Making Winter COUNT with the Polar Bear Place Value Scoot Game!

Things seem to slow down in winter.

There’s no outdoor recess and not as many things to do.

Kids even seem to get bored faster during the colder months, especially when it comes to learning and mastering new concepts.

For grades first through third, place value can be one of those difficult topics for teachers and students.

But, what if I told you that it doesn’t have to be boring? What if I told you that a simple game could help reinforce place value skills?

That’s right!

Mix in some 3-digit place value cards, a simple chart to record answers, and some polar bears and you’ve got a fun game for kids! They may not even realize they are learning while they are playing this Polar Bear Place Value Scoot Game!

What Comes with the Polar Bear Scoot Game?

You’ll get everything needed for this fun activity. But you might want to use base ten blocks for some students.

Kids are going to love this fun and engaging way to learn place value. Here’s what you get:

• 20 polar bear place value scoot cards
• Answer key
• Printer-friendly version of the task cards  
• Scoot cards with a mix of numbers in word form and expanded notation

Playing is easy. Students look at the numbers in expanded notation or word form and record the standard number on their chart. Some students may need to record the number using base ten blocks.

How can the Polar Bear Scoot Game be used in the Classroom?

There are tons of ways to use this card game in the classroom. It will depend a lot on your teaching style and the design of your room.

You may want to use the cards to set up a learning center that’s all about numbers.

The game can be played as part of a 3-digit place value lesson.

If your class participates in group activities where peers learn from each other, this game is ideal.

It could also be used at the end of a unit as an assessment tool.

You’ll have the choice of printing out the printer-friendly cards to conserve ink, or the full-color cards if you’d like.

Students quickly learn to translate numbers from words or expanded notation into its standard number counterpart.

Action Step:

This fun Polar Bear Place Value Scoot Game is anything but boring and your students are going to love playing it.

It’s easily adapted to your classroom setting and is appropriate for first, second, and third graders.

Teaching math is easy when you have fun tools like this!

Do you have any tips or tricks for making math fun in your classroom? Please share them with us!