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 . . .
Great Idea! Sounds like fun.
Thanks, Amy! it was + it reviewed everything and made them think.
This looks really cool! Thanks for sharing
You’re welcome, Janet! It was fun and creative.
Love this idea!!! Thanks for sharing! Can’t wait to try it 🙂
Fun idea!
How creative! Love the idea of making wanted posters to teach a skill that is so hard for some students to understand! Thanks for sharing!!
You’re welcome, Meagan. They were a lot of fun and really made the kids think deeply about numbers.
Great post! Thank you!
You’re welcome, Beth! It was fun and creative.
I love this activity and know my gifted students would too! Could you give me more examples of the posters you made? (format, wording etc.) I would really appreciate it! Love ALL of your ideas. TIA
Thank you, Anissa! I’m so glad you found this. I have had so much fun with my kids doing this! The last time I did it with a group of gifted 5th graders. Wow! They blew my socks off. One of them got so into it that he went home and Googled number properties. He learned about Happy Numbers and asked me if he could teach the class about them. So we all found Happy Numbers that we could do Wanted Posters for. Super fun.
Okay – for examples, could you please email me at [email protected]? Unfortunately, I don’t have photos – I get so involved with the kids that I forget to take them. But, I can send you some in words.
I’m so glad you’re going to do this with your kids. I know they and you will love it. It works great as an authentic assessment, too.