Children can learn to interact with each other and test each other's ability in math using Math Flash Cards. Children quiz each other using math cards, which have the answers to the math problems in the back. If the child answers the problem correctly, he gets to keep the card. Whoever gets the most cards wins. The little bit of competition, the interaction and exchange between two students makes the teacher more of a moderator for this lesson, and it is a game that students enjoy. It is a fun way to reinforce math skills in addition and subtraction of double digit numbers, and for simple multiplication and division.
This is a game children love that is both reinforcing and fun. Children stand in a circle. They toss a ball one to the other in order along the circle. Start the children with a multiple to add such as two, three, four, five or six, depending on the aptitude of the students. The child with the ball starts with that number and then adds the number to itself. The student who misses the correct sequential number sits down. Continue the game until there are one, two or three winners.
Children are thrilled to learn about the universe as young children. Learning about the planets and their correct order is a science lesson that may likely be repeated in middle school. Children can create their own little planet book. Have the students take a piece of paper and fold it in half twice, so that there are four equal parts.Cut the bottom edge of the paper with scissors and staple the right edge with at least two staples. This will create a book format. Children will then have eight pages, one for each planet, to create their planet book. The book should be colored so be sure to provide crayons, colored pencils, markers or water paints.
For literacy, children can create book reports with their own covers. The book should be one that they have read, and the cover can be a replica of the actual book or one that they create from their own imagination, or both. By creating their own book covers and including essential information such as title, author and illustrator, they get a better feel for the essential elements of a book. They can also include the year, publisher and copyright information on the inside of the first page of their report. This will prepare them for future research projects which are documented with a bibliography. Creating a book cover adds an element of creativity to a reading assignment, and can also be a bridge for some students who have a talent for design or for possible future work as illustrators.