Easy DIY Math Center Activity for any Grade
I always have math center ideas on the brain. I saw these in the Target Dollar Spot and had to buy them. I’ve seen similar puzzle cards at the Dollar Tree as well. Why, you might wonder, would a math teacher want alphabet puzzles?
These puzzle cards carry some serious potential. The interlocking pieces seem perfect for a math center, and they are only $1! Surely I can modify them to fit into a math classroom. Read on for my process!
I decided to use acrylic paint, but in hindsight I would much rather spray paint these or use chalk paint. I had acrylic paint on hand, and I liked the color. Use what you like!
Materials I Use:
- Alphabet Puzzle Cards
- Acrylic Paint
- Most important of all, protect the work surface!
- First, apply a thin coat of paint to the entire alphabet card.
- Allow to dry for a few minutes.
- Next, apply a second coat of paint to the card.
- Allow to completely dry, preferably overnight.
- Finally, use a Sharpie, scrapbook or regular stickers, or even printed labels to create your matching cards!
I can think of so many ways to use these as a matching math center, but here are my top ideas! Feel free to use these, or you can use anything from your state standards.
Lower Elementary Center Activities
- Match numerals to ten frame
- Connect one set of pictures to another set of pictures of the same quantity
- Find a picture of a fraction that matches a written fraction
- Practice addition and subtraction math facts with the fact and answer
- Find two equivalent amounts using models and numerals
- Match types of shapes to attributes (example: triangle; 3 sided closed figure)
Upper Elementary Center Activities
- Practice multiplication and division facts with the fact and answer
- Match equivalent fractions
- Match equivalent expressions
- Find the factor pairs of a whole number
- Match equivalent unit conversions
- Match a picture of an angle to it’s measure in degrees
- Solve fraction problems
As you can see, you can use anything in your standards that asks students to match. If you use labels, then these activity cards can be used throughout the school year. Just peel off the old label and replace with a new one midway through the school year. Voila! A brand new center for your students.