I used to be (and often still am) a very paper-and-pencil, hands-on tools kind of teacher. Partly because the thought of using online or digital activities was overwhelming for me–something new to learn?? Who has time for that!? And partly because I think there tends to be too much reliance on technology and thinking that it somehow provides a *magical solution* for students who struggle in math. The truth is there is no magical solution. Just good teaching from human teachers who put in the hard work, and from students who do the hard work to grow and learn.

But I have found that there can definitely still be benefits to online, digital activities and they can add another layer of fun and engagement for students. PLUS–they can be a huge time saver for the teacher! It’s a win-win situation! That’s the goal with this digital multiply decimals activity: to provide a fun practice challenge for students & a no-prep, self-checking time saver for teachers.

Mystery Maze: Digital Multiply Decimals Activity

This digital activity is designed for google sheets. In order to share it with students, you will make a copy for yourself in your google drive. Then you can share that with your students in Google Classroom.

This activity provides practice multiplying decimals to the tenths place.

To begin, students are given a mixed up maze. To rearrange the maze so they can find their way through, they must correctly evaluate each multiplication expression.

To start, they multiply each decimal expression to determine the solution. They then type the solution into the answer box to check it.

A correct solution will turn the box green and the pieces of the maze will move. An incorrect solution will turn the box red, indicating they need to try again.

Once all solutions are correct, students will be able to find their way through the maze to determine the secret 4-digit code.

The 4-digit code unlocks maze #2! (A second sheet will appear at the bottom of the google sheets page)

At that point, students can begin to work on maze 2 in the same way.

Use this as a simple, no-prep sub plans activity or as a review before a quiz or test.

If your students have access to devices and google classroom, I think they’ll love this unique digital challenge!

If you enjoy this activity, become a Math Geek Mama+ member and gain access to the entire library of engaging digital activities like this one, hundreds of math games and low-prep practice worksheets for grades 5-8!

Learn more about Math Geek Mama+ right HERE.

Multiple Layers of Fun:

One thing I love about this activity is there are multiple layers to it. Students will likely be anxious to solve the maze. But since it’s all mixed up, there’s no way to find a path through the maze without completing the decimal multiplication practice!

But they aren’t simply trying to find a path through the maze. They also need to figure out the secret code as they move through the maze!

Once they have the secret code, they unlock a new maze. Then again, they can’t solve the maze without doing the math.

I hope this unique digital activity provides a fun challenge for your students, and also a bit of a break for you. There’s no prep, no grading, no stress! Enjoy!

Want to grab a copy of this digital multiply decimals activity to try with your students? Use the link below to grab it in my shop.

{Click HERE to go to my shop and grab the FREE Digital Multiply Decimals Activity for Google Sheets!}

Looking for more digital activities? Try one of these:

• {FREE} Digital Pi Day Activity: Decimal Operations Word Problems
• Classifying 2D Figures: Digital Activity
• Decimals On a Number Line Digital Activity
• Order of Operations Error Analysis | DIGITAL Practice
• Match Equivalent Fractions Digital Game

The post {FREE} Multiply Decimals Mystery Maze: DIGITAL Activity appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

Simplify. Combine like terms. These words can be confusing for early algebra students who don’t have a solid foundation or understanding of what they mean in a math context. Hands on, visual models can help students move from confusing and abstract to sense making. One of my favorite tools for visualizing abstract algebra concepts is algebra tiles. But they can be expensive to purchase, cumbersome to store and a mess to clean up, wasting precious class time. So I prefer using digital pieces that students can move and manipulate in the same way, with no cost, no storage and no clean up! Read on to learn how to simplify expressions with digital algebra tiles and grab the FREE activity for your students.

Laying the Groundwork for Simplifying Expressions:

If your students have no exposure to algebraic expressions (meaning expressions that include variables), you may want to explain a few terms to them before you dive in with the algebra tiles.

I have found that the best way to prepare students to abstract ideas with variables is to remind them of what they know of operations with whole numbers.

For example, you might start with an expression such as “5 + 3 – 1.” They might think this is silly and way too basic, but if they don’t actually, truly understand what addition & subtraction mean, they will not be able to apply it to algebraic expressions.

Then you may want to ask about an expression such as “4 + 8 – 4” to discuss additive inverse. The goal is to move them to the point where they understand “zero pairs,” meaning +1 and -1 are equal to zero.

Lastly, to help them understand “like terms” I give them some expressions such as “4 apples + 3 oranges – 2 apples” and discuss finding the total number of apples and the total number of oranges as two separate quantities.

Another helpful analogy (especially if you have older students who will be working with terms with exponents) is to talk about last names such as Roberts and Robertson. Although they start out in the same way, the ending is different. So you cannot combine Roberts with Robertsons, because they are not in the same family (then relate this to x-values versus x-squared values).

