During my elementary math classroom, I like having games and activities that are not prep.
Why? Well, because it is easier for teachers to set them up and grade, and on top of that, kids ALWAYS love it when I teach subtraction and addition using board game worksheets.
In this blog post, I’m going to share 3 of the best resources you can use in your classroom to teach 3 digit subtraction and addition using worksheets.
First of all, teaching 3 digit subtraction and addition with and without regrouping isn’t just necessary at the start of the year. In fact, it’s better to set up the material as a year-long series resource that you just pull up and instantly use to teach.
Honestly, it can be hard to make something that you can use all year long. At least, it was always hard for me to decide what to use for practicing this basic addition and subtraction skill.
To overcome this problem, I created several 3 digit subtraction and addition worksheets that I keep with me whenever I need them during class.
Here are a few of them that you can use to make your life easier.
1. 3 Digit Subtraction and Addition Worksheets
As the name suggests, addition and subtraction with regrouping worksheets are best used when we are introducing these concepts to kids.
What you want at this stage is to allow your students to practice the skills they have learned without any distractions.
Once they have practiced enough, you can then use advanced pedagogical activities to reinforce their practice, like printable math board games, digital activities, or even coloring math worksheets.
This excites the students to work on their basics and get their practice done correctly.
2. Addition and Subtraction Riddles Activity Worksheets
Honestly, who does not love to solve riddles? In my classroom, I always find my kids excited to practice math when done with riddles worksheets.
This activity is the single most used activity throughout my addition and subtraction practice class. Riddles not only keep them engaged in working on math but also keep them excited to know what the answer to the secret question is.
So if you want to make your kids practice 3 digit addition and subtraction, use riddle activities to keep them excited about working on their daily practice.
Another option would be to use it as a center activity or homework to reinforce what they have learned.
3. Solve The Room 3 Digit Addition and Subtraction Activity
Let’s face it math is a tough subject for some kids.
And whether you are new to teaching or you have been teaching for quite some time.
It can get frustrating to keep your kids engaged and excited to try new concepts. It can feel boring to go through the same activities day in and day out. But the good news is that it does not have to be!
If you want to make this tedious task more fun and engaging for your kids, WHY not incorporate the Solve the Room activity in your weekly math activities list?
It is not only fun and highly active, but can also be used to assess your student’s individual understanding of the concepts.
Here is how it works:
You place the question task cards at different stations inside your classroom. Give each of your students a recording sheet that they can use to solve and write their answers.
Students hop from one station to the other, solving the problems. If they get stuck, they can come to me for some help.
You can use Solve the Room activities for every 5th grade math topic. I use it for almost every 5th grade math topic, like Addition and Subtraction of Whole numbers, Fractions, and Decimals.
But just in case you do not want to make these activities yourself and want to save your valuable time, then I have one inside my TPT store for you to check out. Click here to check!
Looking for a 3 digit addition problem worksheets to practice 3 digit addition or subtraction with your students? Look no more because I got you covered.
Helping students work on word problems is a daunting task.
Especially if you are trying to encourage them to think independently on math problems and solve them on their own.
That is why I have created these fun and engaging 3 digit word problem worksheets that are free for you to grab and teach now.
Print the problems you want your students to work on and hand them to your class. Students can solve the word problems independently, or you can help them complete the task.
What I like to do in my class is put them in pairs. This way, even if one of the kids gets stuck, they can help each other out and figure out the solution.
Here are a few benefits of using 3-digit word problems worksheets in your classroom
Increase in reasoning and problem solving skills
More understanding of the topic by using comprehension skills
Able to break down more significant concepts into small problems
Fall gives us teachers the perfect opportunity to engage students with fun, fall themed math activities that build excitement for learning inside classrooms.
For me seasonal math not only brings a fresh twist inside classroom for kids, but it also give me some change to use fun activities to keep my upper elementary kids engaged with unique activities that are different but perfectly with the curriculum.
