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Playing Footloose

I realized that I have mentioned the activity called Footloose in my blog before, but have never really explained it. It's an activity that is enjoyed by kids of all ages, and can certainly be varied according to the topic that is being studied. I use it mostly for math, because that's what I teach; but in the past,
when I taught different grade levels, I used it as a review activity in other subject areas as well.

It is amazing how quiet and engaged students are when doing this activity. They are up and down, out of their seats, and you'd think they'd be very distracted...but no matter what the grade level (I've used it with 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th), they work hard to complete the questions!  

Here's how it works:

1. There are 30 cards, with a question on each card. Each card is numbered, from 1-30. I do laminate the cards so that they don't get ruined after one use:)
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2. Students receive a Footloose grid (there's one on the desk in the picture).
3. Each student is given a card to start with, and the  extras are placed around the room. I typically put
them on the chalk/white boards ledges (cards are on the ledge in the picture).
4. Students find the answer to each question, writing their work on the grid or on separate paper. They
then record the answer to each question on the grid, in the box with the corresponding number.
5. When students finish with a card, they place it on the chalk ledge and get a new card.
6. This continues until students have answered all questions.



A few times I have taped the cards around the room instead of using the ledges, because when students are looking for the last couple of cards, they have trouble finding them. When they are posted, it's a little easier to find them all.

Sometimes I make it a competition, and the student with the most answers correct is the winner; other times I use it as a graded review.

I haven't used the activity much lately, which is good, because I don't want them to get tired of it!

What math review activities do you use? (I need some more variety!)




  





Comments

  1. Speed dating - half of the students are seated, the other half move from partner to partner about every 3-5 minutes. Each pair is to work on one problem then stop. When you move to your new partner, you compare your last answers to correct then move on to do the next problem.

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