After some initial discussions about zero pairs & like terms, you can dive into the visual lesson with algebra tiles.

Simplify Expressions with Digital Algebra Tiles:

This activity is created for google slides, so you can either project this to the whole class to discuss together or you can share a copy with each student in google classroom.

Ideally, students will be able to have their own copy, so they can move around the pieces and think through each expression on their own. But if they don’t have devices to use, maybe they can take turns while you lead a discussion with the whole class or a small group.

This set includes 10 different google slides to get students started. To simplify each expression, they begin by modeling what’s shown using the algebra tiles.

They can then move pieces around to group like objects or if they are able to simplify just by seeing the tiles together, they can then type the final, simplified answer in the box.

It’s pretty straightforward, but if students get stuck, encourage them to group like pieces together. They might also want to write out notes or additional drawings on scrap paper.

Depending on how you use this in your class, you may want to stop and discuss after each slide, or you might let students work until the end and then check/discuss all ten slides at once.

If you enjoy this lesson, become a Math Geek Mama+ member and gain access to the entire library of engaging math lessons like this one, hundreds of math games and low-prep practice worksheets for grades 5-8!

Learn more about Math Geek Mama+ right HERE.

Algebra Tiles Lesson as Intervention:

I like to use this type of activity as an opening activity or warm-up to a lesson to get a sense of students’ understanding and thinking.

However, this could also be a very useful resource for intervention if you have students who struggle or need additional work and review with understanding algebraic expressions.

In this case, I would use this in small group time (or as the “teacher” station if you use math stations), allowing students to slow down & share their thinking with you. This will give you a chance to see where they struggle and address misunderstandings or misconceptions.

Grab the Digital Algebra Tiles Activity for Google Slides:

If you’d like to give this a try with your students, use the link below to grab it FREE in my shop! Here’s what you’ll find in the download:

• Access Link to make a COPY of the slides in your own google drive
• Directions for sharing this with your students in google classroom
• Answer key for all 10 slides

I hope this is a useful resource for you and your students, even if you’ve never used algebra tiles before!

{Click HERE to go to my shop and grab the FREE Simplify Expressions with Digital Algebra Tiles Activity}

The post Simplify Expressions Visually with Algebra Tiles – DIGITAL Activity appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

Using percentages and solving problems that involve percent is one of the most essential math concepts our kids learn. We use and see percent in our daily life all the time. And while we can definitely use a calculator (and should!), if you don’t actually understand percent well enough to use the calculator correctly, it does you absolutely no good. So if you are exploring percent, the  percent proportion, percent of change, tax, tips, etc. with your students, grab this free set of error analysis tasks to help them discuss problems and make sure they understand!

What is an Error Analysis Task?

Error analysis means analyzing a mistake. It means looking at the steps used or the mathematical reasoning applied to a problem, finding the mistake or misconception and explaining what went wrong.

In other words, it is more than just correcting the mistake. Sure, kids might be able to work out a problem and tell you what the right answer is, but can they clearly articulate why the other answer is wrong?

By explaining what went wrong, students are forced to confront their own understanding. Do they actually understand how to solve this math problem, or are they just following a random set of steps or a confusing algorithm?

If they can’t explain to a friend a mistake, they won’t be able to find and correct their own mistakes.

And if they can’t find and explain a mistake, they have a very shallow understanding of the subject matter.

On the other hand, by finding and explaining (and correcting) common errors, they will deepen their own understanding and have a better idea of what common mistakes are so they can look out for them in their own work in the future.

Although I often encourage students to find and correct their own mistakes, sometimes looking at a “third party” mistake is easier and less intimidating. They don’t feel ownership over the problem and don’t take it personally, because it’s not their work.

This also allows you to discuss common misconceptions with the class as a whole, because you can all look over and analyze the same steps and errors.

Percent Math Skills Covered:

This download includes 6 different error analysis tasks, covering a variety of percent type math problems. You will find the following skills included:

• Using the percent proportion
• Using the percent equation
• Converting between fractions, decimals and percent
• Using the simple interest formula
• Percent of Change
• Sales Tax

How to Use These Problems in the Classroom:

Analyzing a percent problem is a great way to get kids warmed up at the start of class. It doesn’t need to be time consuming–you can either project the slide at the front of the room and have students write in a journal or on whiteboards, or you can print the half-sheet pages and give each student one as they enter class.

Give students about 5 minutes to look over the problem, analyze the steps and final solution and form their opinions.

In this case, the tasks are titled, “Is it true?”

The reason for this is to encourage students to really consider the problem, the situation and the final answer, rather than just knowing or assuming the work and answer are incorrect.

Sometimes the work and solution ARE true. But sometimes they’re not, and students will have to explain why and correct it.

Another idea is to use these at the end of class as an exit ticket to assess understanding.