Here are some way I have found helpful to bring the spirit of autumn into my math lessons to keep students motivated and excited to learn.
Why Use Fall-Themed Math Activities?
Once the back-to-school buzz goes away, students may start to lose some of the enthusiasm they had in the first few weeks of school.
This can be challenging to maintain that level of energy in the classroom as the routine sets in.
And tis is where seasonal activities come in handy and exciting to keep them engaged and ansurprised to work on their task!
Fall-themed math activities can help apture student’s attention and re-energize their will to keep their math learning moving forward.
These activities not only make lessons fun but also ensure students are still practicing critical math skills in an engaging way.
Upper Elementary Fall Math Activities you Should Try this Year:
Here are some of you can use activities to help your 3rd 4th or even 5th grade students get into the Fall spirit while practicing essential math concepts:
Fall-Themed Solve-the-Room Activities
This activity can transform your classroom into a dynamic learning environment. Students will move around the room, solving math problems with a fall spirit.
Activities like these are perfect for keeping students active while making sure they’re reviewing their key math concepts, such as Decimal and fraction operations or even math facts.
Fall Color-by-Number Worksheets
Ahhh! Who does not like some coloring to go along with their math centers and daily practice?
Color by number worksheets combine creativity with math practice to keep them on their learning journey and reduce their learning fatigue at the same time.
Honestly this alone is like a win win situation for me.
Every time I take out one of these Coloring sheets kids are just excited and motivated to work on them.
What’s most important is there are jut 8 problems they need to solve instead of bajillions just to get them to the coloring part.
This is the reason why they are more motivated to work on this single page coloring math sheets.
Here is how it works: Students will solve math problems and then use their answers to complete fall-themed coloring pages.
It’s a great activity for early finishers or as a calming task during busy classroom days which is a plus.
Fall Math Scavenger Hunt
Did you just said hunt? I think math reviews do not have to be boring?
Using this fraction scavenger hunt activity this Fall and turn you class in to a Scavenger Hunt adventure that your kids would love to be in.
Students solve math problems while following clues around the room. It’s an engaging way to review concepts and encourage teamwork.
And the best part is, it’s self checking so less work for you but more fun for them.
Fall Fractions and Decimal Operations – Mystery Picture Puzzle!
Tired of searching for an engaging and fun way to help your 5th-grade students master fractions and decimal operations?
Maybe try out some mystery picture puzzle math activities.
Using the Fall Fractions and Decimal Operations Picture Puzzle is the perfect way to practice math and increase creativity to keep your students motivated and excited on learning their fractions concepts.
These puzzles gives students the opportunity to solve fractions and decimal problems while slowing revealing a fall-themed picture.
Whether you’re looking for a way to reinforce lessons on adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions and decimals or simply want to add an interactive twist to your math centers, this activity does it all!
How to Implement It
This resource is dynamic and easy to use into your classroom. You can use it as:
A fun, no-prep fall math center
A homework assignment to reinforce what was taught in class.
An engaging review activity before an upcoming test.
A small group activity for collaborative learning.
How to have Fall-Themed Math Spirit in the Classroom
Using fall-themed classroom activities and resources into your lessons is easy, and literally there are so many creative ways to do it!
Here are a few ideas from me to get you started:
Create Fall-Themed Math Centers: Yup that’s the first one. You need to set up multiple fall-themed stations in your classroom where students can rotate between different activities, like the Fall Solve-the-Room or Color-by-Number sheets. This gives kids diverse options and allows students to work independently or in small groups.
Use for Early Finishers or Warm-Up Activities: These activities are perfect for students who finish their work early or for a quick and engaging warm-up to get everyone focused on math first thing in the morning.
Fall Decor for Extra Fun: This one is a must! Decorate your classroom with fall leaves, pumpkins, and other seasonal visual elements. Then, use these resources as part of a fall-themed math review or even a class competition!
By using these fun ideas, you’re not only bringing fall into the classroom but also boosting students’ enthusiasm for math.
