I absolutely LOVE a good classroom transformation. First of all, the look on a kids face when they walk into a classroom filled with black lights or decked out like a pirate ship? Priceless! Worth the extra work 1,000 times over. But the academic gains are also note worthy. I notice a huge increase in participation, focus, and perseverance on days we have a classroom transformation. Below are a few favorite math transformations. I’ve used this rating scale to give you an idea of how much work is involved in setting up the activity:
Classroom Transformation Rating scale:
EASY: Minimal prep. Not a lot of moving parts. You may already own a lot of the items involved.
MODERATE: Medium prep. Planning in advance is recommended.
HARD: Extensive prep. Planning ahead is a must.
Space Adventure: A Place Value Activity
Classroom Transformation Level of Difficulty: MODERATE
Click this link for Space Adventure Materials
This space themed activity provides the perfect opportunity to decorate the classroom in a space theme! Dimmed lighting, black lights and space music are encouraged :)
In this activity, students will take on the identity of a space agent hired by the Department of Space and Extraterrestrial Life. Troubling signals have been received from the Skylab Space Station and Mission X852 is on a quest to discover the issue. On the way, agents will encounter connection errors, alien forces, and more!
Students will work in small groups to solve general place value questions (up to thousand or hundred million depending on grade level), add whole numbers, and solve word problems.
Pirate Quest: A Coordinate Grid Treasure Hunt
Classroom Transformation Level of Difficulty: HARD
Click this link for Pirate Quest materials
Pirate’s Quest is a classroom transformation that I create in my classroom as a review of coordinate planes and ordered pairs. I transform the classroom by hanging ship sails (white bed sheets that have coordinate planes drawn on them with sharpies) from the ceiling and decorating the classroom with pirate paraphernalia. I get the students excited a day in advance by sending them home with entrance tickets that they must present before entering the pirates cove the next morning. On the day of, I give each student an eye patch and play pirate themed music in the background. Students battle it out to be the first team to find the buried treasure!
Fishing for Decimals
Classroom Transformation Level of Difficulty: EASY
Click this link for Fishing for Decimals materials
One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish! Pair these decimal task cards with a fishing themed classroom transformation. For this activity, I fill a baby pool with a small amount of water and add in colored balls that are the “fish”. Students use toy fishing nets to catch for the colored "fish". For each colored "fish" they catch they must answer one question of that color.
Pro Tips for this activity:
A little water goes a long way in the baby pool. You’re setting the mood and adding a little excitement you definitely don’t want to flood the classroom!
Always refer to the colored balls as “fish” unless you want all the boys in your class to absolutely lose their minds.
If you have time, I recommend laminating the task cards since water is involved.
Magic Math Potions
Classroom Transformation Level of Difficulty: MODERATE
Click this link for Magic Math Potions (order of operations)
Click this link for Magic Math Potions (subtraction)
Click this link for Magic Math Potions (variables)
Channel your inner Potion Master and keep students engaged in learning around Halloween with this magical math potion-making activity. Students will create a potion and *magically* conceal the potion recipe amounts using order of operations, subtraction, or variables. Groups will swap recipes and solve the math to successfully create another group's potion!
Order of OPERATIONS
Classroom Transformation Level of Difficulty: MODERATE
Click this link for Order of Operations materials
Teach the order of operations (PEMDAS) in a unique and engaging way! Every year, I decorate the classroom like a hospital room as a play on the word "operation" and tell the students we are heading into surgery! To save the patient, students must solve the expressions on their task cards and partner the cards up with their matches.
Do you love classroom transformations, too? Have you tried any of these? Let me know below in the comments!