On the go games and activities

"When I have some time at the end of the day, I play IT CAN BE with my
class. A child holds up an addition sum and the class has to give the problem. For
example, if the card says 17, someone called on might say 9 + 8. If the flashcard
says 8 + 9, the child holding the card would say, IT COULD BE BUT IT'S NOT. If
the child says 9 + 8, the child holding the card would say, IT COULD BE AND IT
IS. The children have to give the problem exactly as it's written on the card. If a
child gives a completely incorrect answer such as 9 + 6, the response is, IT
COULDN'T BE. The child that answers correctly gets to be the next one to hold up
the flashcard. This game is a great activity for enhancing math thinking skills."

Math Ball--Get a medium-size ball and write (with a permanent marker)

numbers from 0-10 over and over again until the whole ball is covered. Then,
when in the classroom, play it like silent ball. When a student catches it, he/she
looks at the two numbers the thumbs are on and has to multiply them. The
answer must be given within 10 seconds. Before the game starts, you can decide
which two fingers will be used, and also which math operation will be used
(division, addition, subtraction, multiplication). I played Math Ball with 5th
graders and they loved it! Thanks ACE!

Have the children play round the world. First grade teacher can use addition
flash cards. Third or higher use multiplication cards. Have the first student in row
1 stand by second student which ever student gets correct answer moves on.
The student that loses sits in that seat. Object is to get back to your seat and
then you win. If you can go all around the room and back to your seat you are
the winner.
This is a great activity waiting for the bus after everyone is ready to go home.
Have fun!!!!! - Thank you SPEA280100!

It's called "Howdy Partner!"

You pick one child to be "it". "It" sits in a chair at the front of the room facing the
wall (or chalkboard), and closes its eyes. Then you pick someone in the
classroom to quietly creep up to "it" and say, in a disguised voice (and it's very
important for the voice to be disguised for the game to be fun), "Howdy Partner"
(and this is when the giggling starts). Now it's up to "it" to try to identify that
particular voice. If he can, then the child who said "Howdy Partner" becomes the
new "it". If he can't, you pick another child to say "Howdy Partner". This is a fun
game for the primary grades.
- Thanks Annie from the "substituteteacher@onelist.com."

This game is especially great when students are fidgety and they need to
burn off steam. It is called "Four Corners".
You number the four corners of the room. Choose one student to be "it" and
he/she covers his/her eyes and begins to count. While he/she is counting, the
other students run to any of the four corners. When "it" has reached a
designated count, he/she shouts out one of the four corner numbers. Any
students in that corner must sit down. Play continues with the same "it" until
only one student is left standing. If time remains, that student becomes the new
"it". If no time remains, just allow that student to be "it" the next time.
- Thanks Kimberlee from the "substituteteacher@onelist.com."

