3rd Grade Halloween Math Centers

There is something about this time of year when I start getting excited about Halloween, Thanksgiving, and even Christmas!  I love, love, love all of the fun and craziness that the holidays bring. In this post, I’ve shared some of my 3rd Grade Halloween Math Centers. I may have sneaked in a few language arts activities too:)

3rd Grade Halloween Math Centers

I’ve created nine Halloween math activities that review everything I have taught so far in math. These centers are specially designed for 3rd grade math. If you’re a 4th grade teacher, you can see math 4th grade version here. There is a cover page for each activity, and it can be glued to the front a file folder. Of course, this isn’t necessary, but I liked the uniformity of the centers. There are also student directions that can be attached to the inside of the file folders.

Array-ging Pumpkins

In this activity students make arrays for Farm Brown’s pumpkin patch. I’ve included little pumpkins students can use as a manipulative if needed. After trying this activity with my students, I found that they needed a hint on how many arrays they should be able to create for each number, so I added a hint to the task cards. A great extension to this activity is to tie in prime and composite numbers. 

 

Who’s Hiding

Multiplication and division equations with missing numbers are always a challenge for my students, so I knew I needed to include a little practice. It’s important to avoid teaching students that the equal sign does not mean “ta-da” or “the answer is”.  Students should know that the equal sign means that both sides of the equal have the same value. My students need a lot of experience with different types of equations for extra reinforcement.

Multiplication and Division Equations

Students often try to solve word problems without writing a number sentence, so they often have a difficult time explaining HOW they solved the problem. I’ve started requiring my students to write number sentences when they solved word problems. To provide more practice, in this activity students match a number sentence with a word problem. After students match the word problem with the correct number sentence, they can solve for the solution.

Representing Multiplication and Division

In two activities, students match different forms of either multiplication or division. For the multiplication set, students match a multiplication number sentence with an array and repeated addition sentence. In division, students match a division number sentence with an array and repeated subtraction sentence. As an extension, students can make their own cards to show each representation.

Patterns

I don’t spend a lot of time teaching patterns, so I try to slip them in whenever I can. This allows me to see who does and doesn’t understand the concept without using up too much class time.

Spooky Recipes

Spooky Recipes is definitely my favorite activity in the pack! It’s full of two-step word problems, where students use a recipe handout to solve the word problems. It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s a lot of fun!

Multiplication and Division Facts

There are two more multiplication and division games that allow students to practice their multiplication and division facts.

I have to say that I’m REALLY excited to start using these centers in my classroom!  You can check it out for yourself here.

Halloween Word Problems

I love using these Halloween word problems as an additional Halloween math activity. Several years I made a math game called Draw a Story Problem, where students write their own word problems. In this activity, students create their own word problems by drawing an operation card, number card, and setting card, and then write a story problem using what they drew. You can adapt the game to multiple grade levels by removing the multiplication and/or division operation cards. I’ve created a Halloween edition of the game that you can get for FREE here! The only difference between the cards (other than the colors and basic numbers) is that instead of setting cards, there are character cards. The character cards are pictures of children in Halloween costumes. This is such a great way to help students develop a deeper understanding of word problems.

Halloween freebie

 

Halloween Measurement

I have one extra goodie for my math friends!  It is a very brief, yet fun, pumpkin measuring activity.  In this activity, students measure the weight, height, and circumference of two pumpkins and find the difference in measurements for each category.  Just click on the picture for your copy!

fall freebie

 

 

 

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