Fast Finishers

This Fast Finishers measurement project focuses on calculating area through designing a posh pet retreat, with two picky owners that have very specific needs for their new business. Students will design floor plans that incorporate all of the demands. This project is designed for advanced students who might need a project to work on when they finish their classroom work early—with little to no instruction needed from the teacher. Included are four extension ideas to do after students finish

Your primary students will love dreaming, researching, and creating their very own zoo! Usable by a full class or small group, this project has students researching a zoo animal of their choice, calculating food costs, recording habitat needs, and more! As the final activity for this project, students should be directed to either draw or build their zoo exhibit, making sure to include a short essay about the important information they found such as habitat, diet, and cost. I also had my stu

Use this editable supplement to Scott Foresman's "Turtle's Race with Beaver"! Students break into groups and become the attorneys for Turtle and Beaver, each coming up with a list of demands. Together, the groups compromise to come up with a mutually beneficial plan for living together in harmony. My students had so much fun becoming lawyers and doing this activity! I hope you like it, too.

Using characters from Disney Pixar's "Inside Out", this table creates a visual display to help teachers understand what often goes through the minds of gifted students. Important to share with your colleagues is that not every gifted child is the same, which is why they may notice on the table that some kids are excited about their giftedness and want to share it, while others feel almost embarrassed, and don't want anyone to know. I hope you find this useful as you advocate for GT student

Here's a quick handout for students working on the Fibonacci Sequence. Students use their prior knowledge of the Sequence to determine salary at a new job, and make decisions based on different scenarios. Which salary will they choose depends on what they discover!

This fun I Have, Who Has takes a new spin on the familiar game. Rather than going one number at a time, this version asks students to skip count a short series (three numbers at a time), then ask their peers "Who has the next three numbers?" There are 18 cards, enough for each child in a SAGE (small class size) classroom to have at least one card. This could also be used in a small group setting. If you like this style but need more cards, I would be happy to make one for you that goes hig

Need a project for your fast finishers? Send them to Mr. Tiddlebug, who is an elderly gentleman looking to build a retirement home for himself and his dog. This project focuses on area on a smaller scale, and lasts only a couple of days, depending on how much time students have to work. Extend the activity by having students actually build their house plans! Students will need graph paper to complete this project. They may also need a computer, if they wish to print out pictures of furnit

Get your students EXCITED about reading with Reading Bingo! Students read their way to a Bingo, and earn fun prizes such as "Eat lunch with the principal" "Bring a stuffed animal to school" and more! All you need to do is PRINT and PASS OUT-- little to no prep is needed. The prize cards do need to be cut out and laminated before use. Different reading genres and authors are featured as well as series such as Magic Tree House and Percy Jackson.

Roll the dice and use just the right operations to reach the target number! Get a partner or small group and roll three dice. Using each number you roll only once, try to create the target number using addition or subtraction operations. You can use both operations or just a certain type-- whatever gets you to your target number. You might not necessarily be able to reach the target on your first try-- but try to do so in fewer rolls than your partner(s)! Each “hole” has a certain number fo

Students will write a journal entry from the viewpoint of either the Three Little Pigs or the Big Bad Wolf. This was a fun activity for my first grade GATE students!