SamizdatMath

FACT: Students need more practice solving subtraction problems. FACT: This collection has lots of subtraction problems. FACT: Not all subtraction problems are the same: some are "take away," some are "let's compare one with another," some are "I have something and took away this, now I have this...." This is a collection of over 200 different "BIG Busy Bee Hive" puzzles where students practice subtraction in a context that is fun and thoughtful. That is, yes, they get lots of opportunities to do

Description FACT: Students need more practice solving subtraction problems. FACT: This collection has lots of subtraction problems. FACT: Not all subtraction problems are the same: some are "take away," some are "let's compare one with another," some are "I have something and took away this, now I have this...." This is a collection of over 200 different "Busy Bee Hive" puzzles where students practice subtraction in a context that is fun and thoughtful. That is, yes, they get lots of opportuniti

This is a set of 90 puzzles (30 at each level) of "Square Knot" Puzzles focused on practicing problems solving for early learners (1st - 3rd grade) using addition and subtraction. Why you should try these: One of the things that we should be emphasizing from the very earliest of ages is mathematics as problem solving. This is more than writing a bunch of word problems: problem solving is about using various techniques for finding the correct answer. In this set of puzzles, students have to arran

This is a set of 60 puzzles (20 at each level) of "Square Knot" Puzzles focused on practicing problems solving for early learners (K - 2nd grade) using addition. Why you should try these: One of the things that we should be emphasizing from the very earliest of ages is mathematics as problem solving. This is more than writing a bunch of word problems: problem solving is about using various techniques for finding the correct answer. In this set of puzzles, students have to arrange four numbers so

This "product" is an exercise in the form of a "lightly" competitive game that uses addition and subtraction on the number line (which was invented in 1685 by the mathematician John Wallis) that students can play in any number of configurations (pairs, triplets, etc.) and in any number of ways (rolling a single die, rolling 2 dice, using the numbers individually or in combination, etc.) There are versions that use 3, 4, 5 and 6 rolls. There is a number line under each game for your students prac

Are you sick and tired of drilling & killing your kids on the combinations of 10 and just saying, "okay, there's nothing fun about this, so let's just move on." Sorry, I've got to call BS on that. Because learning combinations of 10 is also an opportunity for your students to do some problem solving, do some algebraic thinking, as well as make many, many mistakes. These are NOT worksheets! They are puzzles and are designed to be "hands on" and "manipulative." That is, your students will work w

I know you've been holding your breaths for something to come out of the SamizdatMath laboratories, and here it is: The Fishy Addend Game! This is a "gameified" version of this activity, and I think it really rocks, for many, many reasons! a) It get players thinking "beyond the algorithm" - to fill up their tanks, they have to estimate, round off and strategize! B) It is adaptable to many levels of players: using the templates, you can make versions that are as challenging or as supported as

One of the chief critiques I have heard about math instruction is that our students know all about how to do a procedure; they just don’t know when it applies. This is an activity that tries to correct this by having students cut out 15 different number strings of 3, 4 and 5 numbers (all single digits), and then “classify” them into one of three groups: “make 10,” “doubles” and “doubles + 1” (also known as near doubles.”) They then paste them into the chart and solve them using the strategy th

This is a collection of 95, yes, you heard it correctly, 95 different "equation search" puzzles that target different kinds of computational strategies. There are actually 15 or so different puzzle types, with 6 different iterations (that is, same puzzle with different numbers.) So if your students need additional practice, you can have them do more of them. Actually, I've automated all these puzzles to generate random numbers, but that' another matter. For example, there is a search sheet where

This is a collection of 40 different hexagonal subtraction/additional/logic puzzle cards (hence, the title above.) It includes a solution recording sheet, so your students can do them in any order they want. These would be best used for advanced first graders (who want to tackle double digit addition), 2nd graders who are practicing single and double digit subtraction and addition, and assessing and remediating 3rd graders and above. What's nice about these puzzles is that they are "threefers" -