The problems include a variety of percent problems, so you might print a problem that directly relates to that day’s lesson and let students answer it independently at the end of class. Then they can pass them in to you on their way out so you can see what they understand and how well they are able to justify their reasoning.

Included in the Download:

When you go to my shop and grab the pdf file, you will find the following included. Hopefully this will help you use this whether you are looking for a digital task or printable task.

• Teaching tips and access to the digital version, designed for google slides
• Directions for sharing the slides in google classroom
• Printable version of all 6 percent error analysis problems
• Answer keys for all 6 problems

However you decide to use these problems, I hope it provides meaningful math learning for your students, and sparks exciting math conversation in your classrooms!

Ready to grab your set? Use the link below to grab this freebie in my shop.

{Click HERE to go to my shop and grab the FREE Percent Error Analysis Tasks for Middle School!}

Looking for more percent resources? Check out the ideas below!

• {FREE} Would You Rather…? Ratio & Percent Tasks | DIGITAL
• Practical Percents: Lessons, Games and MORE
• Convert Fractions to Decimals & Percents: FREE Puzzles

The post {FREE} Percent Error Analysis Tasks Grade 7-8 | PRINT+DIGITAL appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

If there is one skill that virtually all kids could use greater fluency, confidence and understanding of, it would probably be the multiplication facts. Even for kids who understand multiplication and feel confident, they would likely still benefit from extra practice and review. A quick search of my website will bring up dozens of fun and engaging ways to practice multiplication, from hands on models to printable board games to card games. And while those are all great and helpful options, sometimes you might be looking for a way to practice multiplication facts independently. Or a way to practice one specific set of facts, such as x7 or x8. In that case, check out my new multiplication app for kids: Fact Fluency: Mastering Multiplication.

What is Fluency with Multiplication Facts?

If the goal is for your students to be fluent with their multiplication facts (1×1 up to 10×10), then we should probably be sure we understand what ‘fluent’ means. First of all, it is helpful to begin with what it is not: fluent does not necessarily mean fast, and it is not merely accurate (though of course we want students to be accurate).

Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics explains fluency this way (p.152):

“Computational fluency refers to having efficient and accurate methods for computing. Students exhibit computational fluency when they demonstrate flexibility in the computational methods they choose, understand and can explain these methods, and produce accurate answers efficiently. The computational methods that a student uses should be based on mathematical ideas that the student understands well, including the structure of the base-ten number system, properties of multiplication and division, and number relationships.”

In other words, being fluent with multiplication facts means that students have a deep understanding of what multiplication represents, how different models relate to multiplication, and can choose models and strategies based on their understanding to arrive at an accurate solution efficiently.

For example, if a child wants to solve the problem 8×9, strategies might be to skip count by 8’s or to add 8 nine times. But these are not efficient methods because they are time consuming and prone to error.

Instead, students who have number sense and fluency can think of this problem as (8×10) – 8 to get 72. This is quicker and they’ll be less likely to make a computational error.

This is the goal of the app Fact Fluency: Mastering Multiplication.

NEW Multiplication App for Kids:

*August 2021 UPDATE: This app has been tested and certified by Educational App Store using a rigorous set of criteria. A professional, experienced teacher uses the 25 metrics designed by Professor of Educational Technology, Mike Sharples to consider the app and it’s usefulness in the classroom.

Using these metrics, Fact Fluency: Mastering Multiplication received 5 stars!

Read the complete review on EducationalAppStore.com HERE.

To be completely honest and transparent, I have not tested every single multiplication app available on iTunes. And since I am the one who designed this app, I am obviously biased when I say it’s the best.

However, in glancing through the options on iTunes, there seems to be a theme in what I see:

• Flash cards
• Timers
• Lack of visuals and meaningful strategies

These types of multiplication fact practice may lead to memorization, but as I talked about before, not necessarily fluency with the facts. That’s why my app is different. Want a sneak peek? Check out the video preview:

Here’s some of what your kids will see as they make their way through the learning paths:

• Visuals to support a conceptual understanding
• Short, animated tutorials to highlight effective strategies
• Engaging games to practice one set of facts at a time
• A logical order to learn the facts so that they develop number sense and fluency

Fact Fluency is now available on iTunes and Amazon!

Fact Fluency: Mastering Multiplication is available to download in the iTunes app store here.

Fact Fluency: Mastering Multiplication is also available on Amazon here.

How to Use Fact Fluency: Mastering Multiplication

To begin, there are two main ‘sections’ on the app: “Learn Math Facts” and “Review Games.”

The math facts learning paths are designed to help kids work through, visualize and practice each set of multiplication facts as they make their way down the learning paths. The facts are explored in this order:

• x2 facts
• x10 and x5 facts
• x4 facts
• x3 facts
• x6 facts
• x9 facts
• x7 facts
• x8 facts

Although kids can start on any of these learning paths, they are designed to build on one another and work together to build math fluency. So ideally, kids will start with the x2 path and work through them all in order.

