Fun Low-Tech Review Math With Flipbooks

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This low-tech method goes back to the basics.  Flipbooks are fun, and they are very creative.  I wondered if I could make a flipbook that did more that show cute pictures.  I wanted it to show how to solve math concepts step-by-step. The result:  my very first flipbook.

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It shows how to regroup for addition step by step.  In a world with so much technology, students love this concept, simple animation.

High-Interest Writing Task Cards and Activities

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Review writing skills with these 22 fun and high-interest writing prompts. Directions, templates, and product examples are also included.

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Students create zines, pop-up books, traditional essays and more with these task cards.  Even better, there are templates, examples, and detailed directions to help students make fun zines, mini graphic novels and more using information that they have learned while reading fiction and nonfiction texts.

These high-interest writing activities are versatile, so they can be used with upper elementary students and middle school students.

This is a fun way to incorporate zines into elementary and middle school writing lessons.  A zine is a small booklet that is handmade.  It includes explanations and illustrations.  Zines can be created for any topic.  They are a fun way for students to practice writing without feeling as though they are writing.  This is just one of many of the fun activities that is included with this resource.

Zines and Ways to Make Writing Fun

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I think I have a new love.  I absolutely LOVE zines.  A zine is a tiny booklet that provides information.  It is a handmade booklet that can be created to describe, persuade, or inform about any topic.

Using Zines in the Classroom

Finding writing center activities that appeal to upper elementary, middle school, and high school students can be challenging.  The goals are to have students practice writing and want to do it.  This is where zines come in to help.  Since zines look like tiny booklets, students do not feel as though they are writing an essay.  Plus, zines enable students to get creative.  They can add artwork,illustrations, plus graphs and charts to their texts.

A few days ago, I stayed up into the wee hours in the morning making math zines.  I needed to review geometry with a student.  Then the idea came to me, create zines!  (Come back to my blog and I will show you the inside of the zines.)

The zines also inspired me to create my latest task cards.  This is an image from inside of the page of my task cards.  Access them here.

The writing task cards contain helpful tips and templates for creating zines too.

The upper elementary students that I worked with one period really made me smile.  I introduced them to the idea of making zines and they LOVED it.  The students did not want to move on to the next activity.  We explored how we could create zines as an alternative to flashcards in order to review concepts in all subjects.

This is an example of my primary writing paper.  It is wonderful for primary students, but it something different is needed for older students.  

Check back soon.  I will share more images.

Free Digital Nonfiction Task Cards

Literacy and Math Ideas is moving.  Freebies and exciting teaching ideas will be distributed with out new website.  Provide your email to this link to be notified when we have our grand opening soon.  

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Freebies are great!  Try out these free nonfiction task cards from my store.  They are leveled and they keep score.Click Here

Nonfiction passages are included.  The questions cover main idea, inferences, and more.

The task cards are a great free test pep resource for resource.  Use them to review for state tests or to review close reading.

Free Character Analysis Graphic Organizers

Extra graphic organizers are always helpful.  They are even better when they are free.

I recently created two character analysis graphic organizers to use with my students.

I would like to share these two graphic organizers for you to enjoy.

Access the Printer-Friendly Version Here

Access the Printer-Friendly Version Here

A Paper Circuit? Yes! (A Cool and Inexpensive STEM Science Project)

Amaze your students with this fun and affordable science project

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What would your students say if they could make a science project that could fit right inside of their notebooks?  They would be very amazed.

Affordable Science Project

This fun science project can be made for just a few dollars from objects that you can find in your local hardware store or online.

This blog post will provide step-by-step instructions about how to make this cool science project for kids.

STEM

STEM is designed to foster a love as well as knowledge about mathematics and science. This project brings circuits directly to students' notebooks.

Useful Tools

One of my newest loves and discoveries is aluminum tape.  Where has this been all of my life?  I purchased it for a little under $8 from my local hardware store.  It is found in the plumbing and/or tubing section of the store.  One roll of aluminum tape is enough to last for an entire school year.  I also purchased the round batteries I used for the project at the hardware store.

The LED lights can be purchased at an electronics store.

