Moore Math Messages
Elementary Math November 2025
Mathematicians: Put First Things First
Alice Ball (1892–1916) – Chemist
⚗️ Alice worked hard to find a way to treat leprosy when no one else could.
➜ She focused on helping others before getting credit.
Ellen Ochoa (1958– ) – Engineer & Astronaut
🚀 Ellen studied science and engineering for years before becoming the first Hispanic woman in space.
➜ She put learning and practice first.
Katherine Johnson (1918–2020) – Mathematician
🧮 Katherine checked spaceflight math again and again to keep astronauts safe.
➜ She focused on accuracy and teamwork first.
Janaki Ammal (1897–1984) – Botanist
🌿 Janaki studied plants to create better crops for her country.
➜ She put helping people and nature first.
Mae Jemison (1956– ) – Engineer, Doctor & Astronaut
🌌 Mae worked step by step to reach her dream of going to space.
➜ She focused on education and hard work first.
George Washington Carver (1864–1943) – Agricultural Scientist
🌾 George used science to help farmers grow healthy crops and take care of the land.
➜ He put helping others before fame or money.
Chien-Shiung Wu (1912–1997) – Physicist
⚛️ Chien-Shiung spent long hours in the lab to make sure her experiments were right.
➜ She put science and truth first.
Florence Bascom (1862–1945) – Geologist
🪨 Florence studied rocks and mountains carefully and taught others to do the same.
➜ She focused on learning and teaching first.
Tu Youyou (1930– ) – Pharmacologist
💊 Tu Youyou searched for a cure for malaria and saved millions of lives.
➜ She put research and healing first.
Mary Jackson (1921–2005) – Engineer at NASA
✈️ Mary worked hard to become NASA’s first Black female engineer and helped others succeed.
➜ She put fairness and perseverance first.
Appointment Clocks
Students pair up by setting up "appointment times" with their classmates. The activity below uses only four "appointment times," but it can be altered to have more or fewer. Another way to use this strategy is to have students store their clocks after the activity and use them to pair students more easily in the future.
Procedure
Pass out a handout featuring a simply drawn analog clock with no hands, or have students draw one themselves.
Ask students to walk around the room and find four partners, scheduling each of them in one of the available "appointment times," either 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, or 9:00. Once scheduled, have both partners write each other's names next to their agreed-upon time.
Present students with a prompt (e.g., a question, task, or statement), and then give students enough time to think about that prompt.
Call out a time to have students immediately move to their corresponding "appointment" and discuss their thoughts on the prompt in pairs. Together, each pair should decide on one response. While students do this, walk around and observe their conversations.
Optional: Repeat Step 4 until students have met with all of their appointed partners.
Ask student pairs to share out their agreed-upon responses.
The Brain Science Behind Math Success
Thursday, November 20 3:00 - 4:00 (Register to receive a recording)
What if the key to solving the math crisis in many classrooms isn’t another curriculum or digital platform—but the human brain itself? In this interactive edWebinar, brain expert Liesl McConchie and educational explorer Jay Meadows uncover the inseparable connection between emotion and cognition in math learning.
Drawing from brain science and classroom experience, they reveal how students’ emotional states—curiosity, hope, and a felt sense of value in what they’re learning—can dramatically enhance their capacity to think and learn mathematically. Attendees will learn how to:
- Create emotionally engaging classrooms that ignite curiosity and move students toward optimal learning states
- Design math tasks that feel relevant and meaningful to students’ lives
- Foster autonomy through problem-solving opportunities that honor multiple strategies and student voice
Liesl and Jay will share tangible, classroom-ready strategies and activities that help educators shift students’ neurobiological states toward engagement and growth.
Spark Powerful Collaboration Within and Beyond the Classroom
Thursday, November 20 11:00 - 12:00 (Register to receive a recording)
Unlock the potential of collaborative learning with research-backed, practice-proven strategies to foster powerful, meaningful collaboration in your classroom.
This edWebinar is for teachers, coaches, principals, and school leaders seeking to build and support essential collaboration skills in their students. Join Linette Victor, Ed.D., Senior Research Program Manager at Digital Promise, to learn best practices from the free Collaborative Learning Toolkit. Then, hear from Jose Gonzalez, 21st Century Learning Specialist at Davis Middle School, who will share compelling classroom examples and insights from facilitating a cross-cultural collaboration between his students in Compton, California, and students in Manaus, Brazil.
You’ll leave with ready-to-use strategies and resources to implement high-impact collaborative learning in your classroom.
Multiplication Sqaures
This one has been shared a few times, but it's always a fan favorite.
1. Print out the game board.
2. The game board contains 100 squares with the products of any two numbers that can be rolled with two dice (i.e. 1 x 6, 2 x 4, 3 x 5, etc).