Within each learning path, kids have to complete each task or game before moving onto the next. This ensures they cover everything taught in that learning path. This includes things like:

• Seeing multiplication as equal groups
• Using arrays and area models to visualize multiplication
• Learning and review the commutative property of multiplication
• Using a number line or hundreds chart to solve multiplication facts and see patterns
• Tutorials to model strategies using visuals such as area models
• Engaging games to practice a single set of facts
• Number bonds to see the relationship between multiplication & division
• Games to practice finding the missing factor

Each task set is designed to be short to keep kids attention and prevent them from feeling frustrated and give up.

Additionally, if they solve a problem incorrectly, they are given the chance to try again so they see it as an opportunity to learn and grow rather than as a failure.

Multiplication App Review Games:

Of course, as I said in the beginning, we all know that kids can always use more practice. So once they’ve completed the learning paths, they can go back and play any of the games again, or you as the parent or teacher can ‘reset’ a path so they can do it again:

If you reset the path, they will have to start at the beginning (say the x9 path) and work through each task or game in that path in order again.

If your kids just need general practice with all the facts mixed together, it’s time for the ‘review games.’

When you first open the app and click play, kids can choose “Review Games” to work on all the multiplication facts mixed together.

The review games section includes some games that will be familiar from the learning paths, but no longer focusing only on a particular set of facts.

There are also some new games to try out, as well as some two-player games.

These review games can be used anytime your kids need a refresher or additional practice with multiplication. They also make a fun way for partners to work together, or a fun activity for early finishers.

Ready To Get Started?

I hope you and your kids enjoy this fun, new multiplication app for kids. And of course, if you have an idea for improvement or a feature you’d like to see in it, let me know! We want this to be the best app out there to help your kids master multiplication!

Fact Fluency: Mastering Multiplication is available to download in the iTunes app store.

You can use it on your iPhone or iPad.

Fact Fluency: Mastering Multiplication is also available on Amazon.

You can then use it on your Kindle Fire tablets.

*August 2021 UPDATE: You can now add multiple users to the app so your children (or students) can each go through the learning paths at their own pace. You can then reset a learning path for an individual child if necessary without disrupting the progress of another. You can add up to 6 users this way.

This was a highly requested feature, so I hope this is helpful for you!

Grab Fact Fluency: Mastering Multiplication on iTunes HERE!

Grab Fact Fluency: Mastering Multiplication on Amazon HERE!

The post Best Multiplication App for Kids to Increase Fluency appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

Pi Day is just around the corner and here at Math Geek Mama we are so excited! An entire day dedicated to math (and tasty treats)? What more could you ask for!? This is an especially great opportunity to help your students get excited about math. This digital pi day resource is a great way to get students in the spirit of Pi Day with a fun and tasty theme they’ll love and the deeper mathematical thinking you expect.

Digital Pi Day Activity: Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying, and Dividing Decimals

Decimals and Why They Matter

We believe that math should always be in context and have real world aspects. The purpose of teaching math to our students is to prepare them for the math they will encounter in their everyday lives. What better way to teach math than in contexts that students can relate to and will encounter?

Decimals are an essential math element we deal with on a day to day basis. So it is essential that our students are confident in their ability to manipulate decimals in all forms of real world context. 

Using the Digital Pi Day Activity

Provide Some Context

In this task there are six different Pi day contestants who will be competing with their different pies. Each person has a math problem that they need solved involving money, weight, and measurements with decimals.

These are included as digital slides for Google Slides, which students can then read, solve and type their solutions onto.

If you are meeting in person, printable pages are also included, which students can write their final solutions on. You might set these up as stations and have students rotate through the problems to solve. Then you can discuss them together to determine the winner of the Pi Day Pie Contest.

Students will first solve each decimal problem using addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. Then at the end they will determine who the winner of the contest is.

The winner just happens to be the person whose answer was 3.14, or the decimal approximation of pi. 

The Math: Operations with Decimals

Each of the six math problems require students to either add, subtract, multiply, or divide using decimals. Each problem requires students’ knowledge of lining up place value and moving decimals according to standard algorithms.

There is one addition and one subtraction problem as students generally are more familiar with these and two multiplication and two division problems. Students are less familiar with multiplication and division, so more of these problems were included to help students practice more.

The Added Challenge

Often students are told exactly what type of problem they are solving, but in real life rarely is this the case. We need to offer our students more opportunities to determine from context what math is required.

In this task, students are asked to solve the decimal problems but not told how to solve them.

Students will determine whether they need to add, subtract, multiply, or divide using only the context. This will give your students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of decimals and practice solving math in a real world way.

