Learning math facts is super important for elementary students.  Knowing their basic math facts helps kids with many other math skills that they need to master.  And the best way for kids to learn their facts is to practice, practice, practice!  As a result, I am always looking for engaging and effective ways for my students to practice their math facts (such as these math fact mystery pictures).  That’s how post-it math facts was born!  Post-it math facts is a fun, simple, and flexible strategy to help kids learn their basic math facts.

What You Need

In order to use post-it math facts, all you need is a piece of paper, a marker or sharpie, and (of course!) some post-its!

When to Use Post-It Math Facts

You can use post-it math facts whenever your kids need to practice their addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division facts.  Because you are making the activity yourself, you are able to tailor it to your students’ specific needs.  For example, if one student or group needs to practice their 9’s multiplication facts, you can create a board with just those facts.  If another student or group needs to practice something different, then you can create a board with different facts for them.

Some great times to use post-it math facts are:

• small group math
• math centers/stations
• morning work
• whole group math (especially if you are working through different fact patterns as a class)

Post-It Math Facts Options

If you are interested in using post-it math facts, there are a few different ways you can set it up:

Option 1: Self-Checking Quiz

1. Take a sheet of paper and cover it with as many post-its as you want to use.
2. Then, write math facts on the post-it notes and write the corresponding answers directly under each post-it.
3. Next, students look at the facts and say the answer, then check themselves by lifting the post-it.

This option is especially useful if students will be working independently because they can check their work on their own!

Option 2: Matching Answers to Facts

1. Take a sheet of paper and write the answers to math facts on it.
2. Then, write the matching math facts on post-it notes.
3. Next, students must match the facts to the answers by sticking the post-its on the paper.

This option works wonderfully as a whole group activity (using a large piece of paper!) or as a small group activity so that you can check the answers.  Students could also work in pairs or groups so that they can check each other’s answers.

Option 3: Matching Facts to Answers

This choice is just like the previous one, except the facts and answers are flip-flopped:

1. Take a sheet of paper and write math facts on it.
2. Then, write the matching answers on post-it notes.
3. Next, students must match the answer to the facts by sticking the post-its on the paper.

Once again, this works great for whole group, small group, or students working in pairs/groups.

Option 4: Writing Answers to Facts

1. Take a sheet of paper and write math facts on it.
2. Then, give students post-it notes.  They must write the answers on the post-its, then stick them on the correct math facts.

This option also works great for whole group, small group, or students working in pairs/groups.

Option 5: Writing Facts for Answers

This choice is just like the previous one, except the facts and answers are flip-flopped:

1. Take a sheet of paper and write the answers to math facts on it.
2. Then, give students post-it notes.  They must write the appropriate math facts on the post-its, then stick them on the correct answer.

Once again, this works great for whole group, small group, or students working in pairs/groups.

 

Post-it math facts is an easy activity that will help your students practice their basic facts.  Did you give it a try?  If so, leave a comment below or shoot me an email!