This is a collection of 40 different hexagonal subtraction/additional puzzle cards (hence, the title above.) It includes a solution recording sheet, so your students can do them in any order they want. These would be best used for advanced first graders (who want to tackle double digit addition), 2nd graders who are practicing single and double digit subtraction and addition, and assessing and remediating 3rd graders and above. What's nice about these puzzles is that they are "threefers" - that

This is a collection of 40 different hexagonal additional puzzle cards (hence, the title above.) It includes a solution recording sheet, so your students can do them in any order they want. These would be best used for advanced first graders (who want to tackle double digit addition), 2nd graders who are practicing single and double digit addition, and assessing and remediating 3rd graders. There is also a "do it yourself" sheet where students can make up their own puzzles and share them with th

These are a set of 20 different "addition tower" puzzles where students place digits on 4 different addition towers to get the correct sum for each tower. This is designed for students who are just beginning to add more than two numbers together, so the first set uses only the digits 1 - 6 twice (that is, 2 1's, 2 2's, etc.) The second set of ten puzzles uses the digits 2 - 7 twice. What's good about this setup is that you can cut out a set of cards and leave them at a math station for students

10 different puzzles, from Easy Peasy to Ouch My Brain Hurts: print out the puzzles, cut out and attach to paper plates, add beans (or whatever counter you like) and set your kids loose! Develops addition and subtraction skills as they look for combinations of beans that go together to make a total between the two pans. Easy to make and store, includes instructions and solutions, as well as a recording sheet AND a "DIY" sheet so you can make more of your own. EVERYBODY NEEDS THESE IN THEIR CLA

Yep, you read it right: 100 Questions for the 100th Day of School - it's 10 pages, numbered 1 - 10, 11 - 20, yadda, yadda, yadda. The questions vary between things like estimating ("How long would it take you to draw 100 stars?" to counting ("What's the total number of tally marks? How many more would have to make to get to 100?") to complements of 100, and all sorts of interesting facts about 100 (for example, that a googol is a 1 followed by 100 zeroes....) I've used this with first through

This is a collection of 24 different puzzles that challenges your students to find the coin combinations in a piggy bank. There are 8 pages of cards, with 3 puzzles on each card, in both glorious black/grey/white and pastel colors (pink and chartreuse.) Cut out the 24 different cards, laminate and then put out for your kiddos to solve. Lower number cards are easier, higher number cards are tougher. They can solve by putting the coins into the circles printed on the cards. You can check students

These are the cutest little addition puzzles that your kids will love, love, love! Print them out, put them in math centers, use them during work time, or just hang them on the wall and admire them! Includes color and b/w/g versions, plus a DIY so you can make your own, and, of course, solutions. Complete instructions, including why finger counting them is not such a bad idea.

This is a collection of 10 different cut n' paste activities where students look at addition and subtraction problems with missing addends, subtrahends and minuends. There are 24 problems on each page. Students cut out the solutions and paste them into the missing part of the problem. Why this is awesome: 1) The equals sign has been placed on alternating sides, so that your students get practice working with equations like 6 + ? = 12, but also 12 = 7 + ?. 2) The solutions have been placed in

This is the BEST cut 'n paste activity you're ever going to use (which will be for many, many years, I'm going to bet....) Here's why: 1) EZ Cut 'n Paste Format - the answers are arranged along the two sides and can be trimmed using a minimum of cuts - most students can do the cutting in under 8 minutes. 2) Multiple Formats: You know how we always write equations as A + B = C? What do your students do when they see C = A + B? They panic! Well, no more, because there are many examples where t

This is an activity that your young ones can cut out in about 5 minutes and then paste together to form practice cards that they can use to remember their "missing addend" facts. Some innovations: • This is very, very easy for young children to cut out: the pieces are all straight sides (no curves to trim), and can be completed with a minimum of cuts. My 2nd graders cut them out in under 8 minutes. • There are 24 different problems, with a minimum of wasted paper (2 short strips and 2 small