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.
Have you ever found yourself scanning through the room during math class, looking at a mix of bored faces, frustrated sighs, and the occasional doodler?
I know I have, and we’ve all been there. But the real challenge is making math both fun and educational for kids at the same time.
This might seem challenging during some teaching days, but what if I told you there’s a way to sprinkle a bit of autumn magic into your math lessons and get those hands eagerly shooting up with answers?
And yes, that’s possible! The best way to make kids fully involved and ready to solve some problems no matter how hard they are is by using interactive games. 🍂✨
Use these interactive Fall-themed games in your classroom for small groups during centers or as a whole class activity and see the class engagement soar.
Here’s Why This Bundle is a Game-Changer:
Engagement Overload: With a delightful “Pick a Fall Cookie” Game, learning basic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division isn’t just another math lesson. It’s an experience. One where students eagerly click through questions, challenging themselves and having a blast while at it.
Comprehensive Coverage: This bundle isn’t just about practicing a single concept like division. Oh no! Your students will dive deep into 3 digit addition and subtraction with regrouping, tackle 3 by 1 and 2 digit division, and master 2 by 2 digit multiplication. It’s a math smorgasbord!
Perfectly Structured: Each game comes with 12 questions, allowing for a full, immersive session without dragging it out. Plus, navigation is a breeze with interactive features like clickable numbers and a handy home button.
Versatility: Whether you’re looking to jazz up your math centers, provide engaging activities for early finishers, or differentiate your instruction, this bundle has got you covered.
What you get:
Once you get this fall interactive games bundle, you’ll find a series of PowerPoint games designed to keep kids engaged in learning addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, along with 6 digit number place value practice. The goal? To make math engaging, interactive, and the highlight of your students’ day.
The main slides have interactive numbers with fun and exciting fall images that students can click on and go to that specific slide to solve.
What if I told you I planned my ENTIRE school year in just one weekend using my 5 step process and a printable teacher planner, and you can too!
Yes that’s right… When I first started teaching, I did not know what a lesson plan was, let alone how to create one.
Planning for the whole year without knowing when and how things will eventually start to go South was something I never understood.
Honestly, during those starting years, with all the lesson planning burnouts and wasted Sundays trying to keep my sanity intact during the weekdays was STRESSFUL.
And with all the chaos, I knew something had to change. There has to be a better solution to all this mess.
This is the reason why I started experimenting with my school planning and created my very own printable teacher planner that helps me map everything out without being overwhelmed.
It’s the exact tool I use every year to keep me organized.
In this post, I’m walking you through my exact 5-step system so you can plan your whole year in one weekend, too.
Why burn out when we can enjoy the ride? So, let’s get to the nitty-gritty, shall we?
STEP 1: Your Teaching Year-at-a-Glance
This is what you do before you even think about detailed weekly or daily lesson plans. Zoom out and lay your yearly plan.
I always start with a year at a glance calendar page from my teacher planner. I block out all the non-negotiables like holidays, testing weeks, PD days, school events like sports week etc — anything that’ll take up my teaching time.
This helps me see exactly how many teaching weeks and days I have, and more importantly, it reduces decision fatigue later.
I’m not scrambling in March because I “forgot” that Spring Break takes up a whole week. Trust me this calendar is your sanity saver.
STEP 2: Set Monthly Teaching Goals
Once your calendar year overview is laid out, now you can move on to set some monthly focus points.
Personally I like to use the monthly overview pages to sketch out major themes or units. For example, I like to focus on fractions in February and test prep in Mid March/April.
Planning it now means I don’t have to guess or wing it later. Of course, you can change that as you go, but having a plan still keeps you organized.
This will also make it so much easier to align your resources or activities and avoid that “what should we be doing this week?” chaos. Yeah, I know we all go through that.
The key here is to know you’re not just planning for content, you’re planning for confidence.
STEP 3: Create Weekly Skeleton Plans
This is where things get juicy but still simple. I use the weekly templates from my planner to lay out a basic structure for each week.
I’m talking recurring things like morning meeting, centers, whole group lessons, spiral review — whatever your weekly rhythm looks like.
The key here? You’re not writing detailed lesson plans. You’re building a flexible skeleton so your brain isn’t starting from zero every Sunday. It’s like giving Future You a damn hug.
