 10 sided dice. The object is the same, but this time there are no wild cards. They get really excited about having the fancy dice to work with.

Making tens with ten frames

Ten frames are another great tool for helping kids make ten. They are set up with two groups of five so that kids can start to see combinations to make ten quickly. Ten frame cards are also great for playing different types of games to help reinforce quick recognition of numbers that go together to make ten.

I created ten frames in multiple sizes to use with my tutoring students. The large ones can work with big groups when talking about making tens. I also like to do team games where they try to see who can name the number first. It is a big motivator for some kids. (I try to pair kids up that are of similar levels so they don't get easily discouraged.)
The medium sized ones are great for working in pairs. They can be used for matching games or for making tens. They are played like the old card game "Snap". The one who sees the ten first gets all the cards played. The game continues until all the cards are gone or the time is up.
The little ones are great for travelling. They fit into a pocket and can be used for a quick game while on the road.

Get you own set here.

If you are lucky, you can find containers that look like 10 frames. If you can't find any, you can make them by cutting off egg cartons. Using small objects (bingo chips, mini erasers, buttons, etc.) the children can show numbers and then tell you what they need to make ten. For example, if they have 8 buttons in the container, they need 2 to make 10.

Another thing I like about them is that they match up with the ten we carry with us all the time - our hands. When you ask a child to show you 7 they usually hold up one hand with 5 fingers and one hand with 2 fingers.

Don't forget to grab your free set of ten frames here.

These are just a couple of different ways to use manipulatives for making tens. There are many other ways. Base ten blocks and unifix cubes are a couple that come to mind. Just let your imagination help to inspire you and you will be amazed at what you can use. I hope these suggestions help.

$Tips for helping math make sense. Boy and girl working on an activity.$

using math manipulatives in the classroom

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Measurement Activity:Are You A Rectangle Or A Square?

2/26/2021

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Kids love to measure things and they love to measure their friends. Here is an activity that they are sure to enjoy. Not only do they get to find out if they are a rectangle. It is a great way to learn to use measuring tapes accurately as well.

Are you a rectangle or a square activity

Adding Scientific Process To Measurement

A few years ago, we were learning about this just before student-led conferences, so I decided that this would be a great activity to do with the parents and students. The kids had such fun finding out if their parents were rectangles or squares. The parents were often surprised by the results as well.

I decided to bring it back with a twist.
We were studying about the scientific process, so I added the scientific process as a component. I also included both metric and imperial measurement so it could be used for working with both types of units.

If you would like to have a copy to try out with your students, just click on one of the images.