To bring the magic of fall into your math lessons. You will be able to watch your students’ willingness to work on their classwork soar, the big idea is to use multiple Fall themed elements in your day and your kids will thank you for all that you do for them.
Ready to add some seasonal fun to your math lessons?
Check out our Fall Math Activities on my TPT store Daily Dose of Mathematics store!
Using color by number activities in one of my favourite ways to bring excitment and fun inside classroom. I cannot tell you how much my kids look forward to using these for any topic or theme day.
Seriously its one of the best way in my opinion to keep them on the task while still interested in practicing math during math centers.
Try using the if your kids are hitting a math practicing roadblock. We even display the art result they produced in our classroom or gallery. Students feel super prod when I do that.
So today let’s discover five easy ways you can implement math color by number worksheets so you can have an engaged class that’s excited to work on them.
What is a Color by Number Worksheets:
Color by number worksheets aren’t just art and math combined today, instead they are a sure way to give your kids a more engaging and educational experience that they might miss out on during a traditional learning environment.
This way of practicing math provides a structured way to kid’s daily math practice. Today, I’m about to sow you how I use them to add engagement for any topic you want to teach be it fraction operation including word problems or order of operation along with decimal operations.
Why to use Color by number worksheets for developing understanding:
Using art in our daily learning is a fantastic way to increase our kid’s educational experience. Think of it this way: your kids solving math problems and revealing a historical place, figure, or even a themed art piece to set the mood for some festive spirit.
Coloring is also a calming activity that reduces stress and keeps them focused on the task while developing fine motor skills. This is one of the reason why I use color-by-number worksheets as a terrific way to keep them on track with their daily math progress while having fun.
Customizable Math Teaching Tool:
Every child is different, and no 2 kids can learn the same way. Customizing color by number worksheets to fit their needs and learning styles can drastically boost student’s engagement.
Here is how I achieve this. I display the finished color by number worksheets inside our classroom or hallway, which encourages students to perform better and acts as a reward for their hard work.
Develops Emotional Intelligence:
This type of activity not only gets student’s creative juices to follow but also keeps them calm and organized. This enhances their emotional intelligence and stamina to endure more demanding challenges in the learning process, which we as a teacher always strive for.
Independent and Self-Checking Practice:
If I had to pick one reason among all the above, this one would always surpass the rest. The most important thing any teacher wants is to cut down the time used for grading so we can actually do more of what we Love, aka “TEACHING“.
Color by number worksheets are a fantastic way to facilitate independent practice of topics like area of complex figures, order of operations during the math center activities or the morning bell work, or you can even leave them for a sub day and still get the teaching stuff done while you are away.
Teaching fractions can feel like a constant struggle, especially in 5th grade. Students need to work hard on their fractions and decimals skills to become fluent in these areas.
But here’s the good news: the right activities can completely change how students understand and engage with fractions.
So if teaching fractions feel like a constant struggle or your students lose interest halfway through the lesson… fret not because you are not alone.
In this post, you’ll find easy and engaging 5th grade fraction activities, including games, movement-based tasks, and hands-on practice that help students build confidence and actually enjoy learning fractions. So, let’s dive in.
1. Fun Unlike Fractions Games
One of the most important steps in teaching fractions to upper-elementary students is to make them meaningful.
This starts with making sense of what fractions mean and why it is important to make the denominators the same before solving any fraction operations.
From what I know, by grade 5 the majority of students are fluent in multiplication facts. So solving unlike fractions is just a matter of practice for them.
What better way to practice than using Games?
Games are a powerful way to practice and review any skill as it combines repetition, motivation and low-pressure learning opportunity for students.
If you are looking for some unique fractions game ideas to implement in your classroom, here is one I would suggest.
This activity includes a printable self-checking game maze that you can use with your kids to have them practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division of fractions with unlike denominators.
Each fraction operations maze activity comes with 12 task cards and a self-checking fun game, which keeps kids inspired to learn without you having to spend all day grading.