STEP 4: Plug In the details
Now that your weeks have structure, it’s time to drop in the big rocks — major tests, projects, assessments, and anything else that requires extra prep.
I use the weekly planner pages (or just the notes section) to map this out.
Mapping these ahead of time means you’re not blindsided by a science fair or a unit test sneaking up on you.
You’ll know when to prep, when to review, and when to chill — because it’s all part of the plan.
STEP 5: Keep It All In One Place
Guess what here’s the secret sauce most teachers skip: organization that actually lasts. After I plan everything, I print it all, pop it into a binder, and it’s DONE.
No digging through files or clicking through 42 tabs. I use tabs for months, washi tape to make it cute (because yes, aesthetics matter), and my favorite budget-friendly printer that doesn’t eat ink like a monster.
Everything stays in one place so I can just open, teach, and live my life.
By planning your year thoughtfully and mapping out your whole school year like planning weekly, managing daily tasks, and reflecting regularly, you can streamline your workflow and increase your teaching effectiveness.
✅ Ready to be more organized this year and avoid the chaos for good?
✅ Weekly template that you can duplicate and print as many times as you like
✅ Fun pages like student information etc.
and so much more… No more wasted time thinking “how to plan your school year” and getting lesson planning organized haphazardly. No more Sunday scaries.
Here’s the truth: You do not have to spend every Sunday buried in lesson plans. You don’t have to live in survival mode. You deserve a system that supports you — not one that drains you.
A plan + process = Actual Freedom.
Freedom to rest. Freedom to live your life. Freedom to stop winging it week after week.
I’ve walked you through the exact steps I use to plan my entire school year in one weekend — and it all starts with the right tools.
💛 You’re doing better than you think — and your students are so lucky to have you.
All right, so we’re diving into the exciting and full of fun world of… 3 digit addition. As a math teacher myself, I know what you might be thinking! I know, I know. ‘three digit addition’ and ‘exciting’ are two phrases that you probably never expected to see in the same sentence. Yet, here we are!
But for a moment, I want you to picture this: your kids, completely absorbed, their minds buzzing away as they add numbers. No more expressionless eyes, no more “Do I have to?” Instead, they’re eager. They’re engaged. They’re learning. Sounds like a far-off dream? Well, it isn’t, and thanks to the gamified math lessons, this could be the reality of your classroom.
I remember when I was a kid, and math felt like a tedious chore. But honestly, I do not want that for my kids in the classroom, so it’s time that we as math teachers, put those days behind us.
Let’s make learning two and three digit addition and subtraction worksheets a game — literally. How? Here is a step by step month-long journey to transform 3 digit addition from ‘Ugh, not again!’ to ‘Can we do more?’ in your classroom.
Week 1: Nailing the basics of the concept of 3 digit addition
Ever tried to build a castle on sand? It’s a shaky business, right? The same goes for 3 digit addition with elementary students. If you’re shaky on the basics, teachers! Well, you’re setting your class up for a castle full of confusion. Let’s clear the air on this. Shall we?
Now, for your kids to understand 3 digit addition with and without regrouping, you first need to make them recognize the importance of place values. They should’ve got hundreds, tens, and ones down. To clarify this concept to your kiddos, you can tell them to picture hundreds, tens, and ones as three shelves in a bookcase, each with a specific spot for its ‘book’.
But the thing to remember here is that it’s essential for the numbers to go in their right place. Misplace the numbers, and you’ve got chaos!
Then comes the tricky bit: carrying over. A common hiccup, often as mystifying as a magician’s trick. But it does not have to be that. You can simplify it further for them. So, if your ‘ones’ total more than 9, you ‘carry over’ the extra to the ‘tens’ shelf. Same rule for the ‘tens’ to the ‘hundreds’. It’s like when you’re packing a suitcase, and it overflows – you need another bag!
Now, what about gamification in math? Think of it like turning broccoli into a superhero. Kids love games, right? So why not use that love to turn learning 3 digit addition and subtraction with and without regrouping into a thrilling adventure?
Gamification takes the chore out of learning, and makes it interactive, and here’s the important part: it leverages our innate love for rewards. There are several platforms and tools for gamification, with different colors suited to different needs.