Providing Additional Support

Although students are familiar with multiplying and dividing decimals with whole numbers by fifth grade, one problem does include division of decimals by decimals, which is a sixth grade standard.

To use this activity with younger grades, you can simply work through the problems they are unfamiliar with together.

In general, I put the problem up on the board and then ask students how to solve it and work through it together as a class with some guidance. You might be surprised with how much your students are able to discover about unfamiliar content! 

Also, the last question does require students to be familiar with the rounded version of pi (3.14). If students do not know that Pi is approximated by 3.14, you can guide them to this by sharing the holiday date with them and helping them make the connection. You may also simply want to explain Pi and its notation.

More Pi Day Fun!

March 14th is a fun opportunity to expand your students’ love and excitement for math! You and your students will love this fun and free digital Pi day activity that will have your students thinking deeply and leave you all craving some delicious pie! Happy Pi Day and math geek on!

{Click HERE to go to my shop & grab the FREE Digital Pi Day Activity!}

Looking for more ways to celebrate? Try one of these FREE ideas:

• Pi-lentines: Cards to Pass Out for Pi Day
• Race to Pi: Simple Card Game
• Pi Day Sing-a-Long Songs
• Pass the Pi Investigation Lesson
• Pi Day Logic Puzzles
• HUGE List of Pi Day Ideas for All Ages

The post {FREE} Digital Pi Day Activity: Decimal Operations Word Problems appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

Dividing fractions is probably one of the trickiest standards to teach in sixth grade. Then add using models on top of that and it is easy to feel overwhelmed! We so often skim or skip over using and teaching models with our students because they can be confusing to not only our students but to us too! When we teach division of fractions through models, it is a powerful and useful tool that when used correctly can deepen our students’ understanding. 

Visual Models: Why They Matter

The purpose behind visual models is to help our students understand the why. Have you ever heard the phrase “Don’t ask why, just invert and multiply”? Our teachers often taught math this way to us, simple procedures with little to no deeper understanding.

Fortunately, we have discovered that real learning comes from helping children understand the reason behind procedures. Possibly even “discovering” the procedures for themselves. This kind of math learning leads to real understanding and is less likely to be memorized and then forgotten by our students. 

This may be especially true when dividing fractions by fractions.

Understanding and Using Fractional Models

Understanding Division of Fractions

Before we can help our students understand fractional models, we must understand them ourselves. When we are dividing a fraction by a fraction, we are essentially saying I am taking a fraction and creating groups the size of another fraction.

For example ½ ÷ ⅓ is saying how many groups of size ⅓ can I make from ½. The answer is 3/2 or 1 ½ groups.

In some division of fraction problems you can only make a partial group; ⅓ ÷ ½ = ⅔ of a group or I can make ⅔ of a group when ½ is my new whole and ⅓ is what I have.

Understanding the Models to Teach Dividing Fractions

When you are dividing the fraction ½ by ⅓, you take your dividend fraction, or what is being divided, ½, and then split it into thirds horizontally. This now allows you to easily see ⅓ of the whole while also making a common denominator. You then count the number of pieces it takes to make ⅓ which is your new whole.

In this case it is 2 which is why when you invert and multiply the 2 becomes your denominator. You then count the number of pieces you had originally from the ½. In this example it is 3, which is why it becomes your numerator. 

If you go in and circle the number of groups you can make with your new denominator, 2, from your numerator, 3, you find that you can make 1 group of 2 or one whole and then you are left with 1 of 2 pieces or 1 ½. This is the number you find when simplifying your improper fraction found from inverting and multiplying your expression.

Dividing Fractions by Fractions Task

In this digital resource, there are two parts. First, students will create the fractional model by dragging and overlaying the two fractional pieces. They then count the number of pieces used to make up their new denominator and numerator.

They will finish the first slide by finding and circling the number of groups they can find with their new whole.

On the second slide, students will invert and multiply the original problem. Then they simplify that answer if necessary to connect their thinking to the model. 

Helping Students who Struggle

If you have students who are still struggling to understand the models, having them draw the models themselves can be a powerful tool. If needed, draw the models with them so that they have the extra scaffolding they need while still putting pencil to paper.

It can also help if you start with more familiar fractions like the ones used above. As the students become more confident with their models using familiar fractions, you can begin adding in more complex fractions to deepen their understanding. 

Models Make the Difference!

I know teaching with models can be intimidating.  As a second year teacher moving to sixth grade, I wanted to just skip over them. Don’t do it! Models are powerful tools and there is a reason they are in the Common Core Math Standards. It may take some time and practice for both you and your students.

But the “aha” moment students have when they connect the standard algorithm to invert and multiply to their models makes it totally worth it! 

Free Resource to Teach Dividing Fractions!

I’m excited to share this free resource to help you teach dividing fractions using models in your classroom. It is an easy and effective tool that is already for you to copy and share with your students!