CHAIN STORIES
A great way doing creative writing painlessly is continuing chain stories. If you
have access to the Internet, you can find the beginnings of stories on
http://www.beaumont-publishing.com/efl/chainstories.htm
I have found that it is a tremendous motivation for students to be able to
continue stories using their imagination and that their efforts will be published on
the web. And the fact that they can add a part to any version you want, not
necessarily to the last part, means that they have the power to change the way a
story is going if they don't like what has been added previously.
You don't have to be online to do these. It's enough to get online, print out the
stories and have the students work on their versions in class. They can do this
individually or can work in groups, with you giving help where needed. With my
lower level students, we work in groups so that we can work on grammar,
spelling and style. You only need to get online again to submit the completed
parts/versions. They love seeing their efforts on the web a day later.
Thank you Richard G!
COMEDY SPORTS!
This fun activity works with any grade level that can spell. Ask for volunteers and
create a team of 3-5 players. These students come to the front of the room. The
rest of the class thinks of a word for the team to spell. It can be any word that is
difficult, or you can limit it to a vocabulary word from a certain unit or topic they
are studying. The catch with the spelling is that each team member can only
give ONE letter. The team must then use the word in a sentence, with each team
member again only giving one word. It is a hoot. You can keep score if you wish,
pitting teams against each other, or just use it as a review activity. The teacher
serves as the referee, and the ref's decisions are FINAL. Have fun! - Thanks
Karen in Wisconsin!
Geography Anyone?
Okay, here's a fun geography lesson/game I made up on the spur of the moment
yesterday for a sixth-grade class. It requires reasonably good drawing skills, but
it can take up 1 1/2 to 2 hours of class time:
Make sure your students have access to several copies of USA maps, with the
states clearly delineated. Before school begins, or during a prep period, draw a
map of the US, with state outlines, on the chalkboard (this took me about fifteen
minutes). The map should be about 4' wide, or at least big enough so that the
students can write the state names inside each state (draw lines out for the
small states).
Divide class into study groups of 4-5 kids each. Hand each group an atlas/US
map, and ask them to study the state names/locations. Give them about half an
hour. Explain that they will play a game that has elements of chance and of skill,
and that the team that knows where the most states are has a good chance of
winning. While they are studying the maps, write down each team, with their
individual names, on a slip of paper to be drawn from a basket.
When it's time to play, you select the first team from the basket. One person
from that team goes to the board and fill in ONE state name. If they are correct,
they get a point. If not, no point. Either way, that team pulls the next paper from
the basket (which includes their own slip, too). Next team fills in a state. Same
thing, until ten states are filled in correctly. The random element is good,
because the game might be dull at the beginning otherwise. It also varies the
odds of winning, and keeps the kids on their toes.
The second set of ten states are worth TWO points each. The third set of states
are worth THREE points each. And so on, up to five points.
If you promise these kids a candy reward in advance (I bought a pack of Skittles
each for the winning team members, and all the other kids got "Dum-dum"
pops), they will play fiercely! Just make sure they all put maps and cheat sheets
away before they play!! This could work for grades 4 and up, I think. - Thanks
Maxzmomliz!
Yes / No
One student acts as the person asking the questions another answering. The
person answering is not allowed to yes or no, umm, ahhh or stall for too long.
They are out if they do.
Five-O
Suitable for teenagers. Break class in teams of around 4 or 5 so you end up with
even groups. They have to think of a five letter word and compete against
another team. They have to guess the word by writing a five letter word down,
the opposition tells them how many letters are correct in the word, but not which
ones. Example: Your word is "clash" they guess "beach" there are 3 letters the
same. Next they may guess "bingo" no correct letters. They keep going till they
get the correct word. Each team takes a turn, the first team to guess the word
wins. Makes it easier if they keep a note on impossible letters & probable letters.
Can take ages to play & really gets their brains & logic skills a work out.
- Thanks Justine G.
Worksheets Galore!
They have over 1500 free worksheets and are adding more every week. It
is http://www.freeworksheets.com (Thanks from Sue at the
substituteteacher@onelist.com)

