Jenga Blocks in the Classroom

I purchased this set of Jenga blocks for only €4 in Tesco's last week.

I try to have a few games on each set, to get extra value for money! For example I have multiplication on one side of the blocks and a division set on the other.
Here are a few ways I like to use them in station teaching or as an early finisher activity.

 Maths

• Multiplication and division tables (useful to leave a multiplication square at the station so they can check answers)
• Addition and Subtraction tables for younger classes
• Fractions: 1/4 of 20
• Percentages: 30% of 10
• Decimals: 0.1 of 20
• Number Sequences or patterns: 12, ____, 14 or 3,6,9, ____
• Rounding numbers to nearest 10, 100, 1000

Gaeilge

Write the root of the verbs on the blocks and the children can change the verb to one of the following:

• Aimsir Chaite
• Aimsir Láithreach
• Aimsir Fháistineach
• Question form/negative of verb

English

• Prefix/Suffix

Add a prefix/suffix to each block and the children have to give a word that contains the prefix or suffix

• Phonics 

Put letters and letter blends (e.g. th) on the blocks and the children have to say a word with that letter sound

• Conversation Starters (Oral Language)

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Ways to play

Remove one piece at a time and keep it of you get the answer correct. When the tower collapses, whoever has the most blocks is the winner.

OR

Place each piece on top after you answer the question. Use a whiteboard or paper to record correct answers.

Feel free to add other ideas for using Jenga blocks in the comments below.

Tantrix Puzzles

On a recent trip to New Zealand, I stopped off at Puzzle World, home to the first 3D 'Supermaze'.

You can also just grab a coffee and try out lots of puzzles for free!

While there, I bought a couple of puzzles including Tantrix, which originated in New Zealand. It is really good for problem solving skills and requires perseverance!

There are many different sets but I bought a basic one for my class. 

In this set, there are varying levels of difficulty starting with a 3 piece puzzle. The number on the back tells you what colour the loop must form. For example, the number 8 is blue so the eight pieces must make a complete blue loop (while the other colours must link correctly too!)

                          

I am looking forward to seeing how the students get on with it on rainy days or as an early finisher activity! 

I have also ordered this more complex one online since coming home.

                                                

You can order from www.puzzlingworld.co.nz but the shipping charges are expensive. I purchased the second set from Amazon.

To find out more about Tantrix and try it out outline, have a look at www.tantrix.com

The Primary Planet (Irish Newspaper for Children)

When I started in a new school this year, I first came across 'The Primary Planet'. It has been used in the school for the past few years in the senior classes. It is a 40 page monthly newspaper for children containing articles from sport to international and national news and everything you can imagine in between.

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I thought I would put together a few things I like about it in case anyone is looking for an engaging supplementary resource for their class next year.

1. Topical issues

Each month the articles relate to events happening in Ireland and around the world. The current issue has articles about the formation of a new government, the upcoming Census, movies currently in the cinema and all the latest in the sporting world.

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2. Caters for all interests

The newspaper is very varied and contains something to interest all children, be it Science, technology, showbiz or sport. Even my most reluctant readers are always asking when the next edition will be in!

3. Downloadable teachers resources/planning sheet

On the website, the teacher can download extra resources (quizzes, activity sheets) as well as a detailed planning sheet which contains the relevant strands and strand units. This is particularly helpful to me when completing my monthly plans as the strand units are to hand!

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4. Competitions

My class particularly enjoy entering the various competitions run monthly by 'The Primary Planet'.  A theme is chosen each month for a poetry competition so it is a good incentive for children to take on the role of a poet! A few children in my class had their poems published in an issue and it led to great excitement in the school and was a great confidence boost for the children also to see their work published.

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5. Early finisher activity

Sometimes Early Finisher Activities can be mundane and repetitive. With 'The Primary Planet', children love to pick it up after completing a piece of work and have a browse through it.

6. Challenging vocabulary

While it is specifically written for children in the senior classes, the articles do contain challenging vocabulary which the children are now starting to use in their own writing.

7. Links to Curricular Areas

It covers most, if not all of the curricular areas monthly. It even has a 'problem page' dealing with some issues that may arise in the senior classes. We often use it as a stimulus for Circle Time or an SPHE lesson.

At first, I thought it would be difficult to integrate another resource into an already overloaded timetable, but the children really take the lead with The Primary Planet and use it independently aswell.
The main benefit I have seen is that children who don't particularly like to pick up a book and read find 'The Primary Planet' interesting, accessible and can't wait to get the next issue.

Have a look at their website to see if it would be a beneficial resource for your class.

http://www.theprimaryplanet.ie/

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How to Cope with Early Finishers!!

Sometimes the last thing you want to hear 10 minutes into a task is 'Teacher, I'm finished!' only to see that they have put in a great effort and are indeed finished.

I always try to keep them occupied and busy, particularly as if I am teaching a multigrade class. The following are strategies I use to keep children challenged in a meaningful way (I don't see the point in giving them 20 more of the same Maths sums or 10 more sentences in English. Instead I prefer to give them critical thinking tasks or problem solving tasks).

1. DEAR Time (Drop Everything and Read)
Encourage the children to have a library book on their tables always and they can pick them up as soon as they are finished a piece of work.

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2. Free Writing
Allow them to have a copy where they can write without any guidance. It allows them to be creative for themselves. While I always monitor these copies, I don't correct them to allow the child to take ownership of their writing. I usually do this as a whole class activity 3 times per week for 10 minutes. Last year, children surprised me by practicing genres we had previously explored, writing poetry and even pieces as Gaeilge!

3. Busy Bee Area
Depending on the class I have I either make a Busy Bee Area or a Busy Bee Booklet for the children. Included in this area are brainteasers, Sudokus, book review templates and tasks to challenge the children. They automatically go to this area/booklet when they have completed their work.  Take a look at the link here if you would like to set one up in your classroom.

4. Boggle/Target Numbers
We might have a boggle board in our room and the children have a weekly challenge to make as many words as possible.
A weekly/daily target number which they have to make with a specific set of numbers or make that number using as many operations as possible. Click on the image below to find a free outline to download.

5. Computer tasks
Whether it's typing an article for the school blog, writing up an excellent piece of work they have previously completed or doing Interactive Maths games, it's great to use the ICT facilities that you have (hopefully!) in your room.