Making Math Stations Meaningful

Math activities

My Long History with Math

As a kid, I despised math. Just ask my parents. Or my siblings. I actually disliked math so much that I would feel physically sick every morning at the bus stop because I feared my teacher would call on me and I wouldn’t know the answer. Some days I would actually get sick.

Why? Because when I was a math student, we only worked in the abstract. We rarely used manipulatives. So much emphasis was placed on rote memorization. I vividly remember hiding my fingers under my desk hoping my teacher wouldn’t see them. And, we never, ever met with our teacher in small groups or one-on-one. This led me to associate math with feelings of fear and anxiety and caused me to develop an attitude of learned helplessness. I thought something was wrong with me.

Hands-on math activities

The Power of Concrete Experiences

Now, as a teacher and math lover, I understand the power of working in the concrete. Students need authentic, hands-on learning experiences. They need manipulatives. They need engagement. They need to interact with meaningful activities. They need to spend ample time in the concrete before they can move to the abstract. This is what helps build confident mathematicians.

In short, math and manipulatives go together like peas and carrots. If you find students struggling with certain math concepts, it may be because they have not had enough concrete experiences with the content.

Hands-on math stations
Engaging hands-on math activities

A Close Look at Math Stations

I find the most simple but significant way to incorporate hands-on learning and concrete experiences is through math stations. What makes math stations so meaningful, you ask?

Why Math Stations?

  • They are collaborative and engaging.
  • They are hands-on.
  • They give students repeated practice with math concepts.
  • They free up time for small group instruction.
Using manipulatives for math
Hands-on math activities
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#1: They are collaborative and engaging.

Math stations are the perfect vehicle for collaborative learning. They help build a classroom culture that values every student’s strengths and they enable students to problem solve, discuss, and evaluate. Above all else, they encourage students to trust their own thinking (and their classmates’ thinking) rather than always relying on their teacher for support.

Collaborative and engaging math activities

#2: They are hands-on.

I said it before, but I’ll say it again (#soapbox). In my book, hands-on learning is the boss of the applesauce. It’s what makes a learning experience from “meh” to magnificent. It’s the key to locking in concepts. The beauty of math stations is that they are already designed for hands-on learning. Just provide students with math station tub activities and manipulatives, and you’re golden! It’s that simple!

Hands-on math activities

#3: They give students repeated practice with math concepts.

Through repeated exposure, math stations give students more time to master, or even extend, their learning. Allowing students to interact with math concepts in a variety of ways encourages students to persevere in problem-solving and build confidence.

Exposure to math concepts through hands-on activities

#4: They give the teacher more time with students.

Rather than spending the majority of our math block sitting in one whole-group lesson, students are actively engaging at math stations around the room. For me, this is the best part of math stations because it frees up more time to work with students in small groups and one-on-one.

Interactive and engaging activities

I was stunned at the transformation that took place in my classroom when I began implementing math stations and started pulling small groups. This shift allowed me to go deeper with instruction and gave me more confidence as a teacher. I finally felt like I knew my students as mathematicians!

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Problem solving

Where can I find math station activities?

Think you might want to give math stations a go in your classroom? If so, you’re in the right place. I’ve been working on something for quite some time, and I’m thrilled to finally share it with you!

Meet the Hands-On Math Bundle!

This bundle is a collection of 135 research-based math station activities. Every activity is aligned to the standards. The activities are rigorous and highly engaging.

Hands-on math bundle

What Units Are Included?

  • Addition
  • Subtraction
  • Numbers to 120
  • Geometry
  • Measurement
  • Graphs and Data
  • Place Value
  • Telling Time
  • Money – bonus unit
Addition

There are 15 hands-on activities, along with easy-to-understand instruction cards, for every single unit.

Addition

Get the bundle today for $67!

