Canva Creation:

Project: "Place Value Palooza" - Students create a Canva presentation showcasing large whole numbers and decimals to the hundredths. Each slide features a different number. They represent the number in standard form, word form, expanded notation, and with a visual model (e.g., place value chart, base-ten blocks clipart for whole numbers, grids for decimals). They can use Canva's design elements to make their presentations visually appealing.

• 4Cs:

  • Creativity: Designing the layout and visual representations.

  • Collaboration: Partner work to check each other's representations.

  • Communication: Presenting their numbers and explaining their representations.

  • Critical Thinking: Understanding the magnitude of numbers and the relationship between different representations.

Canva Creation:

Project: "Math Mission: Addition & Subtraction" - Students create a Canva "mission board" with real-world addition and subtraction word problems involving money or measurement. They can find images related to the context of their problems. They then solve the problems on the board, showing their work clearly using Canva's text boxes and shape tools.

• 4Cs:

  • Creativity: Designing the mission board and creating engaging word problems.

  • Collaboration: Small groups work together to create and solve problems.

  • Communication: Explaining their problem-solving strategies.

  • Critical Thinking: Applying addition and subtraction skills to solve real-world problems.

Canva Creation:

Project: "Line Art Designs" - Students use Canva's shape and line tools to create abstract art designs that feature parallel and perpendicular lines. They then label the lines in their designs using Canva's text boxes.

• 4Cs:

  • Creativity: Designing the artwork and incorporating the specified types of lines.

  • Collaboration: Partner feedback on designs and accuracy of line identification.

  • Communication: Explaining their design choices and identifying parallel and perpendicular lines.

  • Critical Thinking: Applying their understanding of geometric concepts to create visual art.

Canva Creation:

Project: "Room Designer" - Students design a room (e.g., bedroom, classroom) in Canva using rectangles to represent furniture and other objects. They label the side lengths of each rectangle in centimeters or meters and then calculate and display the area of each object and the total area of the room.

• 4Cs:

  • Creativity: Designing the room layout and choosing furniture.

  • Collaboration: Partner work to measure and calculate areas.

  • Communication: Explaining their area calculations.

  • Critical Thinking: Applying the concept of area to a real-world context.

Canva Creation:

Project: "Classroom Survey" - Students choose a question to survey their classmates about (e.g., favorite subject, favorite book). They collect the data and then create a frequency table and a bar graph or dot plot in Canva to represent the data. They should include a title and labels for their graph and table.

• 4Cs:

  • Creativity: Designing the layout of their data representation.

  • Collaboration: Working together to collect and organize data.

  • Communication: Explaining their data and any conclusions they draw.

  • Critical Thinking: Interpreting the data and drawing meaningful conclusions.

4th STAAR Review Ideas:

Interactive Games & Activities:

• STAAR Review Bingo: Create bingo cards with various math problems or concepts (e.g., "Solve a fraction word problem," "Identify parallel lines," "Round to the nearest 100"). Students mark off squares as they complete the tasks. Offer small prizes or rewards for bingo winners.

• Math Jeopardy: Divide the class into teams and create a Jeopardy board with categories based on the TEKS (e.g., "Fractions," "Decimals," "Geometry"). Vary the difficulty of the questions and award points for correct answers.

• Escape Room Challenge: Design a math-themed escape room where students solve problems to unlock clues and "escape." This can be done digitally using Google Forms or physically in the classroom. Focus on problem-solving and critical thinking.

• Math Scavenger Hunt: Hide math problems or clues around the classroom or school. Students work in teams to find the clues, solve the problems, and progress through the hunt. This gets them moving and engaged.

• "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" Style Review: Adapt the popular game show format to review math concepts. Students answer multiple-choice questions, using lifelines if needed. This adds a bit of pressure in a fun way.

• Math Charades or Pictionary: Students act out or draw math terms or concepts while their classmates guess. This is a great way to review vocabulary and get students thinking creatively.

• Online Interactive Games: Utilize online platforms like Blooket, Kahoot!, or Quizizz to create engaging review games. These platforms often have pre-made games aligned with the TEKS, or you can create your own.

Creative Projects & Activities:

• Create-Your-Own-Problem Book: Students write and illustrate their own math word problems based on different TEKS. They can then exchange books with classmates to solve the problems. This encourages creativity and reinforces problem-solving skills.

• Math Comic Strips: Students create comic strips that explain a specific math concept or problem-solving strategy. This combines math with visual arts and storytelling.

• Real-World Math Projects: Connect math to real-world situations by having students complete projects like designing a budget, planning a road trip, or creating a scale model of their classroom.

• Math Portfolio Review: Have students create a portfolio of their best math work from the year. They can then review their work and reflect on their learning. This promotes self-assessment and reflection.

Tips for Effective Review:

• Focus on Key Concepts: Don't try to cover everything at once. Focus on the TEKS that are most frequently tested or that students struggle with the most.

• Mix It Up: Use a variety of review activities to keep students engaged and prevent boredom.

• Provide Opportunities for Practice: Make sure students have plenty of opportunities to practice solving problems, both individually and in groups.

• Encourage Collaboration: Encourage students to work together and help each other. Peer teaching can be a very effective way to review material.

• Provide Feedback: Give students regular feedback on their progress. Let them know what they are doing well and where they need to improve.

• Make it Fun! Reviewing for the STAAR test doesn't have to be a drag. Incorporate games, activities, and humor to make the review process more enjoyable.

• Personalize the Review: Consider the specific needs and learning styles of your students. Some students may benefit from visual aids, while others may prefer hands-on activities.

• Start Early: Begin reviewing for the STAAR test well in advance of the test date. This will give students plenty of time to review the material and ask questions.