The game is story-based, in which your kids become detectives, helping the Queen bee, who is lost in the jungle, return home.
For that, your kids have to work through the problems and move through the maze to bring her back home.
Once the kids have completed the activity, you can use the printable reward card to reward your kid’s hard work and create a positive motivation for them to practice their math skills happily the next time!
Want a free activity to practice fraction skills? Click here to join the community today.
2. Fractions Centers Activities
Math centers are one of the easiest ways to bring structure and engagement into your classroom.
An important part of keeping your math centers engaging and exciting is rotating the learning materials that the students can use during centers.
Here are a few of my favorite fraction centers for practicing 5th grade fractions with unlike denominators and how I use them in math centers!
We love to use task cards and solve the room activities during math groups. You can any topics and have kids move while learning something new.
This is my 5th grader’s favorite activity, as it allows them not to be glued to their desks but to move around the room while working on the problems.
The best part is that it is very easy to set up. All you have to do is print the question cards and place them in different spots inside your classroom.
Next, give students their recording sheets. Kids move around the room, looking for problems with adding and subtracting fractions.
They solve the problems and record their answers on the recording sheets provided.
You can also instruct them to use the back of the recording sheet to show their work, which is always a good idea. If you want to try these activities for your next class, check them out here.
Math centers can be one of the easiest ways to bring structure, engagement, and differentiation into your classroom, especially when teaching fractions.
Because instead of teaching the whole class the same way, using centers allows your students to practice at their level and not the whole class, stay actively involved, and build confidence over time.
Here are the top reasons why you should have one set up for your classroom:
It helps break complex fraction concepts into manageable tasks
Keep your students actively engaged instead of passively listening
It will allow you to differentiate without any extra prep
Gives you time to work with small groups, which is super important
You don’t need 5 fancy centers right away. Even 2–3 well-structured centers can completely change how your fraction lessons feel for both you and your students.
3. Hands-on Fractions Activities
This is where the real understanding happens.
Fractions can feel abstract for many students. But when they can see, touch, and build their learning, everything starts to click.
Hands-on activities are the best way to help bridge the gap between memorizing steps and truly understanding what fractions mean using fraction strip manipulatives.
Why Hands-On Activities Work
• They help kids visualize fraction concepts clearly, so they develop a strong understanding • It is the best way to support struggling learners who need concrete examples • It also encourages deeper thinking instead of rote procedures
For many students, until they have analyzed the topics in multiple ways, things do not click. That’s why this is the moment fractions finally start to make sense for them.
Here are some hands-on activities my kids love and I used over and over again:
4. FRACTION WORD PROBLEM ACTIVITIES
This is where you will find many of your students struggling.
Many students can follow the steps to add or subtract fractions, but when those same skills appear in a word problem, they get stuck.
That’s because word problems require more than computation they require thinking, interpreting, and applying concepts in context.
Here are few of the reasons students often struggle with fraction word problems:
• They need to understand what the problem is actually asking • Deciding which operation to use (add, subtract, multiply, divide) • Work through multiple steps in the correct order • Represent their thinking clearly
So it does not just become math, instead it’s reading, reasoning, and problem-solving all combined in one.
Pro Tip: Start with simpler problems and gradually increase complexity. Your best bet is a mix of:
This helps students feel successful while still being challenged.
If you’re looking for ready-to-use fraction word problem activities that include both practice and deeper thinking, for math centers or engagement. Here is a color-by-number activity you might like:
5. DIGITAL FRACTION ACTIVITIES
Digital fraction activities are a strong way to keep students engaged in a meaningful practice while giving them the independence to review the concept at their own pace.
Whether you’re teaching in a classroom, assigning homework, or managing distance learning, digital tools make it easier to provide interactive, low-prep, and self-paced practice for your students.
There are a lot of options for digital activities for kids, including interactive digital slides, Boom Cards, digital task cards, digital escape rooms, and other paperless activities.
Mostly digital activities are best for centers where you want them to to work independently without constant supervision.
