Fun Math Activities in the Classroom for Fifth Grade

Interactive math activities provide cognitive and creative classroom learning.

Implementing fun math activities in the classroom allows fifth graders to enjoy learning while exploring mathematical concepts through cooperative learning and subject integration. Teachers enhance student learning and assess student understanding of state math standards and curriculum through whole class or small group math games and individual or small group project-based learning activities.

Factball

"Factball" implements the rules of a baseball or kickball game. The class is split into two teams of players with four bases spread throughout the classroom. It also uses the concept of outs and runs with the teacher as the referee. Each team receives a jar of teacher-made or store-bought basic fact flash cards. Teachers can mix fact families and the four operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division for a comprehensive game that correlates to number sense state standards. The team "up to bat" stands at the front of the room while a member from the opposing team calls out a basic fact question or shows a flash card. If the batter gets the question correct, he moves to first base. If he gets it incorrect, it counts as an "out" and the game continues. Teachers can indicate double, triple and home-run questions by marking each flash card with a sticky note that shows the amount of bases it is worth. For example, double or triple-digit multiplication and division problems may be worth more than one base for fifth graders versus addition and subtraction basic facts, which are typically a third grade standard, meriting a one base run for kids in fifth grade. Teachers can create an inning chart on the front board and use it to keep score for each team. The team with the most runs at the end of the ninth inning wins the game.

Discount Shopping with Percentages

Teachers need to pre-plan for this activity by collecting a number of empty grocery items such as cereal boxes, soup cans, coffee canisters and snack bags. Teachers can affix sticky paper with the price of the item written on it and disperse items around the room so that students have to walk to different stations or centers to complete the activity. Teachers can hand students self-made coupons that offer discounts. For example, coupons can read: "50 percent off potato chips," or "20 percent off coffee." Teachers provide students with a corresponding worksheet that lists the names of the items, giving space for kids to show their math computation. Students have to compute the percentage and find the discounted price of each item they have a coupon for.

Polygon Madness

"Polygon Madnes" is a project that implements art, science and geometry. The goal is for students to create a habitat such as an aquatic scene, rainforest or desert using polygons to represent the environments and associated animals. Teachers can provide students with pictures and descriptions of the habitats for a reference. Students trace polygon shapes onto construction paper to make the habitat. This math activity lends itself to a number of extension activities. For example, students can find the perimeter and area of each polygon, students can name and list properties of each polygon and students can measure the angles of each polygon.

Just Graph It

"Just Graph It" reinforces data analysis concepts for fifth graders as a culminating cooperative learning group project. Students begin the project by creating a survey question that offers four possible responses. For example: "What is your favorite food: pizza, spaghetti, cheeseburgers or hot dogs?" They ask this question to the whole class and tally the responses by show of hands, also tallying how many boys versus girls pick each choice. Students create a tally chart, bar graph, double bar graph, pie chart and line graph to represent their survey responses and graphing knowledge. Students can decorate and color graphs and display or present their graphing projects to the class.