Addition and Subtraction Fact Fluency Games

I always love and look forward to the beginning of fall, especially when the new school year is all settled in.

Rules and procedures are implemented, and the days are going smoothly.  Cool crisp mornings, thoughts of apples, pumpkins, falling leaves, bonfires, and hayrides are the excitement in the air.  It’s one of my favorite times of the year in and out of the classroom.

The “testing season” isn’t upon us yet, and we can really dig our feet in to learning.  I especially love using games in the classroom.  As students practice fluency facts for addition and subtraction or multiplication and division, the more ways I can make it fun, the more my students love it.  I’ve always been of the philosophy that if it’s called a “game”, students are suddenly all about it!

First, second, and third graders all need practice with addition and subtraction fluency.  These games will help boost those skills.

I’ve made these games with both Halloween and autumn themes.  The games are exactly the same.  The only things that change are the clip art.  I have a set of these same games for five games of addition and five games of subtraction for students working on fluency facts to twenty.  I also have the same games for multiplication and division facts 0-12.  Laminate all of the games for durability before using.

Four different boards can be used to play tic-tac-toe.  Students can use dry-erase markers or small manipulatives to cover the squares.

My students love this game!  This games can be played with 2-4 players.  The object of the game is to be the first to build a complete scarecrow by adding two numbers correctly and then spinning for a piece of the scarecrow.

Students will move around the game board as they answer subtraction problems.

For this game, each student will use a different color of marker.  As the students answer the subtraction problems, they will then cover the leaves with the same number.  The student with the most leaves covered is the winner.

Who doesn't love a simple game of memory?  Students will play a memory game to find the matching equations and differences.

Two game boards are included for two players to play against each other, or this game can be played to see which dice wins.  Roll, solve, and cover.

 My students love playing BUMP all year long!!

 Students will race to solve the addition problems and escape from the spider's web.

The student will spin the two spinners, solve the addition problem, and make a line between two dots.  When a square has been made, the student will add his or her initials. The winner is the person with the most boxes at the end of the game.

Students will take turns drawing addition problems and solving them.  If a "Rotten Apple" card is drawn, the student must return his or her apples.  The person with the most cards at the end of the game is the winner.

Add games to your classroom for centers, early finishers, indoor recess (I hope you don’t have too many of those in the fall), remediation, enrichment, and more.  Your students will be engaged and love learning.

Click on the pictures below to see these games in my TpT store.

Fall Addition and Subtraction

Halloween Multiplication and Division

Fall Multiplication and Division

Fun and games, that’s just…

My Kind of Teaching.

See you soon,

Morning Tubs for 2nd and 3rd Grades for September

Morning tubs in second and third grades can be such a fun and stress-free start to your morning routine.  If you missed out on using them in August, that's okay.  September is a great time to get started using them in your classroom!  Your students will be excited and engaged with learning each and every morning.

Can you believe that the month of August is almost over and that September is looming on the horizon?  Whether you have been back in school for a couple of weeks or you are getting ready to return, August always seems to be a stressful month.  Using morning tubs in the classroom helps to begin each morning with a positive vibe in the classroom, which also helps with that stress.  

When I first started developing these morning tubs, I knew they needed to be easy to implement, use things already found in the classroom, and be super easy and fast to prep.  Each activity involves only printing and laminating, as well as simple lines for cutting.  They can easily be prepped with your feet propped up as you watch your favorite Netflix show!

Nine Tubs for ELA

There is very little difference in the morning tubs for 2nd and 3rd grades for ELA.  

Tub #1 - Antonyms and Synonyms  

Just add clothespins!

 Tub #2 - Noun, Adjective, or Verb?  

Students love poke cards!

Tub #3 - Digraphs  

Just add clothespins!

Tub #4 - Narrative Writing  

Eight interesting pictures will get your students writing.

Tub #5 - Compound Words  

This is a memory game. 

Tub #6 - Sight Word Game

The words are different for the two grades.  The second grade tub has sight words for second grade, and the third grade tub has sight words for third grade.

Tub #7 - Plural Nouns Sort  

Tub #8 - Sentence Punctuation

Students love having a reason to use play dough!

Tub #9 - Make a List

This is a fun form of writing!  Students are offered many ideas for making lists.

Nine Tubs for Math

The differences in the two units are evident in the math activities.

 Tub #1 - Make a Pattern (same for 2nd and 3rd)

There is no specification for plastic cubes, so you can add anything you have in your classroom with the colors for students to use to make patterns.

Tub #2 - Build the Shape (same for 2nd and 3rd)

Magnets can be added to the backs of the popsicle sticks and used on a magnetic surface.

Tub #3 - Roll a Number 

Second graders will roll three-digit numbers and represent them with manipulatives.

Third graders will roll numbers to the thousands place and show the numbers in different ways.

Tub #4 - Number Puzzles

Students will put the puzzles together by skip counting with different number patterns.  Second graders use three-digit numbers.

Third graders will form puzzles using counting patterns within 10,000.  Adding magnets to the backs of the puzzle strips and providing a cookie sheet makes for a more engaging activity.

Tub #5 - Missing Numbers 

Students will identify the hidden numbers from a hundreds chart (second grade).

Third graders will also identify the hidden numbers for numbers in the thousands.

Tub #6 - Time

Second graders will complete the triangle puzzles for time showing the hour or half hour.

Third graders will complete the time puzzles for time to five minutes.

 Tub #7 - Inverse Operations

Second graders will play a memory matching game for the inverse operation of addition and subtraction.

Third graders will complete the same activity with the inverse operations of multiplication and division.

Tub #8 - Complete a Calendar (same for 2nd and 3rd)

Students will complete a calendar for the current month and answer the questions.

Tub #9 - Domino Fun

Second graders will play a game to practice doubles facts using dominoes.

Third graders will play a game to practice multiplication facts of a number multiplied by itself.

Four Tubs for Fine Motor

Even second and third graders need fine motor practice to hone those skills.  These activities will help.

Three Tubs for Critical Thinking

Students will complete the activity by matching the pictures on all sides.

Second graders will complete the place value logic activities with numbers in the hundreds. 

For third graders, the numbers are in the thousands.

Students will solve the riddles using the key cards.

I hope these pictures show you that there can be a place for these in both second and third grades.  Morning tubs are certainly not only for the smallest learners.

These tubs can be found by the month or in a bundle in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  Click on the picture below if you are interested.

Would you love even more tubs?  You can get a set free when you sign up for my emails.  Click on the picture below.

I hope you enjoyed this look into my September morning tubs.  Fun and learning go hand in hand in my book.  That's just...

My Kind of Teaching!