Thinking Thoroughly in Third

After reading "Those Darn Squirrels" by Adam Rubin, use these challenge cards to get your students thinking creatively and solving problems. These challenges are designed to be completed at home (if you have virtual learners) or at school.

This is a fun, quick, and easy winter STEM challenge. I like to do at soon after returning from winter break. You can do it just for fun or incorporated lots of science from matter to force & motion!

Use this fun, interactive slideshow to review perimeter, 3-digit subtraction, area, multiplication/division, input/output tables, and comparing fractions. Students can solve problems independently or in groups and will act out their answer choices.

Use these fun, interactive slideshows to review everything from 3-digit addition/subtraction, perimeter, and place value to multiplication/division, area, and input/output tables. Students can solve problems independently or in groups and will act out their answer choices!

These are great challenges to do before Spring Break or at the end of the year (or even at the start of the year)! They can each be done in 1-2 days. They are designed for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders but could easily be adapted for older or younger grades by changing the read-aloud or adding/removing some criteria or constraints.

Each slide can be a great addition to science discourse time or used when you have a couple of minutes to fill. They are great for critical thinking and reviewing properties of matter. There are always many right answers and reasons for those answers. They are a great way to get students thinking and using vocabulary!

Each slide can be a great addition to number talks or used when you have a couple of minutes to fill. They are great for critical thinking and reviewing a variety of math concepts. There are always many right answers and reasons for those answers. They are a great way to promote discourse in the math classroom!

6 full weeks of problem solving! Use these slides for a daily problem solving task. These are great ways to warm up and stretch their brains, which is why they are called a "Math Stretch".

6 full weeks of problem solving! Use these slides for a daily problem solving task. These are great ways to warm up and stretch their brains, which is why they are called a "Math Stretch".

6 full weeks of problem solving! Use these slides for a daily problem solving task. These are great ways to warm up and stretch their brains, which is why they are called a "Math Stretch".

6 full weeks of problem solving! Use these slides for a daily problem solving task. These are great ways to warm up and stretch their brains, which is why they are called a "Math Stretch".

This is a great challenge to do when learning about sound energy! It can be done in 1-2 days. It is designed for 2nd graders but could easily be adapted for older or younger grades by changing the read-aloud or adding/removing some criteria or constraints.

This is a great challenge to do before Spring Break or at the end of the year (or even at the start of the year)! It can be done in 1-2 days. It is designed for 5th graders but could easily be adapted for younger grades by changing the read-aloud or removing some criteria or constraints.

These are great challenges to do before Spring Break or at the end of the year (or even at the start of the year)! They can each be done in 1-2 days. They are designed for 1st and 2nd graders but could easily be adapted for older or younger grades by changing the read-aloud or adding/removing some criteria or constraints.

This is a quick and easy STEM challenge. It's great to use when you need a sub, or if you just have a few extra minutes. It's also a great team-building activity for the beginning of the school year!

Print a bunch of these at the beginning of each unit of study. Pass them out with independent work multiple times throughout the unit so that students can keep track of where they are in regards to their goals.  When they think they have mastered a goal, and they are able to demonstrate that mastery, they set a new goal!

Use this fun, interactive slideshow to review perimeter, 3-digit subtraction, 3-digit addition, and place value. Students can solve problems independently or in groups and will act out their answer choices.

Use this fun, interactive slideshow to review perimeter, 3-digit addition/subtraction, and input/output tables. Students can solve problems independently or in groups and will act out their answer choice.

This is a fun beginning (or end) of year STEM challenge. Students will use the engineering process to design and build a model of a tent that will solve problems for someone who hates camping.

Do this STEM Challenge to get students to apply what they know about force, motion, gravity, and work. There is even a recording sheet students can use to practice claims, evidence, and reasoning statements!