Plan a Math Carnival

So, I was lying in bed one night and my mind kept racing..."How could I make math test prep FUN?"  "What could I do to replace the repetitive habit of assigning sampler after sampler for preparing for our state standardized tests?" Then it hit me! A MATH CARNIVAL!!!

So, I decided that I would make this vision come to life. 

It took A LOT OF PLANNING. And that is the truth!

I had no idea where to start. All I knew is how I wanted it to look. I wanted streamers, colors, food, and games. Not lame games. I wanted REAL CARNIVAL GAMES!

I emailed my principal and told him that I wanted to have a carnival. I swear he probably thinks I am CRAY CRAY! I am haha. When I dream of something, I dream big and I make it happen...

If you want to make your own carnival and save the time of planning, keep reading! It is a blast!

Download my 11-page Math Carnival: Getting Started Guide to begin your journey! 

Here is your shopping list! There are ways around this though. My guide explains it all.

You have to decide how many games you want and what skills will be assessed for each game. You can make signs like these below or get them with my bundle already made. Plus they are editable too!

You also need task cards for each game. You can buy task cards, make up questions for each game, or find them online free. My bundle has all of the questions that you need for a 4th grade carnival. I used numbers to place on the games. Those numbers corresponded with the question asked or the amount of tickets won!

Here are some of the games that I had at my carnival:

Notice that I used table cloths for the tables. Also, I want to point out that at each game I placed a dry erase board, marker, and eraser so that the kids can work on the questions asked. Next, I want to show you the bags that I used. I made up bags with parent directions, task cards, an answer key, and a bag of tickets torn out already.

The directions make it easy for parent volunteers to know how to run each station at the math carnival. The answers are included so that the parents don't have to think at all. I just want it to be enjoyable for everyone. Also, I had about 100 tickets in a small baggie. This is for the kids to win as they play the games. 

I also made groups up with about 2-3 students each and created a schedule for my kiddos to use on the day of the carnival so that they knew exactly what game they were supposed to be playing at designated times. The schedule and the group pages are included in my bundle, but you could make your own too if you want!

Next, I made a map of my room. I decided where I wanted the games to be.

I contacted selected a date before state testing and contacted my parents, asking for volunteers. I mentioned needing a popcorn machine and/or cotton candy maker. Of course, some people had them! EXCITING!

The prize table was a bit tricky. I needed to decide how many tickets each prize would be. I also needed to get some prizes. I bought prizes, but you could make prizes. You could use homework passes or reward tickets, whatever you want! It doesn't have to cost a lot! So, I made ticket cards for the table. 

I had my students help me decide how many tickets each prize would be worth. It was pretty funny hearing them work as a class to decide! Then, they started to realize that if they made a prize that they wanted worth 1 ticket, they may not be able to win one because they would be gone quick! So smart!

So, decide if you want to try this! You could make a reading carnival, science carnival, social studies carnival! Hopefully this guide helps you get started and helps you plan out a fun and exciting learning experience for your kids! 

If you want to save time and do not want to make the instructions, map, schedule, signs, ticket labels, task cards, or number templates, then click here to purchase my bundle.

13 Ways to Use Task Cards

How to Use Task Cards

Task Cards have been around FOREVER. They are a way to get kids MOVING and enthused about learning. There are so many ways to use them in your classroom too! Forget the traditional way of just cutting them out and leaving them in a bin as "busy work". These babies have TRUE POTENTIAL! Here are some awesome ways to use task cards in your classroom:

1. Play a game of SCOOT: Scoot is so fun! Here is how I play it: Place one card on each desk face down. Provide each student with his or her own recording sheet. Each student stands behind a desk. Set a timer. This will depend on the type of problem on each task card. Say "Begin" and the kids answer the question on their desk and record it in the numbered box that corresponds with the number on their task card. After the timer is up, say "SCOOT"! Then the students move to the next desk and you keep playing until all students have answered all of the questions. If you don't have enough task cards for every student, you can have a "break" desk for students to take a break or you can make up your own "bonus" question that they can answer on the back of the recording sheet. So fun!

2. Math Centers: Leave the set or 10 task cards in a math center. Provide students with a qr code or an answer key to check their work.

3. Early Finishers: As students finish work, they can choose a card and take it to their desk. You could assign a set for each week or every two weeks. They can turn in their recording sheet on the due date.