But the best thing I love about them is how much time these save for teachers on grading and preparations.
You do not necessarily need to use them inside the classroom, you can even assign them to kids as some extra homework practice.
I would say start simple. You don’t need complex tools, basic Google Slides or simple interactive activities can be just as effective as more advanced platforms like Kahoot or Breakoutedu.
Our goal is engagement and clarity, not more complexity.
6. FRACTION REVIEW & TEST PREP ACTIVITIES
One of the biggest challenges with teaching fractions is helping students hold on to what they learned.
They may understand a skill one week, but after moving on to the next concept, it can start to slip away.
That is exactly why fraction spiral review can be so helpful. A strong spiral review gives students repeated practice with the most important fraction skills.
Over time, instead of teaching a concept once and hoping it sticks, students keep on repeating the skills so it actually sticks.
In 5th grade, that means reviewing fraction concepts and equivalence, adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators, mixed numbers, multiplying fractions, dividing unit fractions, and solving real-world fraction word problems.
When these skills are revisited in a structured way, students build a stronger understanding, better retention, and more confidence.
I created this 5th grade fractions spiral review as a test prep resource to do exactly that.
7. TIPS FOR TEACHING FRACTIONS EFFECTIVELY
Fractions usually click better when students see them, touch them, talk about them, and compare them before jumping into rules.
I get it, I get it, as an upper elementary math teacher, we can teach order of operation to 5th grade students for what can feel like forever. So long that you may feel like you are running low on new ideas to teach it anymore.
All these are my favorite activities. They include both printable and digital options so there is something for everyone.
Color by Number Order of Operations Activities
Getting students excited about the order of operation topic can be a challenge but not if you are using the right activities to engage and get kids to think more about the order of operation.
Students do not just need to know how to solve order of operations problems. It is equally important that kids learn why learning about the order of operations is important.
It’s a way to make sure every one of us arrives at the same answer to a particular problem.
You can teach them various strategies like “please excuse my dear aunt sally” to make it easier for them to remember.
You post task cards with math problems for your students to work on at different stations or different areas of your classroom.
Then give each student a recording sheet to record their answers.
Students move around the room to find these problems, solve and record them on the given recording sheet.
Why this is the best activity to try:
Engagement: Traditional worksheets can sometimes bore students, but Solve the Room adds an element of excitement and movement, keeping students motivated and interested.
Concept Mastery: Students often struggle with the order of operations. This activity offers repeated practice in a fun and hands-on way, helping kids to solidify their understanding.
Classroom Management: By moving around the room and focusing on different problems, students are less likely to become restless or distracted, leading to better classroom management.
Free Order of Operations Practice Digital PowerPoint Game Activity
Couldn’t find something you were looking for?
No worries… here is a FREE fun activity to help your students master the order of operations?
This interactive game is perfect for bringing some cheer into your classroom while reinforcing this essential math skills.
What is it?
This engaging PowerPoint game challenges students to solve order of operations problems with a winter theme.
Each correct answer helps them progress through the game, while a wrong answer directs kids to try the problem again.
It helps to reinforce learning and makes sure that students understand the concepts before moving on.
One of the most exciting things about March is that we can help students build a strong fraction operations foundation using themed math activities like St. Patrick’s Day.
If you are working on one of vital foundational skills like fractions or math facts review this post is for you.
In this post, I’m going to share some tips and lesson activities for you to help you learn how to teach fractions and decimal operations in 5th grade in a way that will stick with your students!
So, get ready to sprinkle some leprechaun magic into your math classroom using these 5 best Saint Patrick’s Day math activities for upper elementary students!
Why Teach 5th-grade Math Concepts Using March-Themed Lessons?
Themed activities should not just be fun, but can also bring meaningful practice in classroom learning.
