Math Word Wall Activities and a Freebie

Math Word Walls- Part 2

Click here to go back and read Part 1 if you haven't done so already.

It takes a little while to build up enough words on your while to do some of these activities. Once you have about ten words on the wall, you are good to go. These are some of our favourites but I am sure there are more ideas. Let me know if you have tried and true activities that your students love.

Have fun!

1. Play MATHGO - Here is a link to the download so you can play with your class! The rules are simple. The students choose 9 words from the wall and write them wherever they want. Next, the teacher calls out definitions and the students cover the words according to the definition. The goal is to get three in a row. If you only have ten words on your wall, quite a few students will call out MATHGO at the same time. That's fine.  Hand out your prizes if you like and clear the boards to start over. If you have Math Literacy bags, students can keep these in their bags, or you can start a new one after more words are added to your wall.

2. Word Cheers or Chants- This is borrowed directly from the common Language word wall activities but with a twist. We use many different cheers for our words, but then we add in the short definition to go with them. Sometimes we DON'T chant each letter but rather each word. This is a variation from what you may be used to.  Our Math word wall has the definitions with the words, so saying the definition is easy they can just read it off the wall. Here are some of our favourite types of cheers:
  -Beat it- tap it out on our desks as we go
  -Reach for the stars- Reach up alternating arms for each letter
  -Snap it- Snap a finger for each word in the definition
  -Deep Voices- call it out low and slow
  -Knee Slaps- Slap your knee for each word or letter
  -Toe Touches- touch your toe for each word

3. Definition Call- Out - The teacher calls out a definition. Students listen and when they think they know the word, they hold a thumbs up sign in front of their chest and sit quietly. No talking. Say the definition and/or give clues until you see most of the class with thumbs up. Call out the word "Release!" and the students get to say the word together. This gives most of the class the time they might need to search the wall for the word and keeps others from calling out. It works really well.

4. Make your word wall- In groups, give students a copy of the words on the actual wall. have them cut them up and arrange them into categories or groups. Let them decide which words go together. if your words are arranged this way already, you can either cover them up or take them down so students get the chance to arrange them without reference. I use a few sheets of chart paper to cover mine up.  You can also give students some blank paper and markers and they can add other words in that they think the wall might be missing.

5. Play Hot Seat- Choose one student to sit in the hot seat facing the class away from the wall. The teacher points to a word on the wall. Students can now raise their hand to give clues to the student in the Hot Seat. They are not to give the exact description but rather clues. They can give example or non-example or facts and characteristics of the word.

6. Frayer Model Sheets- hand out a frayer model sheet and have students choose a word from the wall and then fill out the sheet at their desk. These can be kept together and stapled into a booklet once they get enough words. Here is a sheet that I have created that we use in our class.

Math Word Walls

No doubt, you've seen word walls for language literacy. What about mathematical literacy?  As part of my Capstone project for my diploma, I have began incorporating a math word wall into my room. I love it! I am so proud of my students and all of the words they are learning and using. It is fun to hear them talking during math and hear one students say to another, "You need to decompose that number first. It will make it easier to add." or "That is not a reasonable answer. Remember what Mrs. Teague said. It needs to be logical and that is way way way off!" 

How to get started: 

First, you will need to find yourself a set of word cards for the wall. these are not easy to find in stores, but luckily there are a few great downloadable ones out there. Which words you choose comes down to personal choice. What do you want your students to use the words for? How big do you want them? Do you want the definition on them? Here are some of my favourites: 

1. Broward free word wall- this is a smaller set of words but they have little pictures to help students remember what the word is- I like that!

2. 3 Word types- free- this is a neat set of words- they have the same word three times per 8.5 X 11 page. The first is just the word, the second has a word and little picture and the third has the word, picture and definition. 

3. Teachers Pay Teachers- using the search term math word wall there are many to choose from. 

4. Teaching and Tapas math word wall- this is the wall that I purchased above. It is colour coded for the main strands of math. it also includes the definition and a little picture beside each word. I liked these because they included the three items I wanted and also came in three sizes. I used the largest sized words for my wall but you can also print off smaller words for students to use at centers etc... 

5. Virginia DOE free word wall words per grade - I found these after I purchased mine and I love them! They are full page which is great for visibility in the room. They would take up more space but you could rotate words as needed. 

Now what? 

The next step is to prepare your words. I had mine printed at Staples. It cost just over $25 for my set of words. In retrospect, there are some words that I think I may never use and I could have saved some money by not printing them but then again, it is nice to have a full and complete set of words ready to go. Laminate them and you are ready to go. I keep mine separated by colour. this makes it easier to find the words suited to the strand we are learning at the time. 

Setting up your wall

There are LOTS of options here. Many who have used language word walls before may think of placing the words in alphabetical order. This is not needed for a Math word wall as it will contain a lot less words and they are grouped differently, similar to grouping a language wall by placing nouns together or colour words together.  Some people just put up the words for their present unit. So far, I have just added the words we have studied. I am not sure what I will do when our little bulletin area is full. What are your thoughts? 

Click here part 2- What to do with your wall?