Fun Math Activities & Projects for the End of the Year
As the school year winds down, children get excited for the long summer break and teachers might find that keeping students' attention to be more challenging each day. Subjects like math can be especially hard on a warm day that holds the promise of the beach, sports and outdoor activities. Some end-of-year activities in math can keep the students' attention and make math enjoyable.
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Play Math Games
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Math games are available for all age groups and educational levels. Provide math games for students that are appropriate for their grade level and understanding of math. Teacher Vision has a wide range of math games at various experience levels from which teachers can select. Games available online vary, usually by the grade level of students. There are counting games for kindergarten children, measurement games for students around second grade, adding and subtraction games and even games that move players forward when math questions are answered correctly.
Math Riddles
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Riddles can be used in math classes as well. Read the class a riddle with that contains a math problem. Give students a set time to figure out the riddle and propose answers. Afterward, gives students the correct answer and tell how to solve the riddle. For example, ask the students "How can eight 8's get to the number 1,000?, using only addition" as given on mathwarehouse.com.
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Word-Finding Puzzles
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A word-finding puzzle can use math terms learned throughout the year, such as adding, subtraction, dividing or fractions. The words are hidden among other random letters, and students look for the words in the puzzle. Give extra credit for completed word puzzles or for completing puzzles in a specific time period.
Tin Can Ice Cream
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For a special treat in a math class, students can make tin can ice cream. This not only gives the students a snack, but also helps them with following directions, measurements and the use of measuring cups and spoons. The students mix together 1 cup of milk, 1 cup of whipping cream, 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla in a small tin can and close the lid. Put the small tin can in a larger tin can, and fill the remaining space with crushed ice. Pour 3/4 cup of rock salt over the ice. Close the lid of the larger tin and strap it closed. Roll the tin can around for 10 minutes and then open the lid, remove the smaller can and mix it with a spatula, but do not allow it to melt. Dump out the water from the large can, replace the small can and fill the large can with more ice and salt, roll for another five minutes and the ice cream is done. According to Education World the recipe makes 3 cups of ice cream without the use of an ice cream maker. Split larger classes into separate groups. Explain how to make the ice cream, put the directions on the board and supervise as students measure and make the treat.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Mathematik image by bbroianigo from Fotolia.com