3. Grab two dice and a different colored marker for each player.
4. During a player's turn, he/she rolls both dice and multiplies the two numbers showing on the dice. The player looks for the product on the board and draws a line to connect any two dots that form part of the square around that product. Since each product appears multiple times on the board, the player can be very strategic about where he/she draws a line.
5. When a player draws a line that closes a square, that player gets to color in the square with his/her marker. That player rolls the dice again and takes another turn.
6. When all of the dots have been connected, the player with the most squares colored in wins!
Kaboom!
Step 1: Identify the Content or Targeted Skill You Want to Focus On
Step 2: Grab Yourself Some Popsicle Sticks
Step 3: Decide How You Want To Attach Your Content
- First student pulls out a popsicle stick.
- The student identifies the “answer” or “correct response.” If their answer is correct (determined either by a reference sheet or their peers) they get to keep the popsicle stick. If they answer it incorrectly, the stick must go back in the cup.
- The students continue around the circle, selecting one popsicle stick at a time and answering their question.
- Any student who pulls a KABOOM! stick has to place all of the popsicle sticks they have accumulated back into the cup, leaving them with zero. (It may sound harsh, but it happens OFTEN, so all students will at some point get “Kaboomed!”
- The game NEVER ENDS because eventually someone will get a Kaboom! and their popsicle sticks will go back into the cup to keep the game going.
Math Fact Relay
This is a fun whole group game that requires almost no prep. It is the perfect activity for that extra 10 minutes that you need to fill last minute. All you need is the class white board and white board markers.
Before you start the game, divide the white board into two spaces. Write a dozen (or so) multiplication facts on each side of the white board. Divide your class into two teams.
Students will form two single file lines. When you say “go” the first person runs up to board and answers ONE of the math facts on their side of the board. Then they run back and give the marker to the next person in line. That person can then run up to the board and answer any one of the facts.
The winning team is the team who correctly answers all of their team’s multiplication facts first.
Rolling Facts
This game requires almost no prep and is perfect for a center. All students need is 1 or 2 dice, a set of flash cards and a scrap paper or white board to keep score.
Students will take turns flipping over a flash card and answering the math fact. If they are correct, they get to roll the die or dice to determine how many points they earn. The winner is the student with the most points when the flash cards are complete or playing time is complete.
Fidget Spinner Facts
This game can be played with a partner or even independently for extra practice. It is great as a fast finisher activity. You will need the FREE printable game board for each student and a fidget spinner. I personally like to laminate the game board and have students play using a dry erase marker.
With this game, the fidget spinner acts as a timer. One player will spin it on the table and both players will answer as many facts as they can before the fidget spinner stops.
The winner is the person who correctly answered the most math facts.
Math Fact Jenga
This is another great game to use in math centers.
1. Take a Jenga game and write multiplication facts on each of the blocks.
2. Students will play the game according to the Jenga rules. The only difference is that when a person pulls out a block, they must answer the math fact before placing it on the top of the tower.
Race to the New World: Addition
Practice addition facts and use strategy to win this game!
Materials: 15 - 20 counters of a single color per person.
Race to the New World: Multiplication
Practice multiplication facts and use strategy to win this game!
Materials: 15 - 20 counters of a single color per person.
Race to the New World: Division
Practice division facts and use strategy to win this game!
Materials: 15 - 20 counters of a single color per person.
Turkey Patterns
Turkey Patterns! Practice making patterns with this adorable turkey-themed butcher paper activity. Little learners will use pieces of pipe cleaners to complete the patterns. Lay out magnet wands for easy cleanup! Place your pipe cleaners in a small cup for the perfect way to stay organized.
Pattern Block Turkeys
Pattern Block Turkeys! I gave students a felt or foam circle, googly eyes, a beak, and a waddle. Then they glued it all together. Next, the little learners used pattern blocks to create the rest of the turkey. This is such a fun project to encourage spatial awareness growth and creativity
Racing Turkeys
- Clothespins
- Feathers
- Googly eyes
- Red and orange construction paper
- Poster board or cardstock (or sentence strips)
- Black permanent marker
- Die
* You could also skip the googly eyes and construction paper and just use colored markers to draw the eyes, beak and wattle on.
Make a number line from 0 - 20.
Roll the die and then identified the number represented by the dots. Then move the clothespin turkey that many numbers on the number line.
Repeat with 2nd player. Continue until one "turkey" reaches 20 first!
Challenge: Start at 20 and move backwards!
Math Towers
Print the math towers cards (see below) and set them out along with your blocks or counters.
Read the number or addition question on each square and build a tower on top using the right number of blocks.
For the counting version you can work in ascending or descending order, or pick a color to complete first.
Wipe out
Materials:
- 2 Dice
- White Board
- Dry Erase Marker
- Each person writes the series of numbers on the board from 2 - 12 facing them.
- Player 1 rolls two dice and adds.
- Player 1 erases the sum from their list.
- Player 2 takes their turn.
- Play continues until one player has erased all their numbers.