You can use this as a springboard for more in depth teaching of fractional models or as a practice/review. Regardless of how you use it, you’ll love this specially curated resource for you and your sixth graders!

{Click HERE to go to my shop and grab the FREE Digital Activity to Teach Dividing Fractions!}

More Fraction Resources You Might Like:

• Convert Improper Fractions to Mixed Numbers Using Visuals
• Missing Addend with Fractions: Challenges for Google Slides
• How to Teach Fractions {With Free Game Ideas}
• Deepening Fraction Sense with Fractions Area Models

The post How to Teach Dividing Fractions With Models | FREE Practice appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

The official date changes from year to year, but sometime in January we usually hit our 100th day of school. This is a fun milestone to celebrate and helps us to press on to finish the school year well. If you are meeting in person, you might like some of the ideas in this post: 100 Math Ideas for the 100th Day of School. But if you and your students are meeting online, there are still ways to celebrate virtually and make it fun! Below you’ll find a few ideas to get you started, as well as a FREE set of virtual 100th day math activities for Google Slides that you can incorporate as well.

*Please Note: This post contains affiliate links which support the work of this site. Read our full disclosure here.*

Virtual 100th Day Math Activities:

1. Read a Math Picture Book

During your Zoom or Google meet class time, one of the easiest ways to celebrate is by reading a fun math picture book to your students.

Here are some of my favorites to celebrate the 100th day or to learn more about counting to 100:

• Curious George Learns to Count from 1 to 100 by H.A. Rey
• Let’s Count to 100! by Masayuki Sebe
• 100 Snowmen by Jen Arena
• Centipede’s 100 Shoes by Tony Ross
• I’ll Teach My Dog 100 Words by P.D. Eastman (learn math and vocabulary!)
• The Night Before the 100th Day of School by Natasha Wing
• Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day by Joseph Slate
• 100th Day Worries by Margery Cuyler
• 100 Days of School by Trudy Harris (counting to 100 various ways)
• 100 Days of Cool by Stuart Murphy (a Math Start book)
• One Hundred Hungry Ants by Elinor Pinczes (multiplication to 100)

2. Share Groups of 100 Objects

If you teach younger grades, challenge your students to find 100 of something around their house and then share that during your virtual class time.

This could be pieces of cereal, pennies, LEGO bricks, Q-tips or cotton balls, etc. There are so many possibilities!

(Note: A slide is included in the freebie below to allow students to share a picture!)

3. Share Arrays of 100 Objects

For older students, challenge them to not only count to 100 but set up an array using those 100 objects. Then see if they can write a multiplication equation to match.

Learn more about exploring multiplication with arrays here.

Ready for more of a challenge? See how many different arrays they can make with 100 objects!

(Note: A slide is included in the freebie below to allow students to share a picture!)

4. Build or design something with 100 blocks

One of my kids favorite challenges is to build or design something with 100 LEGO bricks or 100 Pattern Blocks.

For more math extensions of this challenge, grab the free download here.

If you’re meeting virtually, kids can share their creations during your virtual meeting.

(Note: You can also find a slide for this challenge in the freebie below to encourage kids to share a picture of their creation! If students submit their pictures before your celebration, you can share them during your virtual class time as a slideshow.)

5. Get Creative with $100

A very simple math problem starter is to ask, “What would you do with $100?” This allows kids to think and dream about how they might spend $100, but also encourages number sense and challenges them to decompose the number 100.

As they share their ideas, ask them to split up their purchases to be sure they total $100.

And even if they don’t have a long list of purchases, challenge them to decompose $100 using the Google Slides in this freebie!

There are 3 levels of slides. The first slide includes whole tens as the first part.

The second slide includes whole numbers, but not just tens. They final slide includes both whole and decimal parts.

For example, $42.70 + ? = $100.

For more practice with making 100, try this simple card game.

6. Get Moving: How Long Does it Take to Do 100 Jumping Jacks?

Make sure students have room where they are, but let them take turns doing various activities 100 times (like jumping jacks, clapping, etc.) and timing each other. You can even display a timer on your screen so everyone can watch the clock while counting to 100.

The freebie includes 2 slides to keep track of your times. The first has the time in seconds. This is a great way to challenge students to convert the time to seconds (for example, 1 minute 25 seconds =85 seconds).

The second slide allows you to record the time in minutes and seconds.

7. Practice Skip Counting to 100

This idea may require a little prep on your part, but could be a fun way to practice skip counting together as a group.

Before class, gather 100 objects and group them into sets of 2, 5, 10, etc.

Two easy ideas are to use nickels and dimes to count by 5s and 10s.

Other ideas are:

• Pipe cleaners or popscicle sticks grouped into bundles of 2, 5, 10, etc.
• Small baggies with groups of objects such as cereal pieces or pennies

Then during your virtual class time, hold up each bag/bundle one at a time and allow your kids to count together to reach 100.

