Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Teacher Tuesday: Guess Me Maybe Edition

I've committed to writing my Teacher Tuesday posts more often and today I'm excited to share a really quick and fun game that I played with my Pre-Algebra classes when we were talking about integers and rational numbers.



I went around and taped a number on each of the kids backs.  They ranged from -1,000,000 all the way to about 200,000.   The kids had to walk around the room and ask each other questions about their numbers.  They had to ask yes or no questions (i.e. "Is my number greater than zero") and the catch was that when the person answered they could only use the word "maybe" and they had to insinuate yes or no with their body language, inflection of their voice or gestures :)  

 
The best part was that I played this video on my SmartBoard while they worked their way around the room and they asked and answered the questions.  When the song was over they all sat down and we went around the room and saw if they had figured out their number.


Hence, the name of the activity, "Here's My Number, Guess Me Maybe"

After my first period class I wised up and played the video one time first while they were all seated so they could watch it and then played it again while they asked/answered.  My first class wanted to watch instead of ask/answer the questions :)

This could easily be adapted to different grade levels (only positives, only negatives, decimals, etc.) and I'm planning on using it again with fractions when my Math 7 classes.  

It got everyone up out of their seats, talking to each other, having fun and they really enjoyed the video.  And in the meantime, they were having to use their critical thinking, deductive reasoning and problems solving skills.

And of course, the video spurred the yearly conversation about how Carly Rae Jepsen and I are secretly the same person.  I try to convince them that it's just the bangs and they stalk my IG and make side by side photos like this one.  hahaha



Next, a QR code scavenger hunt is a super easy and fun way to review material.  The one below I purchased on Teachers Pay Teachers, but they're not complicated to create if you have a few minutes. You can generate a QR code on a site like this one, and have it link to text. (For example, I would create a code and have it link to x + 4 = 9)


Kids scan the first code (on the start here card... I tape these up randomly around the room) and when they do so an equation pops up.  They have to find the card that has the answer to the equation and then scan the code on that card and so on and so on.  They love getting to use their phones, the scavenger hunt aspect keeps them engaged and they're practicing a skill or vocabulary while they're at it.  QR codes are something that they think is cool and so occasionally I'll stick one on the end of a homework page with a bonus question or instruction for the next days class.


Happy Tuesday, friends!!!  Hoping you found a fun activity to do with your classes today, and if you're not a teacher - you should totally watch the video with your kids and have a kitchen dance party ;)  

31 comments :

  1. I would be that kid that's like Mrs. McAnally, my phone is full and I don't know how to scan a qr code!!!! Maybe if I was thirteen I'd know how tho?? :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You'd totally know how... and if not Lori would be in class with you to help you with your phone. Y'all could be partners! :) hahaha

      Delete
  2. I have LOVED your teacher Tuesdays!! SO many ideas I can implement with my younger ones! They think QR codes are the best things ever

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YAY! I'm not sure if/when the QR code novelty will wear off, but until it does I'm milking it!!!

      Delete
  3. Great stuff! I'm not a teacher but these ideas can be adapted for kids of almost any age. I appreciate your blog because despite your busy life, you write quality posts worth reading! Thanks so much!!!

    By the way, Carly Rae totally copied your look!! Haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mary! I try my hardest to put out posts that I would enjoy reading and that I'd feel were worth my time to read, so I appreciate the comment! And yes.... I think she did as well :)

      Delete
  4. What a fun game!! sounds like so much fun!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Andrea...I'm not a teacher...but now I want to be one just to do stuff like this :). Either that or I want to be one of your middle school students...

    ReplyDelete
  6. LOVE both the ideas!!! I teach fifth grade and all my kids get iPads this year. How cool to do a QR code activity.

    ReplyDelete
  7. "Here's my number, guess me maybe" is absolutely adorable! I will definitely be using this is my seventh grade classes. Thank you for sharing! I just adore you! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awwwww! Thanks, Kristen!!! Let me know how it goes with your classes!

      Delete
  8. I'm with your students. I'm not convinced. Next time we're together I'm going to have you sing a couple of bars. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ummmmmmm....... no. :) It would take about 2 bars for you to realize I'm not a singer. At all. ;)

      Delete
  9. If I had a math teacher like you, way back, I would have maybe ENJOYED MATH. :) great job. I appreciate all the time you put into your students to make learning fun.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Fun ideas but what if a kid doesn't have a smart phone? We're trying to hold off as long as possible because we just don't see the necessity yet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I let them partner up or get in a group of three if they don't have one. I let parents know ahead of time that we'll be using them and so some of them will bring their iPads or other devices into class that day. Our student printing system at school actually requires a QR code to be scanned in order for them to print so most days most of the kids have their devices.

      Delete
  11. Love the enthusiasm you give to your math classes. I agree with the above poster, if I had a teacher like you in 7th grade maybe I wouldn't have the math phobia I have now. Well done, Andrea!;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh no!!! I hate to hear that you have a math phobia ;( I would have LOVED to have you in my class!

      Delete
  12. You have to be the coolest teacher! I would absolutely beg to have my kids in your class each year if we were at your school!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great ideas - you are so very creative and your students will reap the benefits of that for years to come!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I try my best to sneak in practice in creative ways :) I hope they remember having fun!

      Delete
  14. These are great ideas! I teach 12th grade Literature, but I think I can incorporate some of these ideas in my classroom. I could use the video activity for a review for their vocabulary words and the QR code for something similar as well. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so glad you're going to be able to use them. Let me know how it goes!

      Delete
  15. Those QR code cards are pretty cool! My son loves technology (surprise), so maybe this could get him more excited about multiplication and division. Thanks for sharing. Oh, and yeah, you do look like Carly Rae Jepsen. =)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love these Teacher Tuesday posts and thank you for them. You inspire me. Last year, reading your posts and being influenced by you across the miles is what gave me the strength to go back into the classroom. Like you, I am a busy mom and I had to leave my teaching position in March due to a move across the state with my family. My husband gave me an "out", telling me I didn't have to go back into the classroom, that I could find something else to do. Although, ultimately, I'd love to be in a private education system like you are, I did find a "perfect" job with the local schools in our new county. He was very skeptical about me going back because I have had, in the past, such a hard time "balancing it all". I see that you do it, and knew that i could too. (I wish I could find time to blog like you do too!!) Anyway, if I was still in the class room with older kids, I would do this is a second -- maybe by the end of the year my 4th and 5th graders might be up for something like this :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I am not a teacher however I absolutely loved this and I think you have awesome ideas. You make math and school SO MUCH FUN! I am an accountant/prepare taxes and I so wish I would have had a teacher like you in any subject! You students are so lucky to have you!

    ReplyDelete

Blog design by Get Polished | Copyright 2016