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Get-In-Line Math



Math teacher Ellen Watson uses this activity to review math skills. You might use it for the same reason, or you can use it regularly to review a wide range of math concepts. The activity can be adapted for use at any grade level.

Create a set of index cards; the set should include at least one card per student. Each card should have on it a number or a math problem that reinforces a skill students have been taught. For example, at the middle school level you might include cards that reinforce skills such as squares, square roots, decimals, fractions, mixed numbers, integers, percents A sample of cards at grade 5 might include the following:


7 + (-2) =
9 - (3 x 3) =
8 X .2 =
Pass out a card to each student. Each student must study/solve the problem on her/his card. Then they must create a human number line. The student who holds the card with zero (or a math problem that equals zero) on it, might line up first. Then have students come forward three or four at a time; they must arrange themselves in order on either side of the zero. The other students will "check their work" to make sure they did it correctly.

This activity can use the entire number line, or it could be designed to use only positive numbers or only numbers between zero and one

Want to add an extra little challenge to this activity? Click the link below.


Design a Poet-T

Get-in-Line Math

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Article by Gary Hopkins
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