Math Beyond Workbooks

Have students work in pairs/groups on a sheet. They cannot ask the instructor for help, but rather have to rely on each other. They also have to agree on all of their answers before turning in their work. If someone's answer doesn't match, they have to work together to figure out why. This leads to students teaching each other, as well as a wonderful opportunity for math dialogue.

Have students work in pairs/groups to discover a rule or procedure. For example, after I had covered how to solve single-step equations, I gave my students a page of two-step equations and I gave them the answers to two problems on their sheet. I didn't show them how I got my answers. They had to work in groups of three to figure out how I got my answers, and then do the remaining problems together. I put all of the answers jumbled up on the board, so they could check their answers as they went (if they got a result that was not on the board somewhere, they had to figure out where they went wrong).

Use the problems on a sheet to create a matching game. Put the problems on one color index cards and the answers on another color index card, one problem or answer per card. Turn them all upside-down in an array like for the game concentration. Players take turns flipping over one card of each color. If the solution matches the problem, the player keeps the cards and goes again. Otherwise, the cards are turned back over and it's the next player's turn. Remind students to check each other's work to help them catch any errors they may make.

Put a multiple choice worksheet into a game on the Quia web site. (Go to http://www.quia.com and click on "create a new game". It's simple and loads of fun for your students.) Students can work alone or in pairs.

Two players can play the "Greatest Number Game". Put one worksheet on the table between the players. The first player picks a problem, and the second player picks a problem that she thinks will give an answer greater than the first player's answer. Then they each do the problem they pick and check each other's work. The player with the largest answer scores a point. Continue until all of the problems have been done. This works well with whole number operations, integer operations, decimals, and fraction practice. The rules can be altered to that the goal is to get the smallest result or a result closest to 1, or whatever goal seems appropriate for the worksheet you choose.

Turn a worksheet into a puzzle. Cut out any shape you like from a piece of stiff paper or cardboard. Draw lines on it like this, and write the problems on one side of each line and the answer to the problem on the adjoining piece.

Then cut along your lines. These can be made by you or your students and put in envelopes with the skill involved written on the envelope for future practice.

Turn a worksheet into a BINGO game. If there are 20 problems, for example, make up 4x4 grids and put 16 of the answers in the boxes. Make sure each card is different. (I usually give students blank grids, put all of the answers on the board, and tell them to pick any 16 of them and put them in any boxes.) Then, put the problems one at a time on the overhead or board. If they have the answer on their board they cover it with a penny. The first to get 4 in a row wins! They usually want to keep going until their grid is filled.

8. An ambitious teacher can create a Trivial Pursuit-type game by making up cards with GED-type problems on one side and the answers on the backs. Make a game board, play in teams, and ask each other questions that the team solves together.