THE PERFECT TRANSITIONAL THEME AFTER ST. PAT’S DAY – IDEAS & FREEBIES

The kids have been reminding me to wear green for the past week.  I think it is safe to say that Tuesday is going to be oozing in the excitement department. With this said, how in the world are you supposed to come back on Wednesday and ease ’em back down into the learning process?  I have just the quickie theme for you . . . BASKETBALL!!!  

With the BIG tournament games kicking off on Thursday, it just seems natural to swoop up this fun subject.  This will be the second year that I have leveraged the tourney’s power for learning.  Last year was so much fun and it proved to be just the transition out of the chaos known as St. Patrick’s Day.  

Here are some fun ideas for you to roll with.  Yeah, sure . . . I have packets with all the goods pre-made as well as follow up activities.  However, these can be easily made on your own if you have the time 🙂

HOOP IT UP – PLACE VALUE TOURNEY
This game can be used for ANY math sort.  You can have your babes sort fact families, sums, differences, etc.  I always like to run with place value, but that’s just me.  

I am going to explain this in place value terms for the simplicity sake (I’ll write all over the place on ya if I don’t have a focus).  Print and laminate a set of place value cards that meet your kiddos’ needs (I suggest making 8-10 sets of cards.  Each set contains a number card, expanded notation card, number word card, and a base ten card).  Place 8-10 hula hoops at the far end of the course. Put one of the number cards (number card only) in each hula hoop.  

To begin play, place your students into teams of 4-5 provide each kiddo with a place value card (expanded notation, number name, and/or base ten picture). On your signal, the first kid in each team will run the course and place his/her place value card in the corresponding number hoop (example: 20+2 would be placed in the hoop with the 22 number card).

I love this game . . . all you need is a couple of trash cans and some scratch paper.  This is another ACTIVE sorting activity and the kids eat this one up!

Decide what you want your babes to sort and label your trash cans accordingly (same sums, same differences, fact families, place value, etc).  I like to run with even and odd, but again, that’s just me.  

Mark a “free throw” line on your floor. (I used a SitSpot, but you can use tape or chalk.)  Choose a team of about 8 kids to line up behind the mark and hand them a piece of scratch paper marked with the number/fact you want them to sort.  On your signal . . . I blow a whistle as it just seems fitting . . . the first shooter quickly calls out the number/fact on their card and the answer (examples:  “6+2 is 8” or “9 . . . it’s ODD”). The player then crumples the paper and shoots it toward the corresponding trash can.  If he/she makes it, the rest of your class (the crowd) goes wild.  If the player misses it . . . no prob . . . teach them to rebound their shot and let them SLAM DUNK IT!