Fall into Math
As you all know, I teach sixth grade in a middle school but I have an elementary school mentality when it comes to the holidays. I love being able to create activities to celebrate holidays with my students. Before doing any holiday activity, I always have my students take a holiday survey, so I know which holidays they celebrate and if they would be willing to celebrate holidays that they don’t recognize.
Voice, Choice, and Being Comfortable
Most of the time students are very open to participating in holiday activities, but occasionally you have students who, for whatever reason, are not. Have a conversation with those students. Explain what you plan to do and see whether they would like to participate or not. If they choose not to participate, give them options. For instance, prior to doing my Haunted House QR Code Activity, I had a conversation with a student who doesn’t celebrate Halloween. The student expressed not wanting to participate so we chatted about other options; what that student could do instead. Together, we decided that the student would complete the same problems, but I removed the Halloween element. This student was given options as to where to complete the assignment and chose to complete it in the library. Bottom line- give your students a voice, choice, and make them feel comfortable!
Favorite Fall Activities
Below are my favorite fall activities that help students love math and celebrate the season:
Autumn Candy Mix Statistics
The Autumn Mix Candy Statistics Activity is a fun and festive way to celebrate fall or Halloween while practicing math skills. Students (or a group of students) will receive a bag of Brach’s Autumn Mix Candy or a certain amount if you purchase bags. Students can enjoy their treat while doing math (after step one is finished)! Students will record the number of Brach’s Autumn Mix Candy per type, and then identify the fraction, decimal, and percent each type represents of the total. Students will then analyze the data by finding the mean, median, mode, range, and mean absolute deviation. Students will create a Pictograph and a Bar graph or Histogram. Finally, students will use the statistical analysis and graphs to draw conclusions and make predictions about the data, using evidence to support their claims.
Candy Corn Math
I have a few candy corn math activities in my TPT store; Dividing Fractions Candy Corn Activity, One-Step Equations Candy Corn Activity, and Two-Step Equations Candy Corn Activity. Whether you practice dividing fractions or solving one or two-step equations, these candy corn activities make for a festive display as a banner or bulletin board.
Haunted House Ratios and Rates QR Code Activity
The Haunted House Ratios and Rates QR Code Activity is the perfect way to engage students with learning, technology, group work, and a mini room transformation for fall/Halloween should you choose to decorate. Students will solve the problem and record work on the recording sheet. Using the camera on the device (cell phone, laptop, iPad, etc.), students will scan the QR code card near their answer that will alert them whether they are correct or not. If their answer is correct, I let students pick a treat from the treat basket (candy, pencils, erasers, stickers, etc.). If their answer is incorrect, students need to fix and then do a trick. My kids wanted to get the answers wrong just to do the tricks! Students loved wrapping themselves like mummies, balancing pumpkins on their heads, talking like Dracula, performing zombie sit-ups, riding a witch’s broom, walking like Frankenstein, howling and crawling like a werewolf, etc.
Pumpkin Graphing and Candy Corn Inequalities
When I used to teach the coordinate plane in the fall, I would always bring in pumpkin candies and use them for graphing coordinates. We would practice using my graph chart paper (affiliate link here under classroom supplies). Candy corn is a great way to illustrate inequalities and/or compare numbers. I saw this idea on Instagram the other day (can’t remember who from) and thought it was awesome! Something so simple, yet so easy is sometimes all it takes to hook students! Candy obviously helps too.
Estimation Station
I typically get an estimation station up and rolling in the fall, but it can be done at any time of year. I use the estimation station as an anchor activity for when my students have finished their classwork. Fill jars with candy corn, candy pumpkins, erasers, etc. and have students guess how many items are in the jar. Bring in a pumpkin or gourd and have students guess the weight. I model making estimates for my students, explaining that estimating is a thoughtful process and emphasize the reasoning behind the estimate. Grab my estimation organizer here for free to start an estimation station in your classroom!
Concluding Thoughts
Fall festivities do not have to be complicated. Target’s Dollar Spot and the Dollar Tree are awesome stores for purchasing décor or prizes on a budget. If your students are comfortable participating in holiday activities, it is sure to increase engagement, motivation, and fall cheer! I would love to hear your favorite fall activities you use in your classroom. Comment below!