You can also provide independent skip counting practice with the free Google Slides. There are 2 slides to allow kids to practice counting by 10s to 100.

I hope this gives you some simple and fun ways to make this day special, even if you can’t meet with your students in person!

And don’t forget to grab the FREE set of Virtual 100th Day of School Math Games for Google Slides using the link below!

{Click HERE to go to my shop & grab the Virtual 100th Day Math Activities for Google Slides!}

Find more 100th Day of School Math Resources Below:

• 100th Day of School STEM Challenge | Using LEGO or Pattern Blocks
• 100 Math Ideas for the 100th Day of School
• ‘Make 100’ Low-Prep Games for the 100th Day

The post Virtual 100th Day of School Math Activities {FREE Resources} appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

One of my favorite strategies for engaging students and really pushing them to think about a concept is with an error analysis task. Sometimes this might mean analyzing and correcting their own errors so they can learn from them and look for ways to reduce errors in the future. But sometimes it’s easier (and more inviting) to present a problem for all students to analyze and consider together. Then they can think about what methods were used to solve and what mistakes were made along the way. This then leads to rich discussion and deeper understanding. Plus, no one feels put on the spot because the errors aren’t their own. This digital set of tasks allows you to discuss common misconceptions and errors when solving linear equations.

Solving Linear Equations Error Analysis for Google Slides:

This free sample includes interactive prompts for Google Slides. This means you can assign them to students virtually, or use them in class as a whole group discussion or in a 1-to-1 classroom.

To begin, you’ll want to click the ‘access link’ in the pdf download. This will allow you to make a copy of the slides in your personal Google Drive.

Once you have a copy, you can assign one or more slides to students in Google Classroom, you can convert the slides to use in other platforms, or you can present the tasks to your students as a whole class or in a small group setting.

No matter how you use or assign these, each slide includes interactive text boxes for you and your students to type their responses into.

Printing the Google Slides:

Although these are not designed to be printed out, you also have that option in Google Slides.

Begin by deleting each text box from each slide.

Then go to File–>Print

From there, you can adjust your settings to decide how many slides to print per page (similar to Powerpoint).

Analyzing the Mistakes in Each Equation:

This free sample includes a directions slide explaining to students what’s expected, as well as 5 linear equations to consider (one per slide).

Each equation shows a series of steps that were done to solve the linear equation. The slide then asks, “Is the solution true?”

Students have to look at the steps carefully because at first glance, it might seem like all was done correctly and the solution makes sense.

If you know there’s an error but your students don’t spot it, encourage them to test the solution rather than analyze the steps.

For example, in problem #2, the solutions says that x = 9. To test if this is true or not, students can plug in 9 in the place of x in the original equation and see if both sides are in fact equal.

Doing so will give you -12 = 24, which is obviously not a true statement.

Therefore, x cannot equal 9, and there must be an error in the work somewhere.

If they’re still stuck, encourage them to work out the problem for themselves on a scrap of paper without looking at the solved equation. This may help them to solve correctly, allowing them to spot the error on the slide.

Benefits of Error Analysis:

Students can gain so much knowledge, clarity and insight when they work on analyzing a problem that has already been solved.

It doesn’t even have to be a mistake, it could simply be a problem that is solved using a new-to-them strategy, formula or algorithm.

By considering whether or not the solution is true, students are confronted with whether or not they actually understand a concept. Many times, they feel very confident in their abilities, only to discover they still have so much more to learn.

Analyzing other problems and errors can also give you opportunities to highlight particular strategies that you want them to understand better.

This might be something that is new or that they haven’t encountered before.

Or it might be a way to highlight common errors that you see them making over and over. By bringing up a common error and discussing it as a group, you give an opportunity for students to recognize it and hopefully be more aware of their own work in the future.

Related: 8 Reasons Making Mistakes in Math is a Good Thing

Ready to get started? Click the link below to go to my shop and grab the linear equations error analysis set!

{Click HERE to go to my shop & grab the Digital Linear Equations Error Analysis Challenges!}

Find More Error Analysis Resources Below:

• Blank Error Analysis Templates & Classroom Poster Set | Perfect for test corrections at any grade level
• Order of Operations Error Analysis | DIGITAL
• Complete set of Solving Linear Equations Error Analysis Tasks | Printable + DIGITAL

The post DIGITAL Solving Linear Equations Error Analysis {FREE} appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

*Please Note: This post includes affiliate links that support the work of this site. Read our full disclosure here.*

Materials Needed for Clip Cards:

• Card stock paper
• Laminator (optional)
• Clothespins or paper clips (I like these cute, colorful ones)

**If you are only using the digital version of this activity, you don’t need any of the above and you can save yourself some paper and printer ink!**

Pumpkin Pie Counting Clip Cards:

No matter your home or classroom needs, this free Thanksgiving counting activity has you covered. It includes both printable clip cards that you can use with clothespins or paperclips as well as an interactive digital version for Google Slides.

