Provide math learning manipulatives to match the season. Write math problems and matching answers on apples, pumpkins, turkeys and other seasonal shapes. The children should work the problem on extra paper and match the manipulatives until all the problems and answers are paired up. You may also help children practice the concepts of number sequencing, even or odd numbers, counting by fives or other numbers or place value. Simply write the activity instructions on a seasonal shape and paper clip the shaped problems and instructions together to put into the file folder. Provide paper and pencils if the activities may require the children to work out a math problem on paper.
Laminate some numbered connect-the-dot pictures. You can create the pictures yourself to match lesson themes or age levels. Place sheet of tracing paper over a desired picture. Trace the picture, leaving out parts of the picture outline. Draw big dots to indicate where a student should draw a line to help complete the picture. Number the dots in sequence by ones, fives, tens or whatever your students can understand. Place some laminated pictures in a file folder along with a small envelope that holds an erasable crayon or marker and a paper towel for an eraser. Glue a small sample of a connect-the-dot picture to the front outside of the folder.
Glue pocket envelopes into each side of a file folder. Cut out lots of pictures of coins and dollar bills to place in one of the pockets, or use toy coins and bills. Inside the opposite pocket, place a stack of index cards with magazine picture cutouts of single items a student might like to buy. Write the cost of each item on the card beside the picture. Instruct the children to match the coins and bills to the cost of some items they would like to buy. Another idea is to place smaller envelopes of different amounts of money inside the money envelope for an "allowance." Students will pick an "allowance" envelope and then choose one or more items from the pictures they would like to have. Remind children they cannot spend more than their allowance.
Write math trivia clues, riddles and word problems on index cards. Number these cards and place them in an envelope on the inside front flap of a folder. Place blank index cards and a pencil in an envelope on the opposite flap of the folder. Students will write the number of the riddle or problem card, their name and the answer on a blank card to give to the teacher.