Math Races
Put math word problems on index cards. Split your class into teams of four. Take your class outside to the football field. Have each team of four split into twos so that two students stand lined up 30 yards across from the other two students in their team. Hand out an index card to each pair closest to you. On your "Go!" students race to their teammates with the question in-hand. As a group, the teams of four will work together to answer the word problem. As soon as a team has the answer, the second pair run the answer back to you. The first team back to you with the correct answer gets a point. Repeat!
Modify this activity by having students do lunges, skipping, or crab walks instead of running back and forth.
Reading Races
Similar to the game above, hand out short reading comprehension stories instead of a math problem. We suggest using our Specific Skill Builders--these short, high-interest stories are captivating and can be grouped by reading level. Plus the questions are already done for you. Have each team of four split into twos so that two students stand lined up 30 yards across from the other two students in their team. Hand out a story card to each pair closest to you. On your "Go!" students race to their teammates with the story and question in-hand. One student on each team should take a turn reading the story out loud to the group. As a group, the teams of four will work together to answer the comprehension question. As soon as a team has the answer, the second pair runs the answer back to you. The first team back to you with the correct answer gets a point. Repeat!
Multiple Choice Hula Hoops
This activity is another great one for outdoors. You'll need three different color hula hoops. Spread them out as far apart as you can, standing at least 20 yards away from them. Have students work in groups or line up to answer multiple choice questions signified by the color of a hula hoop. For example: Who is main character in Holes? Green: Squid; Red: Stanley; or Blue: X-Ray. Have students answer by running to the appropriate hula hoop. You could ask three students the same question and have them race to the correct answer. The first person inside the correct hula hoop gets a point.
Spelling Hop Scotch
Using sidewalk chalk, draw a hop scotch board on the ground with letters in each box. Have students answer spelling questions by hopping their way to the correct letters. As they land on each letter of the word, have them say the letter out loud. Tip: put the most commonly used letter the farthest away.
Measurement Jumps
Use yard sticks or masking tape to mark the measurements on the ground. Have students stand at one end and jump as far as they can. Have each student record his/her distance. Students can graph this information out to compare their distances with other students. Or they can jump multiple times to compare their best jumps to find their mean/mode/median.
Turn your language arts or math lesson into a fun, interactive activity with these fun games! Hand out all 37 cards (some players may get more than one card). The student whose card reads, "I have the first card. Who has...?" begins. Have that student stand and/or run to the front of the classroom. The student whose card has the answer to that question stands and/or runs to the front of the classroom to respond with the answer. He/she then asks the next question. This continues until the person with the last card gives the final answer and then reads, "This is the end of the game!"
Math Beach Balls
Take your math class to the beach (or just go outside and pretend you're at the beach). Get a beach ball from the dollar store. With a permanent marker right several grade appropriate math equations all over the ball. Have the entire class stand in a circle and toss your math beach ball around. As a student catches the ball, they answer the problem under their left thumb. To add more spontaneity to the game, play "hot potato" with the beach ball. Toss the ball back and forth with a time limit. When the timer goes off the person caught holding the ball, answers a question.
Too cold to go outside?
Try these indoor math activities that will have students moving and shaking while they learn!