With standards, curricula, testing, and everything hanging over our heads, it can feel like there isn’t time for fun. There is. Fun can fit right with all those things.
This week, I took a risk. I bought a little nerf gun and turned our white board into a coordinate grid. We had a blast.
Well, first I made a coordinate grid out of paper. The bullets didn’t stick. After drawing it on the white board with a visa-vis marker, I realized I could have just used an overhead. However, I was glad there wasn’t an electrical cord in the way.
My husband helping out in my class. 🙂 |
When I do a fun activity, my behavioral expectations shift. I think this is mostly for my sanity. Do I really want to ask kids that are engaged and excited about learning to stop seeming so excited? No. It is essential though, that I maintain clear expectations in my classroom. So, I make sure that I am clear about how the expectations for our fun activity are different than normal. I let each period know that my noise level expectations were relaxed because I understand that people get excited. I let them know that the expectation that they stay in their seat was still in place but I would give one extra warning than I normally do before having kids clip down. I let them know that my expectation that the conversations stay related to math and that their work should be complete did not change. I think setting the clear expectations allows me to have fun as well.
A student aims. |
Once they hit the grid, they plotted the nearest point. |
The helper stands nearby ready to offer assistance. |
Students recorded each shot on their personal grid. They also had the page that was scheduled for the day and I gave them permission to work on it in between shots. (I’m usually strict about not going ahead during whole class activities.) After everyone had a shot, there was time for them to complete the text book type assignment. Amazingly many of them were finished with it before that time came.
This is a students worksheet. |
This was a really fun day. I even invited my husband to spend the day with me so he could enjoy the activity. I wanted the students to remember write the x axis before the y axis which is challenging for them. Everyone was successful. Of course, hearing kids say ‘Math is fun’ was all I needed to feel like it was a successful day.
Becca Morris says
I love this! I am stealing it…
✰Becca
Simply 2nd Resources
Mercedes Hutchens says
Please do!
Kelly Teaching Fourth says
What a great idea! I will share this with my teacher friend who teaches our 4th grade math! Thanks for linking up!
Kelly
Teaching Fourth
Mercedes Hutchens says
Thanks for hosting such a fun link.
Kelly says
I love that idea! I think I will have to steal this because this year I have a class full of boys and some spunky girls that keep right up with them!
Amy J says
Awesome idea! I already sent a link to my fourth and fifth grade friends upstairs at my school! 🙂
Amy
http://whathappensinfirstgrade.blogspot.com