To use the printable clip cards, simply print all pages on card stock paper.

To make them self-checking, mark a small dot on the back of each card to show the answer.

Then I suggest you laminate each page for durability. Be sure to laminate before you cut these out–you’ll save yourself tons of time and headache!

Once your cards are ready, simply cut out each card. There are 3 per page, for a total of 12 counting clip cards in the download.

Once they’re ready, simply provide your kids with the cards and something to clip the correct answers as they count the dollops of whipped cream on each pumpkin pie.

Digital Pumpkin Pie Counting:

If you are teaching virtually, or simply looking for a way to go paperless, the digital version is just the thing.

Instead of ‘clipping’ the correct answers, students drag a ‘check mark’ to the correct answers.

The clip cards included are the same as the printable version, just in a digital format.

In the download, you will find an ‘access link’ that will allow you to make a copy of the slides to save in your own Google Drive.

Directions for making a copy and then assigning the slides to your students in Google Classroom are included in the download.

Regardless of how you use this set, I hope you and your students enjoy this Thanksgiving math activity!

{Click HERE to go to my shop to grab the FREE Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie Counting Cards!}

Find More Thanksgiving Math for Kids Here:

• Thanksgiving Math for Kindergarten Printable Pack
• Thanksgiving Logic Puzzles
• Thanksgiving Fraction Tasks | Printable + Digital

The post Pumpkin Pie Counting Cards | Printable + DIGITAL appeared first on Math Geek Mama.

*Please Note: This post contains affiliate links which support the work of this site. Read our full disclosure here.*

Printable Thanksgiving Fractions Puzzles:

If you’re meeting in person, or looking for some fun fraction practice for kids to do from home, start with this set of printable Thanksgiving fractions puzzles.

This set includes 12 different puzzles, covering basic fractions such as 1/2, 1/4, 2/3 and 3/4.

To use them, simply print out the puzzle pages, laminate each page (for added durability) and then cut out the different puzzle pieces.

Then  mix up all the puzzle pieces and allow students to match the written fraction with the visual pictures of pumpkin pies.

Note that all the puzzle pieces are the same shape, so these will not be self checking.

You can allow kids to work with a partner to check each other and discuss them, or you can add corresponding numbers to the back of each piece before you print them out.

For example, on the first puzzle, write a 1 on the back of each side of the puzzle.

Then when you cut out all the pieces and students match them up, they can flip over the pieces to see if the numbers match.

Do note though, that some of the puzzles have different pictures for the same fraction. So you may want to use the same number for all the 1/2 representations, for example, that way no matter which pieces students match, they will see that they got it right.

Digital Thanksgiving Fractions for Google Slides:

If you are wanting a paperless option, or are teaching virtually, there’s an option here for you!

This free download also includes a link to 4 interactive Google Slides.

On each slide, there are 3 pictures of pumpkin pie fractions. Then there are drag and drop check marks, so students can drag a check to the written fraction that matches each picture.

Once you make a copy of the slides for yourself, you can assign one slide at a time to your students through Google Classroom, you can assign all of them at once, or you can use these during a virtual class meeting to discuss together.

Making Sense of Fractions:

If you are discussing each picture together, you can extend the problems and help students build fraction sense by asking a follow up question: “How much of the pie has been eaten?”

This will help students to see that the two parts of each pie are equal to one whole. For example, if the remaining pie is equal to 1/3, then the amount of pie that has been eaten must be 2/3.

You can also use this to discuss equivalent fractions, since sometimes the picture shows 2/4 slices, but the written fraction is 1/2.

Exploring Fractions with Chocolate Bars:

Looking for more meaningful, hands on fraction practice with food? Chocolate bars make the perfect introduction to a variety of fraction concepts because of the way they are divided.

This collection includes engaging lessons to explore reading & writing fractions, equivalent fractions, comparing fractions & adding & subtracting fractions.

Buy the complete Candy Bar Fraction Set HERE!

FREE Thanksgiving Fractions Resources:

Ready to get started? Use the link below to grab this free set of activities from my shop. And then find more Thanksgiving math fun at the links below!

{Click HERE to go to my shop and get the FREE set of printable & digital Thanksgiving Fractions Activities!}

Find More Thanksgiving Math Below:

• Thanksgiving Math for Kindergarten | FREE Printable Pack
• Thanksgiving Math & Logic Puzzles | Ages 9+
• Ultimate Collection of Pumpkin Themed Math Activities

The post {FREE} Thanksgiving Fractions | Printable + Digital Challenges appeared first on Math Geek Mama.