I’m a Wanted Number! Reviewing Number Properties

I looove quick and easy! So, here’s a quick Idea I want to share with you that’s perfect for a math review project -reviewing any number properties you’ve taught, from odd/even numbers to square roots!

I was working with a group of gifted third graders. We had been working on number properties for a while. We learned about divisibility rules and square numbers. To extend their thinking, I also introduced them to perfect numbers. To do a quick math review project and get them thinking critically, I met with them in whole group and introduced this activity.

I asked students if they had ever seen a wanted poster. Most had and described what they had seen. We looked up the definition in Wikipedia and discussed how important the description was. Then I told students we were going to make our own wanted posters for numbers for our next math review project. They all sighed and the excitement began

I chose the number “6” as our first wanted number and had students brainstorm everything they knew about it. As they mentioned different properties of “6”, I recorded them so their ideas were visible to everyone.

I loved their enthusiasm and the evaluation they did of their ideas and the ideas of others. I could see and hear the wheels turning. When their thinking slowed, together we created the poster.

There are Wanted Poster templates online that you can use if you wish. I wanted to see the students’ creativity and chose to give them a blank sheet of paper. They chose whether to work alone or with a partner to create their own Number Wanted Poster.

This math review project was so much fun! I just didn’t take pictures!! Ugh! And the poster I did quickly with the kids was too ugly to share, but, the picture above has the facts. I confess that I am NOT Pinterest ready!

The sharing of the posters was great. Students first just gave their descriptions without telling their Wanted Number. The other students worked to figure out what the wanted number was. There was so much energy and excitement to find out if they were correct.

We displayed our posters in the school hallway. The students loved seeing others checking out their Wanted Posters and analyzing their numbers.

Even though this was a quick and easy activity, it was super motivational. The thinking was exceptional and the students were very proud to show off their results.

If you have early finishers during your math review project, check out this post – Early Finishers and Gifted – Free Printables.

 

What activities have you done with your class to review? I’d love to know about them.

If you need more great thinking activities that will motivate and challenge your students, check out this bundle. No prep tasks. Just print and go. Click the picture for details!

Thanks!

And as always . . .