4. Small Group Work: Use the task cards for small group work to review material and make it more fun. You could have the students use dry erase boards to race each other.

5. Have a Scavenger Hunt: Hide the task cards around the room. Have students work in groups or with partners to answer the questions. The first team finished wins!

6. Leave Some for the Substitute Teacher: Leave some cards for a sub. They could always use time-fillers.

7. Homework: Assign four cards a night instead of cutting them out. Copy the sheet of four cards and send them home.

8. Put Them on a Ring: Print them out and put them all on a ring. Use them for centers or enrichment.

9. Class Warm Up: Project one task card while students are entering your classroom. Have them answer the question on the space that corresponds with that task card. Collect them at the end of the month or chapter/unit.

10. Test Prep: Use the task cards to prep for state standardized tests or chapter tests.

11. Spiral Review: After you finish teaching the topic on the task cards, use the task cards to review that material and mix them up with other topics.

12. Bell Ringer Activity: As students are coming in each morning, place one on each desk or project one on the board.

13. Formative Assessment: Every so often project a task card and have your students write the answer on their white boards and hold them up.

There you have it! 13 ways to use task cards in your classroom. How do you use task cards in your classroom? Which one do you want to try TOMORROW?

Best Math Apps for Upper Elementary

Apps and games are so fun for kids to use to practice math at home and/or at school. I am always being asked for apps/game recommendations from parents and friends. I checked with Common Sense Media to view reviews and ratings. So, here are my recommendations:

1. Mt. Multiplis

Age: 8+
Summary: Build math skills while building bridges in this game. Multiplication review.








2. Prodigy
Age: 6+
Summary: Become a math wizard and play games with this fantasy-themed app.








3. Mystery Math Town

Age: 7+
Summary: Fun math practice. Division, Subtraction, Multiplication and Addition. Storyline and characters.








4. Cyberchase 3D Builder

Age: 8+
Summary: Build structures out of shapes and practice geometry skills.









5. Hands-on Equations 1

   Age: 8+
Summary: Practice algebra skills by balancing equations.









6. Marble Math

Age: 9+
Summary: Move a marble through different mazes while practicing math.

Top 10 Teacher Organization Tips

New year, New goals! Check out these top 10 teacher organization tips!


10. This planner sheet from The Colorful Apple! It looks like a printable inside a sheet protector with color-coded post-its under each category. Why did I not think of this?! So simple, yet SO SMART!

9. This Google Doc by Ladybug's Teacher Files! Love this idea! Give one of these to each of your students for them to keep track of all of their usernames and passwords. This would eliminate the need to hang username and password lists all around the classroom.

                                          

8. School Supply Organization by Michelle & Hadar. Put all of your extra supplies in a shoe storage hanger from Target. Lovin the BOLD labels used here. I also like the fact that this can be INSIDE a closet too!

7. These storage containers for centers, materials or games by Mrs. Wills' Kindergarten. They are sturdy and COLORFUL! I bet they are easy for kids to store and transport around the room as well.

6.  These bins for teacher files by Teach Outside the Box. I am so over my files sticking out of my hanging file folders and my hanging file folders somehow collapsing! I may be investing in these containers TONIGHT! :)

5. Putting student name tags on with VELCRO by A-B- Seymour! This is a game changer! No more peeling tape off of name tags. If you have a behavior concern with students sitting next to each other, quickly change their name tags.

4.  TPT Center Organization by The Bender Bunch. I have seen teachers use these folders in so many different ways. Guided reading groups, book bags to take home and read, take-home science bags, Open House folders... These are going in my cart TONIGHT!

3.  Solving the Pencil Problem by Time 4 Kindergarten.  Stick some tape on your pencils and when kids need to borrow a pencil from you, they can grab one of YOUR pencils to borrow. Pencils disappear so QUICKLY!

2. This daily storage bin from Learning in Wonderland. How cool is it that there is a drawer labeled "Sub Bin"?! It is colorful, bright, and organized. Love this!

1. These FREE Parent Flip Books are so cool from Kinder Craze. They are simple, straightforward, and colorful. As a parent, I would love to put this on my fridge and refer to it throughout the year.

Hopefully you are inspired to try some of these organization tips for teachers! Comment below on your thoughts!