Background About This Project

What Is A Circuit?

A circuit is a path along which an electrical current can be carried. The energy comes from a source.  In this instance, it comes from a battery. Electrons are carried along the path.  These electrons cause the tiny bulb at the end of the path to illuminate.

Circuits in Daily Life

Circuits power our lights, they enable a car motor to work. They enable a computer (or anything else for that matter) that is plugged into a wall outlet to work.

I love this project because it gets to the heart of STEM.  Students are able to actively engage in STEM with a physical science activity that relates to their daily lives.  It requires just a few parts, and it is not intimidating.

How to Create the Notebook Circuit

STEP 1:  To create a paper circuit, have students draw a pattern on paper.  On one side I drew the picture of a battery.  On the other side, I drew a picture of an LED light.

STEM in the classroom

STEM in the classroom

STEP 2:  Cut a 24 inch piece of tape from the roll.  Next, you will make the piece thinner by cutting the aluminum tape into thirds. I used only a third of the width of tape.  If you are unable to find aluminum tape, aluminum foil from the grocery store will work just fine.  Make sure to make the strip thin.  (A larger width decreases the flow of energy in the circuit.)  

STEP 3:  Place the aluminum on top of your circuit lines in the notebook. Tape or glue will help it stay secure.

Special Notes During This Step:

1.Do not let both sides of the aluminum strips connect.  This can cause a short in the battery.  The edges on my example come close, but they do not touch.

2.When you are attaching the aluminum foil to the paper, do not cut it.  Instead, fold the corner and continue to apply the aluminum strip.  Cutting the strips reduces the flow of energy.

STEP 4 Continued...

Stack the batteries.  Place the batteries over the battery drawing, and place the LED light over the LED drawing. 

STEP 5:  You are all finished!  I had fold extra pieces of aluminum tape to connect each side of the battery to the circuit.  The sticky tape interfered with the conduction.  (I made sure that when I attached this extra aluminum, both sides of the circuit DID NOT connect as I was attaching the aluminum to the top of the batteries.  

You might have to press the batteries down to hold it in place. 

STEM in the classroom

Remove the batteries and LED light when you are finished so that they can be used in another project.

I love this because students learn about circuits and conductivity from doing and not just reading about it in a book.  

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Access Fun Science Interactive Notebooks Too!

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Click Here To Access It.

Creative Ways to Teach Integers

Visual notetaking is just one way to make integers fun.

Who says that teaching integers has to be well let's say, dull?  The next time you teach students how to add, subtract, multiply, or divide integers, try these ideas.  Enliven the topic with negative and positive integers with these fun tips. Access free and funny task cards to learn about main idea. 

Add Some Artwork
Colored pencils and crayons hold power.  As students take notes, ask them to draw and color examples of integers in real life.  This helps them organize their ideas and apply information.

Use Less Common Examples
No one walks around and discusses integers in daily conversation.  Still, the topic of integers affects our daily lives.  I was recently on an elevator in Europe.  I was surprised to see that negative numbers were used to describe floors that were below ground level.  

Going to the basement level of a building or suddenly discovering that it in below zero outside are everyday instances when we all think about negative and positive numbers.

Do you have more examples of integers in our daily lives?  Share your ideas in the comment section.

Division Teaching: Strategies to Build A Deeper Understanding

Knowing what a math problem means is as important as knowing the steps to solve a math problem.  The next time students complete a fraction worksheet or do dividing fractions practice, provide these visual dividing fractions examples.

How Does This Help? This blog post shows the progression of how fractional parts change when numbers are divided.  By observing step-by-step visuals, students will gain greater insight into what it really means to divide with fractions.







Applying What Has Been Learned
One reason why dividing fractions word problems are often challenging is because students cannot often visualize what is being asked.  Visual, step-by-step charts connect the parts of a word problem to their visual representation.  This makes it easier for them to determine when they are being asked to reduce fractions, multiply fractions, or even multiply fractions with whole numbers.

For Task Cards That Teach And Review How To Divide Fractions Click Here

To Access Math Task Cards That Teach And Review A Variety Of Math Concepts Click Here

Being able to visualize math concepts helps students understand word problems, and it also helps students have the needed skills in order to solve math problems that are worded in different ways.

