This one is a very basic idea that can be implemented into any math class of any grade, but the kids loved it and it gave them something to do besides just complete a worksheet.
We had been practicing adding and subtracting decimals and I told the class to each have a number between 0-9 in their head and that I would be randomly calling on students to create decimals. In my head, I knew what type of problems I was going to give them (adding decimals with equal number of place values, whole number minus decimal to the thousandths, etc), but didn't know the numbers. I called on one student at a time to create two or three decimals to add or subtract, then had everyone solve the problem. We did this as review for our quiz, but it could definitely be used as classwork too. It can be used for whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and even more. If you really want them to have fun, create a "class problem" with them, where each student has a chance to pick a number that will appear in a single problem.
Besides just creating problems to solve, this also gave us the chance to talk about the types of number that we had to choose. For example, when subtracting, if the first number was 4.508, students needed to understand that the ones digit of the second number couldn't exceed 4, or else we couldn't solve the problem.
- Mike
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