Freebie February Day 17

Now that Valentine's Day and Presidents' Day have been crossed off the calendar, it's about time to think about March and spring. Even if it never got out of the teens in temperature today here in the Midwest. Or, maybe BECAUSE it never got out of the teens today. Regardless, here's the buzz about Freebie February for today.

Grab your copy of How Many Ways? -- March Edition and prepare to watch your students think more deeply, more fluently, and more flexibly. If How Many Ways? are new to you, you are in for a treat.  

Treat #1: This activity is an interactive bulletin board that stays up ALL month. All you have to change are the target numbers and math operations you would like your students to use.

Treat #2: This activity provides instant differentiation.  Yay!  Your highest functioning students can use the operations appropriate for them, while those who need more practice with a particular operation, can focus on that. You can  increase the challenge by requiring that the numbers used touch each other, as in Boggle(TM). Algebraic expressions are applicable.  It even works for pre-K and K students since 1 option is to simply count to the target number. One set of shamrocks includes counting dots just for this purpose.

Treat #3: Students can work on this activity in many ways. It's absolutely perfect for fast finishers because it's open-ended and on-going. Use it for an anchor activity as students arrive each day. They can be engaged while still at their seats so you can get attendance, lunch count, and other necessary chores completed. As a sponge activity, it is simply superb. Spend those odd few minutes checking the equations your students have created. You can stuff lots of great learning into your discussions of the equations; not just checking their accuracy, but the uniqueness, creativity, and complexity. Magnificent as a math center, students can readily work independently at this center, freeing you to work with small groups.  Or, a small group could work under your tutelage for intervention and/or review at this center.

Treat #4: It's CCSS aligned for you with standards applicable to every elementary grade level. Even the description of the standard is included.

Treat #5: Inherent in this activity are higher order thinking skills. Your students must think critically and creatively. The best treat of all is that your students will be challenged in multiple ways.  

Treat #6: Children love it.

If you love this activity, you can use it throughout the year.  These are the versions available:

A Presidents' Day Treat

For today's February Freebie, I am offering my newest product, Destination: Imagination via Creative Thinking Vol. 2.

These 18 activities allow students to share projects and ideas with a purpose. They are a wonderful home-school connection that directs eager parents to work with their children in a constructive manner. An eclectic collection of activities developed for use in gifted and talented classrooms, the goal is to promote the 4 traits of gifted children: fluency, flexibility, elaboration and originality. But really, what child wouldn't benefit from working on those aspects? I have found the project works very well with heterogeneous groups and have successfully used it with 1st - 5th graders.

The activities are structured to be used in 1 week intervals: assignment sheets go home with a due date; products are shared one week later. Included are copy ready assignment sheets, notes to the teacher, and participation certificates. Some are designed to be used seasonally; others are appropriate to any time of the year.

If you haven't tried Destination: Imagination via Creative Thinking Vol. 1, be sure to take a look.  These activities are extremely popular with parents and, of course, children.  Try them, I think you'll like them.

Freebie February

Remember that this product is FREE for just 1 day.  Grab it while you can.

In this product, there are 16 rules for dividing words into syllables. Each rule is clearly stated on a full sheet bearing colorful, pirate  graphics. An example word is provided for each rule and those words are all thematically related.  

This product is aligned to the CCSS.  Did you know that EVERY elementary grade level has one or more standards associated with syllabication?

Other syllabication products you may like:

 

A Valentine for the Teacher

Happy Valentines' Day, teachers!  You made it through the week, so sit back and relax on this sweet Saturday.

Here's your Freebie February product for today:

It's only free for 1 day, so don't delay.  Get it here.

You may also like these poetry products:

 

Friday the 13th and Freebie February

Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13. It's been referred to as a phobia since the ancient Babylonians, at least 1000 years B.C. When 13 falls on Friday, it is believed to be a double whammy called paraskevidekatriaphobia.  But there's nothing unlucky about Friday the 13th during Freebie February.  In fact, it's your lucky day because today's offering is Be a Math Magician.

This unit is packed full of fun, but challenging, magician's math tricks. 

It's only free for today, so don't hesitate.

Have a great weekend.  You've earned it.

Other critical and creative thinking products:

Freebie February - Day 12

It's day 12 of Freebie February.  Today you can get Follow the Clues to the Mystery Number absolutely FREE!

Enjoy!

You may like these math centers, too: