Ladies, let’s be real – we all need a little drink (or two) to get through the school week. But, let’s raise a glass to something even more important: Engaging our students and building a strong classroom community through the use of task cards! These little gems not only keep our kiddos on task, but they also help us stay true to those pesky standards we have to teach. They encourage collaboration and problem solving, those 21st century skills that are important outside the walls of our schools. So, cheers to task cards, engagement, and building a community in our classrooms where learning is meaningful, but also fun!

What are task cards?

Think of them like little scavenger hunts for learning! They’re like mini-lessons on a card with a specific task or question for students to complete. They can be used for a variety of subjects and skills, and are a great way to keep your students engaged and on task. Plus, they’re super easy to use and can be a lifesaver for new and old (veteran) teachers like us. So, let’s grab a glass of wine and find out how to use them for more than just a classroom scoot.

How to make them fun

We all know that teaching can feel like being in a long-term relationship, and let’s face it, sometimes it can get a bit monotonous. But, just like spicing things up in a marriage, trying new games and activities can bring new excitement and energy to your classroom.

These are like your own personal Samantha Jones of teaching, bringing a little extra sass and fun to your lessons (minus all the bad language). Not only will it keep things interesting for you, but it will also keep your students engaged and wanting more.

So, don’t be afraid to mix it up and try something new, it will be a refreshing change for you and your students. Try one of these five games with your students.

Sprints:

Objective: To be the first team to solve ALL of your task cards accurately.

1. Divide students into teams (I like groups of 3, but you do you).
2. Give each team the same number of task cards (maybe even the same task cards to keep it fair).
3. Start the timer. Teams solve their task cards as quickly as possible.
4. When done, mark their time in the event of a tie in terms of the number of correct problems solved.

Relays:

Objective: To be the first team to solve ALL of your task cards accurately.

1. Divide the class into teams of 4-6 students.
2. Set up a series of stations around the room, each with a different task card on them.
3. At each station, the first student in line will read the word problem and work to solve it. When they have found the solution, they will run back to their line and tag the next student.
4. The second student in line will run to the second station, and then read the task card at that station.. The relay continues until a team solves all the task card problems at each station.
5. The first team to complete all the task cards wins the race.

Memory:

Objective: To solve and find the matching solution to as many problems as possible.

1. Divide the class into teams or pairs. 
2. Mix up the task cards and solutions and create an array (4 x 4 if using 8 task cards with 8 solution index cards) facing face down.
3. Students take turns drawing a task card from the pile. They solve it and then choose one card to turn over. If their solution matches the problem, they get to keep the card. If it doesn’t, both cards are turned back over. 
4. The player with the most matches at the end of the game wins.

Math Mingle:

Objective: To solve as many problems as possible.

1. Shuffle the deck of index cards and hand one to each student.
2. Have the students form two circles, and inner and outer circle, matching each student with another from the other circle.
3. Students work together to solve both word problems.
4. After a set amount of time (e.g., two minutes), students will rotate to the next person in the circle and repeat the process.
5. Continue rotating and solving problems until all the task cards have been used.

Mix Up:

Objective: To solve as many task cards as possible.

1. Gather a set of task cards and place them in a pile in the middle of the room.
2. Divide the class into teams of 3 – 4 students.
3. Each team will take turns drawing an index card and trying to solve the word problem on it.
4. As each team solves a problem, they will place the index card in a stack in the center of the table and get another card.
5. Continue going for a set amount of time or until all the task cards are gone. 
6. The team with the most task cards at the end wins.

Bottoms UP!

So there you have it, ladies – five fun and engaging games to play with these classic gems in your classroom. These games are sure to bring some excitement and energy to your lessons, and keep your students on task and engaged. And let’s be real, we all need a little something to make our days a bit more interesting. So, cheers to trying something new, spicing up our lessons, and to enjoying a well-deserved cocktail or glass of wine with friends at Friday Happy Hour!

Are we connected on Instagram? No? Well, let’s fix that sister! Hop on over and introduce yourself and share your favorite Friday night drink with me.

Want more savvy ideas for task cards? Check out this new take on task cards.