Week 2: Preparing the Gamified 3 Digit Addition with and without regrouping Lessons
So you’re ready to transform your class into a gaming field. But which platform to choose? It can get overwhelming pretty quickly if you do not know exactly what you are looking for. More like being in a candy shop with infinite choices.
But what I can tell you from personal experience is that features, user feedback, and, most importantly, compatibility with your class size, age group, and tech comfort is all that matter.
Selecting a platform is just the beginning. Next, you’ve got to figure out a way to add your triple digit addition and subtraction curriculum to this platform. Initially, it might feel like you are doing a puzzle. You need to break down the curriculum into daily and weekly objectives, making sure each game fits seamlessly into the learning process.
Now the most important part here is to remember, that variety is the spice of your classroom! Mixing up games and keeping the interest alive is what you should aim for. Imagine being served the same dish every day. Boring, right? The same goes for your class. So spice it up with a variety of games.
Week 3: Rolling Out the Gamified Lessons
Now comes the big reveal. Introducing the new approach to students can be a dance as delicate as a ballet. The aim? To make sure they understand how the platform works, how it’ll be integrated into their learning, and – this is key – why it’s gonna be super fun.
As the lessons roll out, be ready to wear the hat of an eagle-eyed observer. Tracking progress, and providing feedback, it’s all part of the game. It’s like being a coach on the sidelines, guiding and cheering on the players.
Wanna know what I use to add a gamification touch to my 3 single digit addition worksheets in class,check this out on TPT!
Week 4: Evaluating Progress and Getting Ready for the Quiz
After the lesson is been done and you feel like your students get the concept it’s time for the big day! I mean Quiz day! Although students dread to go through a quiz, not in our gamified class! Here, quizzes are designed to mimic the game-based problems, making them less of a scary monster and more of a friendly challenge.
You can offer your students study aids and revision sessions to help them clarify any gaps in their learning. A little extra help won’t hurt anyone. Alongside this, you can gather progress reports for each student. Here you’re not just looking at who’s soaring and who’s stumbling but also pinpointing the areas where students commonly trip up.
And now, the finale of week four: prepping for the quiz. Make sure to review the main concepts, but more than that, ensure the students have a clear concept of the topic and what lies ahead.
You can even use these riddle Worksheets to evaluate your student’s early progress.
Quiz Day: The Ticket to 3 digit addition with ans without regrouping worksheets Stardom
Now comes the day the students have been working towards. The quiz. It’s the chance to put all that they’ve learned to the test.
The quiz results aren’t just numbers but celebrations of success and stepping stones for further learning. Each correct answer calls for a small classroom celebration, and each misstep is an opportunity to learn and improve. Remember, every cloud has a silver lining.
So there you have it. But remember it’s not just about the numbers, but about making learning an experience. It’s about taking those dread-filled, yawn-inducing lessons and turning them into a journey of exploration, excitement, and fun.
So, if you want to break the chains of traditional teaching and think outside the box, it’s time that you implement these strategies into your classroom and play. Gamified lessons aren’t just an educational trend. They’re the key to exposing engagement, sparking curiosity, and making your students not just learn but love the process.
Especially in a world where children are often glued to screens and gadgets, gamifying math lessons can serve as a link in our classrooms that merges education with entertainment in the most effective manner. So in order to take the ‘boredom” out of traditional math lessons and transform it into an exciting experience that students can enjoy while learning new math skills at the same time it’s more like a necessity now.
As teachers, it’s our duty to make sure that every child in our class experiences the thrill of learning. With the right tools and approach, even the most seemingly mundane topics like 3 digit addition can become adventure journeys for exploration. By continuously experimenting with new techniques and, most importantly, making math fun we can make math exciting for our young generation. After all, isn’t that what education should be – an exciting journey of discovery for our students?
Remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. You’ve got this. Just imagine, a classroom humming with excitement, picture the pride on your students’ faces when they nail a complex 3-digit addition problem, not because they had to, but because they wanted to.
Conclusion:
You have the power to turn ‘boring math Class‘ into ‘bring it on!. To replace sighs of boredom with cheers of excitement. To transform ‘I don’t get it’ into ‘I did it!’.
Since the methods of teaching in education are always evolving, it’s crucial that we continually seek methods that not only enhance the learning experience but also ignite a passion within our students.
