Mr Elementary Math

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10 Ways to Teach Math Using Post It Notes

Let me start by saying, I love post-it notes!  I can never have enough. I have plenty of them at school and home.  We use post-it notes in our daily lives.  Oftentimes, we use them to jot down notes or quick reminders. But today, I wanted to share how you can use them during your math class.

Today, I will highlight:

Discover 10 ways to teach math using post it notes

This post has plenty of example photos so that you can see how sticky notes are used to teach or reinforce a variety of math standards and concepts.Let’s get started!  Here are 10 ideas to teach math using post-it notes. Since I like to spread the love, 5  ideas relate to the primary grade concepts (Kindergarten – 2nd) and 5  relate to the upper-grade concepts (3rd – 5th).

Idea #1: Missing Addends

Instead of using a worksheet to review missing addends, have students manipulate post it notes to show mastery.
Teach missing addends with post-it notes

Idea #2: Odd & Even Numbers

Odd and even numbers are primarily covered in 2nd grade.  After students have a deep knowledge of what makes a number odd or even, they can use this sort using sticky notes to show mastery.

Teach odd and even numbers with post-it notes

Idea #3: Fact Families

Learning about fact families can be a little dull. Spice them up with the use of post-it notes.  I would recommend allowing your students to use manipulatives (ex. linking cubes) as a support to go along with this activity.

Teach fact families with post-it notes

Idea #4: Whole Number Comparison

Comparing numbers is a skill that can get old.  Make it more interactive by having students work with a partner and sort sticky notes into the correct categories. Have your kids compare numbers using benchmarks such as 10, 25, 50, 100, etc. You could also use this same format when comparing decimals and fractions.

Teach whole number comparison with post-it notes

Idea #5: Graphing

Graphing is a skill that is used across many grade levels.  Pictographs can be especially tricky for kids in that they need a lot of practice with the key.  Try using post-it notes to teach this type of graph. Increase the level of difficulty by modifying how much each stick note is worth (See example below)

Teach graphing with post-it notes

Idea #6: Rounding

Rounding using post-it notes gives students opportunities to practice with a more than one numbers at a time.  It can also be an easy to make center activity.

Teach rounding with post-it notes

Idea #7: Missing Factors

Reinforce multiplicative thinking by using post-it notes to represent groups of items and then allow your students time to discover the factors that represent the picture.

Teach factors with post-it notes

Idea #8: Area

Build area models with base ten blocks and then have your students label their model using sticky notes.

Teach area with post-it notes

Idea #9: Fractions

Fractions, fractions, fractions…. Students need on-going practice with fractions.  In the example below, I used one-half as a benchmark fraction for students to make a comparison.  This is a great activity because your students will need to reason and make viable arguments about how they sorted.

Teach fractions with post-it notes

Idea #10: Decimals

Ordering decimals can be a challenging task for our students.  Use this simple to create activity as a center to reinforce decimal understanding. Students arrange the post-it notes in order from smallest to greatest.

Teach decimals with post-it notes
UPDATE:  To download the templates above click here.
As you can see, there are many ways that you can use post-it notes to support student learning in math.  They also come in handy when making a quick math center.  Which of the ideas above would work well in your classroom? Do you have any other ways you currently use sticky notes during your math lessons?  Leave them in the comments section below.
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Comments

  5. jiarms1129 says

    I am a high school Algebra teacher. I use post-its when I am teaching linear systems of inequalities. As I graph the lines for the system, I use the post-it to cover up the side of the line not shaded, so when I am done, the only part of the graph showing is the part that is shaded by all lines in the inequality.

    Reply

  6. I Teach 1-Room School says

    I use post it notes with my middle school math students in a more traditional way. I have them use one color of post it notes sticking out of the top of their consumable books to mark vocabulary words. They also write short one line notes (dividing fractions, for example) that stick out of the side of their consumable books to mark the "recipe" for how to do a certain type of problem. They remove the tabs after testing on each chapter.

    Reply

  9. Greg says

    Mel,

    Thanks for asking. I do not have any products that incorporate multiplying multi digit numbers. I will be working on that in the near future. Please give me your email address so that I can email you once it is completed.

    Thanks again,
    Greg

    Reply

  10. Mel Jo says

    Thank you for the free items!! Do you have anymore games or worksheets for rounding and multiplying multidigit numbers with decimals? I have e students really struggling in both of these areas.

    Reply

  13. Tessa Porter says

    Mr. Elementary,
    I enjoyed reading your post about how to use sticky notes in the classroom. In the past, I've simply used them to write encouraging notes on when students are taking tests. I never thought about using them in some of the ways you shared. They are a cheap and easy way to make manipulatives for students. I especially liked the one about charting decimal numbers on a number line. I liked Kelly Hall's idea of using them for division too. My kids don't do long division this year, but sometimes they line up their addition and subtraction wrong. Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply

    • Greg says

      Your welcome Tessa and thanks for you comment. I like the decimal one also because you can also use the same idea for ordering whole numbers and fractions.

      Greg

      Reply

  14. Unknown says

    I was looking for some way to reinforce odd and even numbers when I saw your email! Thank you for sharing! I plan to use it today for my intervention time.

    Reply

  15. Anonymous says

    Mr. Elementary- Great post! Thanks so much for sharing ways to use sticky notes and splitting it up into the two areas of el. ed.! There's something for everyone! I, too, would like to see Kelly's long division sticky idea… Bekki

    Reply

    • Greg says

      Your welcome! I wanted to share a range of ideas for all grade levels. There are so many more ways you can use post it notes, but I wanted to stick to just 10.

      Greg

      Reply

  16. Kelly Hall says

    I use sticky notes when teaching long division. It keeps them focused on one digit at a time and things stayed lined up. I love your ideas!!! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

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