Interactive Notebooks (A Fun Way To Take Notes)

Access This Westward Expansion Notebook

I first fell in love with interactive notebooks a few years ago when I stumbled across a website.  My first thought was, "My students would love that!"

Interactive notebooks are the superstars of notetaking.  They are hands-on, enable students to draw or create small models of what they are learning, and they make school topics come alive.

What Are Interactive Notebooks?

Interactive notebooks are notebooks that contain colored notes, printable notebook inserts, or 3D images that fit right into notebooks.  In this interactive notebook, students do several interactive activities that teach them about pioneer settlers and daily pioneer life.

Often, the teacher reads information about a topic that is presented in the notebook.  Then, the students are given time to assemble parts using a set of instructions that are often included by the teacher or a notebooking kit.

They can be used in any subject.  Students enjoy the hands-on nature of the their newly created journals.

Click An Image Below

To Access An Interactive Notebook

 

(Free) Humorous Reasons to Learn Inferences

Review inferences with these free task cards.

Okay, I have a silly sense of humor.  I admit it.  But school should be fun, right?  

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These free task cards help students learn the real reasons why they should learn about inferences.  These humorous task cards are a fun way to get even the most reluctant of learners to review inferences. Click Here For The Free Inference Task Cards

What Makes These Free Task Cards Different?

Each inference task card contains an inference passage, question, a funny joke and a colorful image to match each joke.  The cards make it fun to review inferencing.

As with most of my task cards, a printable box is also included.  Enjoy this classroom freebie!

Access Free YouTube Videos For Your Classroom      20+ Different Topics

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They Are Easy To Use

Did I mention a printable box is also included?  Printable boxes are included with most of my task cards in my store to make storage, organization, and individualized learning much easier.  You don’t have to worry about technology issues with these task cards!  Plus, you don’t have to worry about having enough iPads or computers for every student.  Just print out what you need.  Laminate the free task cards to keep them for years.

Inference task card

Use Them With Inferencing Worksheets

Review is important.  Task cards and literacy center games help reinforce reading skills.  They are great because students can work individually or in small groups on reading comprehension skills where additional practice is needed.  Use them as a free inference game for small groups.  This reinforces skills that students will learn on worksheets.

Click Here To Access Free Inference Task Cards

Balanced Reading Comprehension Practice

Students need balanced practice.  They should have opportunities to write their answers at times.  The task cards have written response questions, a student recording form, and a detailed answer key that students can use to check their own answers.

Are There More Task Cards?

Yes, there are!  Follow the link to access leveled task cards.  The task card sets are organized by guided reading, lexile, and/or grade level equivalents.  This enables students to work on the same skills simultaneously at their own reading levels.

This makes them great for individualized learning plans (i.e.p.’s) and for differentiating instruction.

Yes, more silly task cards are on their way.  But hey, learning should be fun.

 

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Access Even More Skills & Levels

Informational Text that Students Love to Read AND Write

Should We Transform Informational Text?

I have a confession to make. I love to read informational text.  On any day, I will gladly cuddle up with a nonfiction book and a bowl of popcorn.  But, I do not represent most people.

If you have ever heard the proverbial sigh when you have said, "Class, take out your textbook" then you know where I am going with this.  Students swarm to the adventure section of the library bookshelves while the nonfiction rows of books remain ... well ... forgotten.

If there a way to change this?  The answer is yes!

Not Your Ordinary Informational Text
Last year, I asked my students to create graphic novels about a science topic they had learned during the year.  

The Rules

• Select a topic.
• Research the topic and take notes.
• Create a fiction story that would teach a topic such as biomes, habitats, food chains, etc.

The Results

For a week, students independently researched topics of their choice and combined information from several sources to develop a baseline for their stories.  Fiction intersected with nonfiction and creativity when the students transformed the information into stories with characters.

Yes, this graphic novel was created by a student.  I did provide choices. Students were given the option to create a graphic novel or elaborate posters.

By the way, the interest in informational text did increase with my students.  

Click an image to access resources.