Gamified math 3 digit addition lessons can bridge the gap between conventional teaching and the digital age. By transforming the seemingly mundane task of 3-digit addition practice into an engaging journey, we aren’t just teaching numbers – we’re nurturing a love for learning.
The unexpected joy and enthusiasm that arise from such methods prove that with the right tools and mindset, even the most traditional subjects can be refreshed and revitalized. Let’s continue to innovate and inspire, turning challenges into opportunities and learners into lifelong enthusiasts. After all, when education is fun, the sky’s the limit.
Looking for some Fun and engaging Halloween math activities to keep your kids busy? Try out these “PICK A WITCH” Digital Game activities with your class and see their excitement skyrocket.
This resource is an interactive digital game which you can use to review or assess your kids place value understanding during their centers time or as a whole class activity.
Here is how the Game Works:
“PICK A WITCH” Game activity is designed to help your kids practice and review the place value of larger numbers like 6 digits in a fun and engaging way.
The resource is a compressed file that unzips to a PowerPoint Activity. The Game activity has 12 question slides and 1 main i.e. “PICK A WITCH” slide.
Display the main slide on the projector and divide your kids into 2 teams. Now tell them to pick a number. The number that they pick you have to click on it to display the question. Once the kids see the question he or she has to answer the question.
You can also award 5 score points to every right answer. Once all the questions have been answered by kids. You can add all their scores and announce which team has won.
All the numbers from 1 to 12 on the first slide are clickable and linked to that specific question number slide. There is a Home button on every question slide to access the main Questions slide which makes it an interactive and super fun game that kids enjoy.
The 12 questions allow you to complete the activity in one go with your class. But it only uses 6 digit numbers. You can use it for fast finishers or as centers digital activity.
As a math teacher with various grade levels teaching experience, I know the struggle math teachers face in their day to day life. Your days are undoubtedly filled with various responsibilities, from strategizing your lessons and managing your classroom to caring for your families. Finding the time and energy to create engaging and effective teaching environments and lessons can be challenging!
This is why I have created this blog post to help teachers like you with the tools and resources you need in order to ensure your students master math while you have more time for yourself and your loved ones.
Why should you help your students in learning maths?
As teachers, I know your first priority is to help your kids master the subject with ease. This is the mere reason why I am excited to share all my valuable findings with you. All math teaching strategies to help you make an impact on students learning and foster independent problem solving and critical thinking in your students.
By implementing these strategies effectively, you can inspire a love for math and develop confidence in their abilities, which is what we all strive for as educators.
How should you think about these math learning abilities in kids:
Learning to solve math is very important for our kids’ everyday lives and a country’s growth. All those students that are good at math perform better in STEM fields which are very important in this information and technology driven digital era.
This is why it is important for schools to help kids develop their mathematical abilities. In recent studies, experts have found that one of the reasons our young learners do not perform well in maths is because math teachers simply don’t have enough knowledge of their subject.
This could be a direct result of the old-fashioned teaching methods still used in schools.
One way to fix this problem is by developing your student’s metacognitive skills. This helps them better equip themselves to solve their own problems not only in maths but in life.
How to implement this in your teaching practices:
Helping your students develop their metacognitive skills is a tedious task. But being a class facilitator to goal during your teaching would be to help them develop their own thinking for every problem that they encounter.
Let’s say your students are working through an area and perimeter of composite figures of project. They can check their understanding of the project by calculating what’s required for the task at hand. Now for every problem that they come across during practicing they should be able to plan it out and then check if the plan works. This type of thinking helps them develop the cognitive skills required to solve complex math problems.
The more your students are able to reflect, plan, and evaluate the math problem at hand the better their understanding gets with time. This is why I like to use math projects riddles and mysteries with my students during my class.
Strategies to help your kids learn math in an interesting way: Here are some math teaching strategies to help kids learn math faster and more easily:
1. Make it Relevant:
It is a powerful strategy in math education that aims to give students some real world experience in their math learning. Through this strategy the educator aims to bridge gap between abstract concepts and real scenarios application, which deepens the students understanding.
Elementary students are in the age group where they are naturally curious about their environment, so connecting math to their everyday lives captivates their interest and sparks more motivation in them.
In traditional math teaching, students are made to memorize the concept and formulas without any practical understanding. This approach keeps them wondering about the purpose of their math learning beyond the classroom. However, by making math relevant to their environment and everyday life, teacher’s have the opportunity to show how math is an integrated part of our everyday life, from simple to complex discoveries.