They are the best way to reinforce key concepts when students need extra motivation. They can help you:
Builds skill fluency before spring testing season
Reinforces key skills through engaging review
Helps students apply concepts in meaningful contexts
Supports differentiated instruction easily
Encourages active participation and discussion
Makes practice feel less repetitive
So, if this is something you want with your kids, try out one of these activities:
Saint Patrick’s Day Fractions Operations Worksheets with Word Problems
If you’re looking for a way to support your students with fraction addition and subtraction with unlike denominators without filling up your math centers with boring activities, I have the perfect solution!
I have put together this packet of fraction review worksheets that you can use to review fraction operations that they have learnt this year.
The pack not only includes fraction review worksheets, but also includes self-checking mazes and a word search you can use for the early finishers in your class.
Do not need something to practice, but rather need something to test their knowledge?
The packet also includes 2 pages of multiple-choice question-style worksheets you can use as an assessment to test their understanding.
One thing I love about this packet is that it includes a whole lot of ways I can get them to practice fraction addition and subtraction.
So, whether they’re asked to solve addition and subtraction of fractions, these worksheets will keep them engaged, challenged, and entertained throughout their math journey.
But wait, there’s more! The pack is best equipped with so much more fun like word search and coloring fun.
You can keep a set of these activities copied at your small group table and pull out the most appropriate one you need for each group to try.
Saint Patrick’s Day Math Coloring Worksheets
These math coloring pages are also a great tool for increasing student independence at centers time or during morning work.
If you are practicing math multiplication or division facts and need them to go beyond and try multidigit multiplication or division, you can do that by using these Saint Patricks activities during their centers.
These provide an easy but rigorous practice to help kids be more independent in their basic whole number operations.
So, why settle for boring math practice when you can add a splash of Saint Patrick’s Day magic to your lessons?
Let’s make basic operations like addition and subtraction or even division fun, engaging, and unforgettable with these worksheets!
St Patrick’s Day Decimal Operations Activity
Are your students struggling with adding and subtracting decimals? It might not feel like a difficult skill to you but for 5th graders it’s a lot.
The one concept I have seen students get stuck on is the idea of understanding the decimal place values. They usually align their numbers wrong, which then gives a wrong answer.
So this March, if you want to help kids master decimal operations. Let them practice it in a way that is both meaningful and movement-based.
Saint Patrick’s Day Decimals Solve the Room Activity
Solve the Room activities are similar to scavenger hunts without the self checking part.
Here is how it works:
Display the decimal problems inside classroom for kids to find
Students navigate the room and solve each problem
They engage in active learning, moving, and collaborating with their fellow
Record their answer on a recording sheet until all problems are done.
So, are you ready to turn your classroom into a math-filled treasure hunt this St. Patrick’s Day?
Try these activities and make decimal operations an adventure to remember!
Saint Patrick’s Day Secret Picture Puzzles
For upper elementary students, repetition is key when it comes to learning multi digit multiplication and division. They need plenty of practice with multiplication math fact fluency before they can master these skills.
In order to keep students engaged in multiplication and division, you need plenty of activities in our teacher toolboxes!
That’s why I wanted to share some hands-on March themed activities that your students will love!
If you’re looking for a hands-on way to help students practice multiplication or division, check out this mystery picture activity!
All you need to do for this low-prep activity is print off the worksheet and cut out the puzzle pieces! You can cut them out yourself, or let your students cut them.
These secret picture puzzles can be used in many different ways, which is helpful for differentiation and engagement.
You can use these printable activities for math centers, morning work, small group practice, or even for fast finishers!
No matter how you decide to use these activities, your students will benefit from the extra practice with multiplication and division!
St. Patrick’s Day Themed 5th Grade Math Craft
Lastly, there are math crafts that are not just fun but also include common core-aligned practice so your students move forward in their math progress.
This fraction math craft activity is perfect for centers because it is self-correcting and rewarding!
Students solve 3 math problems and come back to you to collect their craft item.
After checking their answers, the teacher hands them a craft piece that they have earned and will use to build their lucky leprechaun friend.
It’s like a perfect reward-based activity kids need during this time of the year.
