What are the 3 fun and famous math activities for Valentine’s day? Have you played them before for the holiday? Which variation of Valentine math game did you try? Read on to get more inspiration for valentine’s math activities.
The math activities for valentine’s day mentioned in this blog post are common and you have most likely heard of it before. So why do I still write about them? There are 3 reasons for it.
#1: You may not think or know about them.
You may be a new teacher and are still exploring the many activities that we can play with our students. So, for those teachers out there, hopefully, this post will give you more ideas.
Or perhaps you never heard of these famous games. After all, what I think is common may not be in your culture or country.
#2: To remind you to add them to your list of math activities for valentine’s day.
You might be looking for unique ways and decided to scrap these common games. But I do encourage you to use them especially when you are feeling stressed.
Because, when playing games we all know how it works, it doesn’t require you to spend too much time on explanation. Thereafter, You can just focus on channeling your students’ excitement for Valentine’s Day to the task on hand. Furthermore, while your students play, you can take a breather.
#3: To share with you the different ways we can play these traditional games.
Just like in 3 Online Math Winter Activities Kids Actually Found Fun And Interesting, I will provide some extension ideas. So if you love playing games in different ways, continue to read on!
The resources mentioned in this post suits grades 3 to 5. But the game types can be used for all grades. So, just find the game type that review specific topics that you want your students to practice. However, If you can’t find what you need, drop a message, and I’ll see what I can do for you.
Without further ado, let’s move on to the first common math activity.
1) Valentine’s Day Board Game
Board game should not be foreign to you (I hope). There are many kinds of board games, including educational types too. However, for valentine’s day, look for cupids, flowers, and heart-shaped decorations.
Heart shape decor will save you the most money as you can also reuse it for other holidays such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Global Love Day, and any Love-related festive.
For this post, I will be introducing a board game that suits 3rd grade Valentine math.
If your students are rowdy, consider getting a printable one. For instance, if you are looking for 3rd grade valentine games, you can buy Multiplication Games 3rd Grade Printable.
After purchase, print it, laminate it or place it in a protective sheet or transparent folder. If it gets lost, spoiled or you simply need more than 1 board, you can simply print more.
It is perfect for teachers who have many students and will be using it many times (save more money in the long run).
Online Board Game To Play
Alternatively, if you need to practice safe distancing, remote learning, or simply want to use technology during math lessons, this resource also comes with a virtual version at Boom™ Learning platform.
In this resource, there are 3 different styles of board games that review multiplication 2 to 9 in engaging and fun ways. By going online, you no longer need to trouble yourself with keeping the boards and counters. Moreover, this is perfect to use with fast finishers, as a review, or at math centers & stations.
These games are for 2 to 4 players. Counters are included on the board. So, you will only need 1 dice, be it physical or digital. Find a digital dice/spinner online, split-screen and screen share both to use it with the board game.
However, if you want both of them as part of your 3rd grade Valentines day activities, check out the money-saving bundle: Multiplication Games For Third Grade.
Extra Love
Ask them to share how they show their love when they land on the hearts.
In the board game of Love Moved, there are hearts on the board that students might land on it. Instead of going back to the start, ask them to act out love symbols. In addition, you can make it a rule that there can’t be any repeated sign.
Alternatively, you can ask them to share a number of things they are grateful for or things that they love.
2) Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt
Kids love scavenger hunts, don’t you think so? So create some cute valentine’s day scavenger hunts for your students! No time for that? Search TpT for some freebies.
If those can’t fulfill your needs, and you happened to be looking for a scavenger hunt that reviews the multiplication of fractions, I might be able to help you.
This is not just any self-checking scavenger hunt. It includes a secret valentine message. That is to say, students will be moving around solving fraction questions to get the letters of the anagram. After that, they have to unscramble it to reveal the mystery words. In other words, it’s like a scavenger hunt for valentine’s day riddles.
Alternatives To Scavenger Hunt
A. Scoot Activity
You can change this into a scoot activity if you require to maintain some safe distancing but still want some movement in class.
For example, place the questions in sequence on different tables or paste them on walls a distance apart. Then, set a timer you think is appropriate (2-3 minutes). Students need to move to the next table when the timer rings.
Remember to remind your students to copy down the questions. Especially if you don’t plan to let them get back to the same table again.
B. I Have Who Has Game
You can play fractions I have who has game if you need them to be sitting at their own desk. This is only suitable for small groups of students.
Distribute the task cards equally to your students. If there are some extras, either use them for demonstration or give them to someone who is willing to do more. The student with the extra one gets to go first.
Students will take turns to say the letter of the task card, the questions as well as the answer.
For example:
The first student will say: “My letter is ___. My question is ___. Who has___?”
The student who has that answer under the “previous answer” will reply, “I have___, My letter is __. My question is ___. Who has___?”
This will allow students to practice verbalizing fractions.
Everyone needs to record down the letters, questions, and answers. If there is a mistake, everyone can help to figure out the correct answer. In the end, everyone’s recording sheet should look similar.
C. Worksheets/Online Practice
You can change this scavenger hunt into a simple Valentine math worksheet. This will require no preparation for you. Just print the recording sheet and the task cards.
If you are using this for online practice, just share screen the questions on the task cards.
To add a touch of fun, you can ask students to draw a picture that portrays nouns starting with the alphabet of THE WORD. (It is easier to identify that way)
For example, if The Word is VALENTINE.
A student can draw a picture that incorporates: Van, Apple, Lion, Elephant, Nest, Tiger, Ice cream, Egg.
So the picture can look like this: An ice cream van is parked underneath an apple tree. On the apple tree, there is a nest full of eggs. In the van, there is a lion serving ice cream to a tiger and an elephant.
Of course, instead of a cohesive picture that shows a scene, it may be easier for your kids to just draw the various nouns on a piece of paper. So it is up to you how you want it to be done. Once they are done with their drawing, they can give this picture to their friend.
3) Secret Valentine Game
Every student should have a Secret Valentine. You can assign or write students’ names on different pieces of paper, roll them into balls and let your students pick them. Record each student’s Secret Valentine. We keep going on about Secret Valentine and you may be asking:
What is a secret valentine?
It is like Secret Santa whereby you will give someone presents without them knowing who you are. Alternatively, instead of giving presents, you can consider being kind and helpful to them during a period of time.
So how do we utilize this with math? Simple, students will have to solve a certain number of math resources to get clues to their secret Valentine. Yes, you got it right, the goal of this game is to figure out their Secret Valentine.
The clues can be written by you, or by the students themselves.
Use Valentine-themed practices within this game for a more cohesive feel.
Comparing Improper Fractions and Mixed Numbers Converting Improper Fractions To Mixed Numbers Practice
To make it even more elaborate or drag this on for more than 1 day, you can provide validation options. For instance, completing a certain number of questions correctly entitle them to the chance to validate. They need to pick 3 people and you will tell them whether their Secret Valentine is among them.
For more inspiration, you can refer to those variety shows whereby team members have to find out who is the spy.
Conclusion
Valentine’s day is a holiday which we can make use of to share with students what is love and kindness all about. As we play Valentine’s Day Board Game, Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt, and Secret Valentine Game, let’s constantly remind our students about these important traits. We are all here to have fun and let’s communicate in a way that doesn’t hurt each other feelings.
I do like the idea in this post: Secret Valentines Service and Kindness Tree!
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