Summing up school: these end-of-year games review essential math concepts—as well as how much fun you've had as a class this year!

Instructor, May-June, 2007 by Susan Dillon

ADDING AWAY

MATH CONCEPTS: Addition, subtraction

WHAT TO DO: The end of the school year means throwing away and storing supplies for next year's students. Make a chart of the supplies as you organize them for storage--such as 10 books, 50 pencils, and 15 glue sticks--and add these items in one column (in this case, 75). Then add up what's going in the garbage, like 100 sheets of scrap paper and 25 dull crayons (125). As a class, compare the two columns. Are you getting rid of more than you're keeping? Does the new class need new supplies?

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THE BIG MEASURE

MATH CONCEPTS: Measurement, addition

WHAT TO DO: As a special keepsake, create a book based on the math facts of the entire class. For starters, add up everyone's height. Write the final total on a left-hand page, then list everyone's height on the right-hand page. On following pages, let students choose other things to measure. Some ideas: everyone's pet (or favorite stuffed animal), length of hair, favorite book, etc. The last page can be a long sheet of paper with everyone's signature written from one side to the other. First, estimate how long each signature will measure and how long the sheet will have to be.

ESTIMATION PARTY

MATH CONCEPTS: Estimation, counting

WHAT TO DO: Give your end-of-year party an estimation theme. Put all the snacks, such as individually wrapped snack bags, bunches of grapes, mini juice boxes, and more in large clear containers. First, review how to estimate considering length, height, and width. Then let students estimate the number of snacks in each container. Empty and count together, then determine whose estimate was closest. The best guesser can dig in first!

SUMMER READING MATH

MATH CONCEPT: Rounding

WHAT TO DO: Reinforce the concept of rounding during your discussion of summertime reading plans. As a class, choose and record books to read this summer. Then have some fun estimating and rounding the total number of pages, number of sentences, number of words and even number of letters the class will read. Once you get the estimated total, break it down some more: How many words/sentences/pages would that be per day?

ODDBALL

MATH CONCEPTS: Evens and odds

WHAT TO DO: For a classroom break or party activity, play Oddball. All you need is a soft ball--even a crumpled piece of paper will do in a pinch. Gather together in a circle and give one student the ball. Then call out the "oddball" number--a single-digit odd number, such as five. Start passing the ball from student to student, counting up by ones. When a student gets the ball on an oddball number (a number ending in your your starting number, such as five, 15, or 25), he or she needs to pass the ball in the opposite direction. Keep counting up and switching directions with the oddball number. Periodically call out a new oddball number and keep going.

TIME FLIES

MATH CONCEPTS: Time, addition

WHAT TO DO: Make a list of all the activities the class did this year--such as 30 minutes of gym three days a week and five minutes of walking to lunch every day. Compile a list equal to the number of students in the class--for instance, 20 items if 20 students are in your class. Then challenge kids to choose one of the activities and add up the time spent doing it all year long. Have them write and illustrate the sums. Post the sums on a bulletin board with a "Time Flies" heading and butterflies surrounding the borders.

WHAT'S ONLINE THIS SUMMER

More Great Grad Ideas

Celebration songs and games.

teacher.scholastic.com/K

Picture-Perfect Tips

Don't miss our fresh reading and writing activities using photography.

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