Start the Day Off Smoothly

Subs move around from grade to grade and school to school and may not get a
chance to get to know the students. It is important to start the day off on the
right foot and get to know the students a bit before you jump into teacher mode!
Take this list of questions found below with you to all jobs and write the questions
on the board when you arrive. Then have each student answer the questions on
a piece of paper. Finally, have all the students share their answers with you and
the class.
What is your favorite animal?
What is your favorite color?
What's your favorite TV show?
What's you favorite song?
What's you favorite school subject?
What do you like to do in your free time?
Hopefully, this will give you a much better understanding of you students and
will make the run smoothly!
Pick a Number
1.) Ask the class to take out a piece of paper.
2.) Tell them to pick a number between 1-10 and to write it on their paper and to
cover their papers because you don't want to know what the number is.
3.) So that you can talk about their numbers you are going to assign it the letter
value Z. Write Z on the board.
4.) Observe that their can be 10 different Z's in the room, one for every number
from 1-10. Someone has probably chosen 3, 5, and 9. But so you can talk about
the everyone's number, your letting Z stand for everyone's number.
5.) Tell the class to add nine to their Z.
6.) Next have them subtract, let's say... 5
7.) Continue with addition or subtraction combinations for at least three or four
more numbers. For example; add 7, subtract 8, and add 4.
8.) You should be writing the individual steps as they occur on the board. z 9 +9
-5 -5 4 +7 +7 -8 11 +4 -8 3 +4 7
9.) Finally, have them subtract the original number they choose, their Z. Wait a
sufficient amount of time, and then ask, "how many came up with seven."
10). Now the kids think you performed magic and want to know how you did it.
***See if they can figure it out. Repeat several times! The Secret Add and
subtract the numbers between the Z's. The number they pick (z) is cancelled out
at the end when you ask for subtraction in the last step. Try this several times
before giving it to a class!!
A Subs Version of Pictionary
Write current movies, books, cartoon characters, and songs on slips of paper and
place them in a baggies. divide the class into two groups, and allow one student
from Group 1 to come up. Hand him/her a slip of the pre-made ideas on it. Then
have he/she go to the board and try to draw it. Allow either group to guess what
their classmate is drawing.
Word Search
Pack some of these in your bag. They are easy to make
at www.puzzlemaker.com ! You can also make mazes here too.
Title It
Give each team captain a bookmark. Each student on the team must hop down
to the book, lay the bookmark on the page designated by the referee, close the
book, and then hop back. The next student hops down and moves the bookmark
up five and hops back. Repeat this until you have a winner.
Tickle Toes
Make some feet and cut off the toes. Laminate the pieces. Now for a quick review
give each team or student a foot. Ask each team member a review question
alternating teams. If a wrong answer is given - off comes a toe. The team with
toes remaining is the winner. This is so simple and they love it.
Word Wizards
Think of a word that has to do with something your students are learning or an
up and coming holiday. Say the words are United States. Don't tell the class the
word yet. First, break the class into groups of four and explain that you are going
to give them a word or a phrase and they need to make as many words as they
can using only the letters in the word you are going to give them. Write the word
on the board and let them begin. After a predetermined time, have the groups
turn in their paper. Check the papers and give the winning group a prize or
privilege!!
Sparkle (Spelling)
I first learned this in a practicum at Streams Elementary School from a wonderful
teacher named; Ginny Zemaitis. It is a pretty common game and most students
have played it before. Still it works great! this is how it goes... 1. Have the
students stand in a circle. 2. Pick a student to start. 3. Give the student a spelling
word. Let's say, "teacher." 4. That student will say teacher and the next student
will say, "T", and the next student will say, "E", and the next student will say, "A",
and so on.... 5. Finally a student will say "R" and the next student will say
"sparkle" and sit down on the floor. 6. The next person will start the new word
and it will go down the line in the same manner. 7. Repeat these steps until there
is only one person standing - they are the winner! NOTE: if a student says an
incorrect letter during the game, they must sit down and the word is started
again by the next person.
What State - Geography
1.) Display a large US map.
2.) Have the students line up behind it.
3.) The first two students should stand in front of the map.
4.) The teacher should then name a state.
5.) The first of the two students to point to it wins the round and remains
standing.
6.) The next student in line replaces the player who then returns to the end of
the line.
Where Have You Gone Vowel?
1.) Write several short vowel words on the board. Omit the vowels.
2.) Ask the class to think of vowels that would make the word complete.
3.) Have student volunteers come to the board to make the word complete.
Place - Value Scramble
1.) Write three #'s on the board.
2.) Ask students to rearrange the numerals to make the lowest possible number,
the highest possible number, a number with the largest number in the tens
place, and other, similar placements.
3.) Complete the activity by asking students to help you in arranging the
resulting numbers in order.
Spelling Detectives
1.) Write the weekly spelling words in random order on the chalk board and tell
the class to study the words carefully for one minuet.
2.) Tell the students to put their heads down - no looking!
3.) Erase one of the words and rewrite it - this time spell it wrong.
4.) As the class has their heads down say, "Oh my, something looks wrong - all
spelling detectives raise your heads and see if you can tell me what word is not
spelled correctly."
5.) After 30 seconds, call on a volunteer to tell you the word and how it should be
spelled. If the child answers correctly reward the class a point. If the child does
not answer correctly, identify the word and give yourself 1 point.
6.) Repeat Steps.
Bumble Bee Bumble Bee
I see something you don't see and it begins with (give inital letter/blend/digraph
or sound). The person who guesses correctly can do the next round.
Number Squeeze
Pick a number between 0-100 (or early in the year 0-50). Draw a line on the
board. At the top, on the left side print Too Little, and then Too Big on the right
side. As children give their guesses record their number on the appropriate side
of the line--They should be able to "squeeze" out the number. This can be played
using a number line --have children cover the too little and too big guesses--the
class can see the "squeezing" as they narrow their choices