Numerous Ideas For Exciting Math Instruction
From addition and subtraction to area and perimeter and linear equations, Flocabulary has resources to bring math to life.
Read on to learn about subject-wide lesson plans, implementation suggestions and mini games, and then experience a math video.
Subject-Wide Lesson Plans
But... Why?
Knowing algorithms and being able to get the right answer in a math problem is important, but it’s equally important to know the why and how behind how you got there. This lesson focuses on the concept of "showing your work" so that students are working on their math literacy skills at same time that they are "doing math."
Everyone’s Got (Word) Problems
Word problems are a great opportunity to bring math and literacy skills together in a format that is concrete and fun. This lesson asks students to use the math skills they are learning and applying them by creating word problems for their peers to solve.
Use it in Real Life!
When math exists beyond the world of worksheets, students are able to make connections with their lives. This lesson plan provides two ways for students to connect math skills to their lives. This lesson can be used once or as an ongoing part of instruction throughout the year.
Implementation Suggestions
Schedule Recommendation
Use the math videos and additional resources at any point during the lesson sequence: to introduce new content, go in depth with a subject or review at the end of the unit. It is great for bell work or Do Nows. Our elementary math videos and associated printable exercises and activities also work well for math centers.
What did you learn last year?
Much of the beginning of the year in math can be spent reviewing what was learned last year. To start off the year, ask students to identify concepts that they learned the year before. Ask them to watch the Flocabulary videos about these concepts to review and then explain the concepts to their classmates. You could even have them complete some of the additional activities for review.
Math Facts Challenge
Flocabulary's addition, subtraction, multiplication and division videos are centered around mastery of basic math facts. Create a "Math Facts Challenge" in your classroom. Students can work on the same math facts each week or asynchronously at their own pace. Once students have achieved a certain score on each math fact number, they can move ahead to the next one. Have a visual way of keeping track of progress in the classroom.
End of Year Review
At the end of the school year, review for final exams or state tests by watching all the Flocabulary videos you covered throughout the year. The Fill in the Blanks exercise that accompanies each video is an especially good way to review key terms. You could have one long video day or show a video or two for review each day at the end of the year.
Mini Games
Students are typically far more motivated to do math work when the math problems are presented in the context of a game. Here are a few classroom-tested math games that focus on strengthening multiplication and division skills. Get playing!