Comments on: 40+ First Week of School Activities

By: Sarah Carter

Sarah Carter — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 21:54:27 +0000

I think that Let’s Make Squares could easily be adapted to 3. Just use 3 colors of popsicle sticks instead of 4. Broken Circles has a 3 person version, but it is DRASTICALLY easier than the 4 person version.

Rainbow Logic, Build It, Master Designer and Guess My Rule would all work just fine with groups of 3. I have seen a 3 person version of the 100 Numbers activity floating around on facebook. They arranged the numbers in a circle.

Almost all of them could be adapted for groups of 3, I think!

If anyone else has adapted an activity for groups of 3, leave a comment!

By: Chelsea McClellan

Chelsea McClellan — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 20:34:49 +0000

After reading Peter Liljedahl’s Building Thinking Classrooms Book, I’m wondering how these activities might be modified for groups of 3. Have you done any of those that currently need 4 folks with groups of 3 instead?

By: Sarah Carter

Sarah Carter — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 19:56:25 +0000

In reply to Shauna Hamman. Someone else reported that there were two conflicting cards. They said that after they removed one of the cards that it worked perfectly. Sorry I can't tell you which card to remove. To my knowledge, there is not an answer key.

By: Shauna Hamman

Shauna Hamman — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 22:28:09 +0000

This is a fabulous list! My fifth grade classes started this week and we have enjoyed both Broken Circles and Build It. We got a little stuck on Build It #3. I told my class I would email you to ask if there is an answer key somewhere to check. If not, thank you anyway for this list!

By: Sarah Carter

Sarah Carter — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 03:10:16 +0000

In reply to Jill Hardy. I like this idea! Thanks for sharing!

By: Jill Hardy

Jill Hardy — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 23:49:51 +0000

Thanks so much for all the great ideas!

Here is one I use…
Students make a timeline of their lives
10 facts about themselves starting with their bday and ending with the first day of school this year below the timeline and
10 world history events within their lives above the timeline

I use this in both math and social studies classes
It’s shocking how many students don’t know how to properly space a timeline
I do an example so they get to know me and then their timeline gives me info about each student

Have a great year! I’m still only 2/3 through summer school!

By: Sarah Carter

Sarah Carter — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 20:44:15 +0000

In reply to Pat Spitz. Thank you so much Pat!

By: Pat Spitz

Pat Spitz — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 02:00:08 +0000

Sarah, you are such an amazing and talented teacher who is the most generous person, too. It is so awesome you’ve tried these out and have given your activities for back to school which is sure to be challenging. Thank you. Blessings and good fortune to you and Sean, and your family

By: Sarah Carter

Sarah Carter — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 21:48:23 +0000

In reply to Marcy Kleer.

I have shared the template for the Getting to Know You Quiz Here: https://mathequalslove.net/getting-to-know-you-quiz/

By: Marcy Kleer

Marcy Kleer — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 15:30:06 +0000

I love your Getting to Know You quiz and was wondering if you have a template for the multiple choice questions paper that you have the students fill out?