- A new daughter
- A new job where I can prepare middle level educators while still having many chances to get back into the classroom and work with/teach middle school students
- A group of math professionals scattered around the web that pump out mathematical task after mathematical task for classroom use TASK SPREADSHEET
Day One ~ You can feed your leftover fruitcake to this giant squirrel...
Courtesy of @emergentmath and also adapted by @daneehlert
Man Versus Squirrel Blog Post With Student Work
Man Versus Squirrel Student Directions
Day Two ~ Mmmmm...holiday cookies (use your imagination)
Courtesy of @mathletepearce
Cookie Cutter Task Blog Post With Student Work
Cookie Cutter Task Student Directions
Day Three ~ Instead of serving ham for the holidays, try this big stack of beef...
Courtesy of @robertkaplinsky
In-N-Out Burger Task Blog Post With Student Work
In-N-Out Burger Task Student Directions
Day Four ~ It would be nice if I could print money to buy presents for the holidays...
Courtesy of @ddmeyer
Shrinking Dollar Task Blog Post With Student Work
Shrinking Dollar Task Student Directions
Day Five ~ Buying presents can be expensive, especially if your budget consists of only pennies in a cube 6 inch cube...
Courtesy of @mikewiernicki
Penny Cube Task Blog Post With Student Work
Penny Cube Task Student Directions
Day Six ~ The ultimate holiday party game...Giant Jenga!
Courtesy of @daneehlert
Jenga Task Blog Post With Student Work
Jenga Task Student Directions
Day Seven ~ The weather has been so nice in Iowa that I might have to mow in December...
Courtesy of @mathletepearce
Lawn Mowing Task Student Work Example (for whatever reason I didn't keep all the student work for this, but here is one example...good luck reading it :-)
Part One of Student Work
Part Two of Student Work
Lawn Mowing Task Student Directions
Day Eight ~ Inflatable Holiday Decorations...How Long to Inflate?
Courtesy of @daneehlert
Air Pump Task Blog Post With Student Work
Air Pump Task Student Directions
Day Nine ~ Laying some new tile? I don't know what that has to do with the holidays, but it was a great task...
Courtesy of Santa??? I am not really sure where this came from, but I would like to know.
Tile Floor Task Blog Post With Student Work
Tile Floor Task Student Directions
Day Ten ~ This is going to turn into the 11 tasks of the holiday season...I didn't have time to post today. Sorry for the inconvenience!
Day Eleven ~ These toothpicks make a festive tree for the holiday season...
Courtesy of @ddmeyer
Toothpick Task Blog Post With Student Work
Toothpick Task Student Directions
Day Twelve ~ These blocks might be a popular holiday gift...
Courtesy of @fawnpnguyen and @mr_stadel
Hotel Snap Task Blog Post With Student Work
Hotel Snap Directions
I hope this post collection gave you an idea of what students are capable of as well as tasks/task creators to help you plan out the best experience possible for your students. Doing something like these tasks where students get to explore and collaborate makes the entire classroom experience more enjoyable. Middle school students like "doing" and not being led to something, and these tasks provide this type of "doing" experience. Have a wonderful holiday and get your students "doing" after the break!
Here are some other relatable posts if interested:
Tasks and Standardized Testing
How to Implement a Mathematical Task
How to Get Your Students Talking and Writing One
How to Get Your Students Talking and Writing Two
Dr. Clayton M. Edwards
Assistant Professor of Curriculum and Instruction
University of Northern Iowa
Schindler Education Center/Nielsen Field House
Middle Level Major Requirements
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Editorial Panel
Curriculum VitaMiddle Level Major Requirements
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Editorial Panel
