Early Finish Activities

So in our class if you finish a class assignment early you have several options.  The first option is our weekly THINK TANK.  The Think Tank encompasses several challenge activities.  Students have all week to complete.  The first assignment is the "quizzle".  A quizzle is a word play that represents a common saying.  For example,

"Somewhere over the rainbow"











Another aspect is Mathological Liar which can be found for specific grade levels HERE
I present 1 case per week and the student analyze the "suspects" math to determine if their math is incorrect.  Whoever has incorrect math is the "liar" and therefore the criminal.  I like Mathological Liar because it has a mystery theme, but also because it has students analyze mathematical errors and work backwards.

The 3rd component of the Think Tank requires that students solve an Algebraic Reasoning problem.  

4th area: That's Baloney is a FABULOUS game that has 5 categories.  One for each subject: Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies, and Miscellaneous.  Student have to determine if the statement is TRUE or Baloney.  You can purchase HERE

Students also have Boggle- (Word and Equation)  Their goal is to find has many words and accurate equation in the random make up of letters and numbers.

Here are two more items I have added to the EARLY Finish opportunities.

Brain Builders (Purchase HERE) This is my FAVORITE new activity because it requires students to build 3 dimensional objects for 2 dimensional views.  Students use top view, side view and front view to construct an object.  This is rooted in STEM with engineering and problem solving.

Speaking of using critical thinking and applying 2-D plans to 3-D objects, I purchased this book over the weekend.

Origami incorporates so many different curriculum areas, but specifically math with shapes, nets, translations, flips, etc.  We already have several students utilizing this book during indoor recess!

One of my goals is to provide engaging and beneficial actives for early finishing student!

Band-Aid lesson

Have you ever heard of the band-aid lesson?  Well today 60 of my students got to experience the band-aid lesson.    I provided each student with a post-it note and asked them to write an example of an injury that could possibly occur on the playground.  They did these silently so that they did not influence their classmates.  They came up with some very interesting and scary possibilities for injuries.  We even had a snake bite!  Once the students recorded their injury I called the students up by their number not their name and had them show me their post-it (with injury).  I review then injury, sometimes responded, and then placed a band-aid on their right hand.  No matter the injury or the student, they always received a band-aid on their right hand.  I ask the students to tell me what they noticed.  Several students responded that they were injured on their foot or their shoulder, but I placed a band-aid on their hand and that would really help their injury.  One student even pointed out that I called them up by number and that I didn't use their name, which made them feel like I didn't really care about them or their injury.  Needless to say, we had a great discussion about how everyone has different needs or injuries and that using a "fraction" band-aid may not help someone who has a "decimal" injury.  The students were very insightful and I am proud of their responses.  I truly have some great young men and ladies.