My Personal Favorites
Over the years I have accumulated lessons that I loved and couldn’t wait to teach to my new incoming 7th Graders. I looked forward to bringing out the yellow and red integer chips to let students have fun moving them around their desktop, as they learned to add integers. Number Tiles were also a favorite as we began our unit on Algebra. I had several games students could play with their number tiles, some in competition with others, and some in competition with themselves. Students filled out their own multiplication charts specially designed for positive and negative numbers.
But my absolute favorite was my end of the year project on Algebraic Equations. With testing done, we could relax and have fun. I allowed my students to choose their own partners and they each received a special packet of activities. As they completed algebraic equations with their partner, they earned plane tickets to different destinations around the world. They followed their progress on a map, did research on their city, sent postcards home, and created a passport with stamps they created for each city they visited. I always looked forward to this project, because the kids loved it so much.
Moving Lessons Online
This past summer, as I looked toward the coming 20/21 school year, I realized that I might not be able to teach these favorites for quite some time. Yet, I was not to be deterred. As I became more proficient at creating digital lessons, I decided to tackle my favorite project. It is now digital. It’s a bit different, but I can’t wait to try it out.
In my digital version, Students complete math problems relating to algebra, decimals, percentages, and fractions. As they successfully complete their assignments, they earn a chance to compete in the Summer Olympics. They earn bus, plane, and train tickets to different destinations around the world. Students choose their Olympic event and write a blog about each Olympic Trial they compete in. Digital skills are practiced as they insert pictures into their photo album, and keep a travel log. I added clip art showing kangaroos in Australia, sushi and bonsai trees in Japan, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. This project took several months as I carefully linked slides, guiding students to their next activity. I’m hoping it will be my new favorite!
I’ve also created red and yellow digital chips that students can move around their computer screen to add integers, and created number chips for my algebra, perimeter and area, and fractions lessons. I have digital models to help students divide fractions, and a digital multiplication table for those positive and negative numbers. There really is no limit to what we can create to engage our students. I now have NEW favorites! (See these projects in my Featured Items.)
What do YOU need?
Do you have a favorite lesson you can no longer teach? Please let me know what it is and give me the details! I’ll create it for you. It will give me a new product to put in my store and will give you your favorites back!