If you want your students to partake in rigorous, fun, and engaging activities, the Hands-On Math Bundle is just the ticket. This bundle will include a collection of over 1,000 pages of resources for every single first-grade math standard. These activities will help build strong mathematicians that will become lifelong problem solvers.

Want to try math station activities for free?

If you’re eager to try math stations in your classroom but you want to see some of the activities up close, I’ve got the perfect freebie for you. Click on the link below to snag it.

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Addition

What’s Coming Next?

In my next math post, I’ll be digging even deeper into math station activities. I’ll be answering FAQS, sharing organizational tips, offering time management tips, and sharing more information about each math station activity.

Have a question you’d like me to answer next week in that blog post? Leave a comment below.

Love this resource and wish you had access to more like it? Want instant access to a library of resources (for ALL content areas) catered specifically to you and your students’ needs? If you’re nodding yes, then be sure to join the LK Teacher Club!

When you join the LK Teacher Club, you gain instant access to the resource I share all about in this blog post, plus every other resource I’ve ever created ($6000+ value).

Not only that, but you’ll also have immediate access to more than 100 exclusive resources that aren’t found anywhere else!

Get ready to tackle teaching with confidence and ease! Click here to find out more about the LK Teacher Club.

24 Comments

  1. Maureen Alger
    February 2, 2018

    Love all these ideas! I need to do a better job with math centers.

  2. Gloria
    February 2, 2018

    I would liked to have received the information on the free addition math activities, but I did not. I see the great ideas and they look wonderful and appealing to my kindergarten class.

    • Lyndsey Kuster
      February 10, 2018

      Hi Gloria,

      I’m sorry you had trouble getting the file. Did you check your email? You may have accidentally typed in the wrong email address. Try signing up again! I hope this helps.

      Thank you so much.

      -Lyndsey

  3. Kelly
    February 7, 2018

    Love using manipulatives!!!

  4. Kristy
    February 8, 2018

    Looks like a greta resource. I think it will be helpful for my students.

  5. Shatha
    March 1, 2018

    I love to receive any freebies material

  6. Zoe
    March 11, 2018

    I’d love to access this resource, there seems to be a problem as it won’t download.

  7. Joanne
    March 12, 2018

    These look great! Thanks for the freebie. I would buy these (individually) if the numbers were larger for Second Grade. Will you be making a Second Grade version? Thanks.

  8. Marissa
    March 14, 2018

    Very cool ideas

  9. Kat
    March 15, 2018

    thank you

  10. Sha
    March 16, 2018

    Do you have something for multiplication, division, and fractions???

  11. Isabel Hernandez
    March 17, 2018

    I need this en español!!! Willing to translate if i can get them for free!

  12. Rachel
    March 22, 2018

    Did I miss this post….”In my next math post, I’ll be digging even deeper into math station activities. I’ll be answering FAQS, sharing organizational tips, offering time management tips, and sharing more information about each math station activity.” ? I purchased your materials and I am super curious about what comes next. 🙂

  13. Susan
    May 12, 2018

    WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!

  14. Lisa
    May 13, 2018

    Thank you, I love these!! My kiddos will have a blast!

  15. Latonja Sheard
    June 6, 2018

    I am super excited about these math stations! I believe students gain a love for learning when content is meaningful. Thanks again!

  16. Angela
    June 18, 2018

    Activities look great! I would love to see a Spanish version.

  17. Angeline
    August 17, 2018

    Oh I love these! I’ll check out the bundle!

  18. wendy cornett
    January 14, 2019

    Thank you!!

  19. Druscilla
    February 24, 2019

    Thank you for all of your ideas!

  20. Sus
    April 20, 2019

    Thx

  21. Muneeba
    July 15, 2019

    This is an amazing idea to give complete knowledge about maths to our children with different activities awesome ?keep it up Lyndsey…..

  22. kerri scroope
    January 25, 2020

    i would like to purchase this

  23. azra
    February 6, 2020

    i Learn with u many things thanks !

Comments are closed.