Whether you want activities for when the kids get bored, need some hands on learning for summer school or just want to keep their minds sharp, this list of Summer STEM ideas for middle school is perfect! Summer is almost here. I can almost hear the children running home so excited for summer break. That is, until a mere two weeks later and boredom has set in. To get a head start on summer boredom, I scoured the internet looking for simple, no Keep Reading...
Hands-On Area of a Circle Activity {FREE}
Welcome to the last day of my Math+Technology Series! I've shared a variety of free math lessons for middle and high school which incorporate graphing calculators in a meaningful way. Today I'm going to share a fun Geometry investigation, which is a combination of hands-on exploring and technology. This area of a circle activity is a great way for kids to better understand the formula. Plus, it's hands-on and can be used as a springboard for Keep Reading...
Want a Unique Tangram Game to Challenge Your Kids?
As I recently shared on Instagram, my kids have been having a blast with a new hands on math toy: Geometiles. If you're not familiar with these blocks, read on, because they are a unique and powerful math tool. While there are endless possibilities for learning, today I'm going to share an introductory lesson we did about tangrams. Using Geometiles blocks and their unique tangram game printables, we learned about polygons, angles and had lots of Keep Reading...
What’s For Lunch? An Engaging, Real Life Math Lesson {FREE}
"Why are we learning this?" Have you ever heard this from your students? If you teach math, I'd be surprised if you haven't. It can be challenging to create a math lesson that students can see the relevance in and that uses/teaches skills they need to know. But it is possible. In fact, I created one just for Math Geek Mama Readers. Help kids learn and understand math in a real world context with this add and subtract decimals Keep Reading...
Christmas Equations: Algebra Skills Activity {FREE}
Welcome to Day 9 in my "12 Days of Christmas" math series! I love creating fun, holiday themed math lessons, worksheets and games, and I hope that today's activity provides a fun Christmas challenge for your students! Use this set of Christmas equations in a number of different ways depending on the age of your kids. This easy to use Christmas equations worksheet is a great way to get kids thinking outside of the box, using their problem solving Keep Reading...
Which Number Doesn’t Belong? Math Challenge
I love providing my kids with unique math challenges. Sometimes this means logic puzzles, sometimes mental math challenges, and sometimes it means applying math to their current interests. I want to encourage a love for the beauty of math, as well as challenge them to think deeply about what they're learning. I also want to help them see that mistakes are a necessary part of math learning. But I also want to show them that math is not always as Keep Reading...
Hands on Logic Puzzles for Kids!
I am so excited to share my newest resource with you today! If you're looking for a fun activity to keep your kids from being bored this summer, a simple activity for a math center in your classroom, or something to keep the kids busy on rainy days, you will love this book of hands on logic puzzles using pattern blocks! This book is jam packed with everything I could think of to make it a great learning experience for kids ages 4-9! *Please Keep Reading...
Cut and Paste Logic Puzzles for Preschoolers
My oldest were thrilled with this set of pattern block puzzles that I shared recently (get the entire ebook of puzzles here!) and so I decided to make a simpler version for my younger kiddos. These cut and paste logic puzzles are simpler (they are only 3x3 squares instead of 4x4) but still a fun way to get kids using their logical reasoning skills, and learning shapes and colors at the same time! Materials Needed for the Cut and Paste Logic Keep Reading...
Equation Search: Addition and Subtraction Practice
As my daughter gets close to finishing her first grade math curriculum, I'm trying to find fun and creative ways to review and practice math skills. Whether it's taking it outside with sidewalk chalk, or playing a game, I like to make it challenging, yet fun. So last week I created an "addition and subtraction equation search" to help her review and practice addition and subtraction with one and two digit numbers. This is great for kids in Keep Reading...
Understanding the Angles in Triangles
I love letting kids investigate and explore and see math ideas and patterns for themselves. As an Algebra teacher, this was not always easy to do, but Geometry, on the other hand, really lends itself to being explored. Geometry is the math of lines and points and shapes: solid and three dimensional. So why in the world teach it by having kids right down a set of theorems to memorize? Today I want to share a fun and super simple example involving Keep Reading...
