Thanksgiving Activities - math

LINEAR EQUATIONS- Thanksgiving Activities / Puzzles for Algebra - Math

Whether your students need to practice a newly acquired algebra skill or they need to sharpen a skill they previously mastered, this set of handouts will engage your students during this season of turkeys and thankfulness.

This resource includes a set of 5 challenges.

Given the equation, graph a line (riddle)

Given two points, choose the equation (riddle)

Given a point and a slope, choose the equation (maze)

A logic puzzle; discover the value of the symbols (a precursor to solving systems).

cARTesian puzzle; students carefully plot points (more than 80 coordinate pairs) to create the picture.

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Your students will be “grateful” for a diversion from last minute testing or pre-holiday “stuffing-with-concepts” before the Fall break. And you will be “grateful” for the break! (I know I will).

IDEAS for use:

Challenges for early-finishers. I always need an activity to keep the faster students engaged (and quiet) while others are working.

A daily puzzle to lead into the break... Use one each on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (you choose which three will best challenge and amuse your students).

Add the puzzles to a sub-plan if you need to miss school during the week prior to Thanksgiving break. Be sure to leave the solutions with the sub and an extra copy for them to do.

Use the cARTesian challenge as a COLLABORATIVE activity. Using large graph paper posted in the room, students work together to create the work of art. Cut out each box of coordinate pairs and distribute the sets of points to individual students. You can differentiate for individual students, as some sets include more points than others. Have them plot the points on the graph. This can be done over multiple days or during one class period. Once complete, students can color their creation. You can display their masterpiece in the room (bulletin board) or hallway with a clever sign like, “We make a point of being thankful for math.” ... or something equally corny.

Throw a party (but don’t call it that)... eat candy corn and do math puzzles (now, that’s a party!)

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Thanksgiving Puzzles for Algebra is licensed under the following

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.