Join me to explore 4 activities to build a math playground. When you ask a student what their favorite subject is, chances are they will answer “Recess!” When you think about it, recess equates to freedom for many students. It is a chance to play, to break free from inactivity, to possibly escape something they are struggling with and the opportunity to talk as much as they want. It’s also a free time to socialize without being reminded to stop talking.
Traditionally, students are either sitting still and working on learning, or they are released to P.E., lunch or recess. We realize that kids need movement and breaks so many teachers will incorporate brain breaks into their routine throughout the day.
What if we could create a math class that feels like a playground? A time that students are moving and interacting with others and feels like a break from regular learning, yet still engaging in learning challenging skills and concepts.
Before we get started with the nitty-gritty teacher talk, if you are working on transforming your math classroom into a space where students actively engage in their learning to practice fluency and math concepts, grab my10 Free Math Activities. No gimmicks, no sales, no nonsense with this freebie- just one way I can help with making math hour the favorite part of the day for every student!
Building a Math Playground
If we want to build a math playground and introduce the idea that math time is an active, engaging and social time, we need to think about a couple of core concepts like structure and activities. Our math playground needs to have space to move around in, places for students to congregate, and access to supplies. We also have to think about what math activities will create the right atmosphere.
Finally, how do we introduce this new math arena to students? What kind of training or expectations do we set? It’s normal to feel a little concern when we are thinking about switching things up in our daily routines. You can start out slow by trying it for a short amount of time once in a while until you see what the results and engagement is like.
Structure of our Playground
Often, space is limited and we don’t always have the room to create the ideal seating arrangements. Sometimes pushing desks together so a group of students can lean over a space together as they work will help. Do you have a carpeted space where students can work together? Perfect!
How about supplies? As you think about what supplies or math tools students will need, having a common space that students can grab what they need is ideal. We want students to be able to self-select their tools based on their learning preferences and their needs. Some will automatically want manipulatives because they know it will support basic computational skills and some students who are tackling a complex problem may grab them to help model their thinking.
Just like on a playground, students are going to self-select their spaces, their tools and who they interact with. This “freedom” may feel strange at first, but once students adjust, it is amazing how genuine curiosity, creative problem solving and pure engagement take over.
What About Activities for Building Your Math Playground?
A key thing to think about is what students will be doing. If you picture a playground, what do you see? I picture students running around, going from activity to activity and grouping with other students to play, then moving to another area. Sometimes students are just hanging around by themselves enjoying being outside.
To recreate the playground experience, you need to keep in mind two main ideas: activities that promote movement and giving students choice. What math activities do we use to keep students moving and give them the ability to pick and choose? I’ve included five different activities that can easily be adapted to your students. Give them a try and see how your classroom can become a playground for learning!
Activity 1 – Around the Room
I use this activity about once a month in my classroom. Students don’t know it, but really I am giving them a quick assessment to find out what they have learned before moving to a standard, summative test.
I start by having students draw 6 boxes and number them from 1-6.
I tape 6 math problems on the wall in different locations around the room. Students use a clipboard ( or a hard covered book if you don’t have enough clipboards) with their answer sheet as they walk around to answer all six questions. They can go in any order as long as they write the answer in the correct box. I tell them they need to do this work on their own if I am using it as an assessment.
For this activity I try to use visual problems that aren’t text heavy. Since this is a quick activity, I typically use problems that require a lot of computation either. Around the Room Questions
Activity 2 – Find Your Desk
One year I taught math right after lunch and students came into the room “slow and low”. The freshness of the morning had worn off and they hadn’t gotten their second wind yet. I wondered how I could get them to transition in a way that they were ready for math, both mentally and physically.
I created a set of logic problems and a corresponding set of answer cards. Before students came back from lunch, I placed an answer card (randomly) on each desk. As students came into the room, I handed them a problem which they would need to solve to find their desk.
This worked wonderfully. Students were excited to see where they would sit that day during math and my stronger math students began to help others who needed a little support. A set of 25 problems will last a month as students get different problems every day. (Tip: if students know they have the same problem, they can trade with someone else.) Sample Find Your Desk Questions
Activity 3 – Measure the Room
When we learn about area, I make sure to give students a measuring task that will have them working together, on their feet. We measure the room, including perimeter and area. We talk about the surface area of the walls, the square feet of the room and anything else that seems interesting to measure. To challenge students we have determined how many desks will fit in a room if they are close enough to touch and how many desks can be stacked before reaching the ceiling.
This activity is perfect for those who want to solve a “real life” problem and are naturally curious. It is also a great way to let students self-select appropriate tools that will work for this activity. They soon realize when they have made a poor choice! Students must organize and work together for this activity as well which builds classroom community during math.
Activity 4 – Can I Take Your Order?
Students are natural actors so this activity is a big hit. As a class we decide what we want to sell and create a menu. If you have play money great, if not you can use colored tiles to represent different amounts. Students take turns ordering from the menu and “paying” for their purchase. Other students work on adding up the total amount for the purchases and giving the correct “change”.
This is real life math at its best. We’ve done different menus for lemonade, hotdogs, pizza, candy and amusement park rides. I actually spend time on teaching students how to count back change without the aid of a calculator or pencil and paper. This skill takes practice so this activity is perfect.
Last Argument for Building a Math Playground
The experiences that students have with math in your classroom shape their love of math for the rest of their lives. Why not transform your classroom into a space where students are moving, thinking, and interacting with others while engaging in problem solving and computational skills? Math may not feel like P.E. every day but why not mix things up and give your students an experience that may make math their favorite time of the day!
More Resources
For helpful tips on how to introduce hands-on math in your classroom, check out Jodi Durgins Hands-On Math Activities.
Check out Jill Staake’s 35 Active Math Games and Activities for Kids Who Love to Move on We Are Teachers.
Looking for fun and engaging ways to make math come alive for students? Check out my recent blog post about seeing the fun in math at Sweet Life Learning.com
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