Ways to implement:
One way to implement this is using math problems such as calculating discounts during shopping or measuring ingredients during cooking so students can immediately see the practical usage of their abilities.
Such hands on experience solidifies your kid’s understanding of math concepts and boosts their confidence. You can even integrate math with other subjects showing its interconnection with other disciplines.
For example in science students can use mathematical formulas to understand the laws of motion, or in arts, they explore geometrical shapes and symmetry. This type of understanding nurtures a holistic approach to their learning.
In conclusion, this strategy is an essential pillar in math education. It ignites curiosity, foster engagement, and equips learners with the skills they need to tackle real-world challenges with confidence and proficiency.
As students recognize the practical relevance of math, they are more likely to approach the subject with enthusiasm and become lifelong learners and problem-solvers.
2. Hands on learning:
This strategy involves using physical objects, manipulatives and interactive activities to teach math concepts. Students interact, measure and manipulate the objects to understand abstract ideas more concretely. For instance, using counting blocks to illustrate addition and subtraction or using shapes to teach geometry. This approach caters to different learning styles, making math more accessible and enjoyable.
3. Problem-Solving Approach:
The problem-solving approach nurtures students’ critical thinking and analytical skills. Instead of relying on rote memorization, kids are presented with real-world problems that require applying mathematical concepts to find solutions. So if we can encourage them to reason through problems and instill a deeper understanding of math, this will equip them with valuable skills beyond the classroom.
4. Games and Puzzles:
Honestly, math games and puzzles make learning math enjoyable and engaging. For my kids, these create a fun learning environment where students can practice math concepts while having fun.
Games can range from board games that reinforce basic arithmetic to online math challenges that promote strategic thinking. What is most interesting to see is the element of competition between peers. It motivates students to actively participate and reinforce their learning.
5. Personalized Learning:
This strategy focuses that students have different learning paces and needs. As teachers we must adapt to cater to individual needs, offering extra support or advanced challenges based on each student’s abilities. This approach builds a positive learning experience, boosts confidence, and helps students reach their full potential.
6. Visual Representations:
Visual representations use graphs, charts, diagrams, and drawings to illustrate math concepts. It enhances comprehension and memory retention, especially for complex topics. Visualizing information helps students make connections between abstract ideas and concrete examples.
7. Real-life Problem-solving:
Connecting math to real-life situations makes the subject more meaningful and relevant to students. By presenting math as a tool to solve practical problems, such as budgeting, measurements for a classroom project, or understanding patterns in nature, students can see its importance in their daily lives and future careers.
8. Positive Reinforcement:
Positive reinforcement involves praising and acknowledging students’ efforts and achievements. Recognizing their progress and hard work promotes a positive attitude toward math. Positive reinforcement builds confidence and motivates students to continue learning and exploring math concepts.
9. Peer Learning:
Peer learning encourages students to work collaboratively, discuss concepts, and solve problems. This explaining math to peers helps to reinforce understanding and different perspectives which gives new insights. This cooperative learning environment motivates them to develop effective communication skills and teamwork, both of which are valuable in and beyond math class.
Educators can create a supportive and stimulating learning environment by incorporating these strategies into math teaching, helping students learn math more effectively and enjoyably. Each strategy complements the others, contributing to a comprehensive and well-rounded math education for young learners.
Are you and your kids ready for some festive fun St. Patrick’s Day spirit in your classroom?
Are you ready to say goodbye to boring activities and see your kids excited to learn math this season?
Then follow along with me for some super fun things you can try in your classroom this season.
By using these St. Patrick’s Day themed Solve The Room Activity you will be able to finally bring some Irish charm into your classroom.
But…
First things first why would you actually need to use this activity?
For me personally, this activity is something I use in my 5th grade math classroom whenever I feel like my kids need a break from their usual math learning and it’s time for some movement going to keep their learning juice flow.
So if it feels like you are facing the same problem, then here are my top 3 reasons why you should use Saint Patrick’s Day themed Scoot activities in your math class:
1. Encourages Movement and Interaction:
The ‘Solve The Room‘ aspect of this activity adds a physical aspect to learning.
Kids aren’t just sitting at their desks and practicing, instead, they’re moving around the classroom.