Alternate game for younger students to practice subitizing:
- Use 1 die and have students write numbers 1- 6
- Player 1 rolls and erases the number that matches the die.
- Player 2 take their turn.
- Play continues until one player has erased all their numbers.
Uno Color Match
Separate out the all of the number cards, mix them up and put them in a stack. Using one card of each color, red, blue, green and yellow, start a pile that the child will match with. Have the child turn over a card and they will put it in the pile that the color matches with. You can have them say the color as they place it down as well. To take it one step further when they have sorted all of the colors, have them choose one pile and put all of the numbers in order, or there should be two of each of the numbers, you could have them match the color numbers, for example, the yellow 2 with the yellow 2.
Uno Memory
Separate the number cards from the UNO deck. Find 8 or more sets of cards that match in color and number. Take those cards and mix them up. Place them all face down on the table. The child will turn over one card of their choice and then another trying to match the color and number on the card. If they do not match, turn them both back facedown. And try again. Keep going until all the cards have been matched.
Uno Number Sequence
Separate out numbers 0-9 in a certain color. Have the child our the numbers in the correct ascending order.
Uno Card Addition
Separate out the number cards from the deck. Make two different piles of cards, one with numbers 5 and below, and the second pile can include all numbers 0-9. The pile of numbers 5 and below will be your cards for the “problem” and the pile that includes larger cards, will be the answer pile. Grab a small piece of paper or a post it note and a pen. Make an addition sign on one and an equal sign on the other. Have the child flip a card from the “problem” pile and place it down. Next place the addition sign and then choose another card from the “problem” pile and then place down the equal sign. Have the child figure out the addition problem and choose the correct answer from the answer pile of cards.
Uno Subtraction
Separate out the number cards from the deck. Make two different piles of cards, one with numbers 9 and below, and the second pile can include all numbers 0-9. The pile of numbers 9 and below will be your cards for the “problem” that will be face down and the other will be the answer pile. Grab a small piece of paper or a post it note and a pen. Make a subtraction sign on one and an equal sign on the other. Have the child flip a card from the “problem” pile and place it down. Next place the subtraction sign and then choose another card from the “problem” pile and then place down the equal sign. Have the child figure out the subtraction problem and choose the correct answer from the answer pile of cards. On this game, you may have to guide the child for the first couple of problems, showing them that the highest number need o be on the left, or at least that the second card they flip over will have to be smaller than the first in order for the game to work. If they don’t draw one that is smaller, have them just draw again.
Uno Towers
The Doorbell Rang (Division)
The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins is a classic story that combines the power of friendship and the comfort of freshly baked cookies. And it just so happens to be the perfect math book for introducing division concepts – as the arrival of each new friend is a chance to figure out how to divide the cookies between them!
Consider beginning your division lesson with this book and a division activity using cookies!
Spaghetti and Meatballs for All (Area and Perimeter)
Spaghetti and Meatballs for All is truly a mathematical story with a humorous punch that kids will love!
The story helps introduce the early stages of learning about area and perimeter as Mr. and Mrs. Comfort tries to figure out the seating arrangements for their family reunion.
To reinforce the story, students can explore area with a fun activity using Cheez-its!
What Time Is It, Mr. Crocodile? (Telling Time)
Mr. Crocodile has big plans for finally catching--and eating--five pesky monkeys, but those little rascals dupe him again and again. By the time the clock strikes six, those mischievous monkeys actually teach Mr. Crocodile a thing or two about friendship . . . and about having fun!
One is a Pinata: A Book of Numbers
In this counting book, the text shows the numbers 1 to 10 in three ways: using the written numeral, the English number word, and the Spanish number word. Children can practice counting the corresponding number of items in the illustrations, which feature objects that can be found in Central America such as frutas and maracas.
Round Is a Mooncake: A Book of Shapes
Children can discover shapes alongside the characters on each page of this book. There are round lanterns, square radish cakes, and rectangular sacks of rice. During shared reading, children can learn about both the names and characteristics of these differently shaped items, many of which are connected to Chinese culture.
Bears on Chairs/Osos en Sillas
Four small bears fit perfectly on four small chairs until Big Brown Bear shows up. Then the bears must work together to find a way for all five of them to share the four chairs. Although this book was not explicitly written to teach math, teachers and children can count and compare the number of bears and chairs, discuss how to fairly share the four chairs among five bears, and talk about the size relationships between the taller and wider Big Brown Bear and the smaller bears.
Please Reach Out
My entire job is to help you in whatever capacity you need.
- Off on the pacing and need help getting back on track?
- Lesson just flopped and need some ideas?
- Have a small group of students still struggling and don't know how to help?
- Need help with the curriculum and how to use it?
- Had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day and just need to vent & talk?
These are just some of the ways I can help. Please reach out when you need some help, ideas, or just a shoulder to lean on.
Julie Robinson, Wayland Bonds
Macey Miller, Santa Fe
