Want more ideas and freebies?
Try these 6 free activities for grades 3 - 7.
Email me 6 free activities →Tuesday, November 22, 2022
My 9 Favorite 5th Grade Math Activities for Winter and Christmas
Here's ways to review around the holidays and new year.
As the year winds down and the winter holidays approach, it can be tricky to keep students engaged with review. They’re excited for vacation, seeing family, and taking a break for the year. My favorite activities during this time of year incorporate the exciting upcoming holidays into the classroom.
Here are six of my favorites that are perfect for your 5th grade math classroom.
Expressions & Equations
Wondering how to review expressions & equations with 5th graders around the holidays?
Another great review activity for the winter holidays is Doodle Math. Like Pixel Art, it has an artistic element, but is in print format. Students solve a series of problems, with each correct answer unlocking a series of doodle patterns that they can draw onto a template image.
It’s like color-by-number or color-by-code, but with a bit more creative freedom to pick the colors that they use for the patterns.
Order of Operations & PEMDAS — Doodle Math: Twist on Color by Number
$1.99
There’s also a version of the order of operations activity that includes 1 set of problems and 5 template pictures for different holidays, for year-round use:
Order of Operations 5-Holidays-Pack — Twist on Color By Number
$3.99
Decimals
Wondering how to review decimals with 5th graders around the holidays?
Try my holiday-themed decimal Doodle Math activities, where students complete a series of decimal problems, and unlock winter and Christmas themed pictures.
There's three to try:
Adding & Subtracting Decimals — Doodle Math: Twist on Color By Number
$3.50
Decimals Long Division — Doodle Math: Twist on Color by Number
$3.25
Multiplying Decimals by Whole Numbers— Doodle Math: Twist on Color By Number
$3.00
And here's them in a money-saving bundle:
Decimal Operations BUNDLE — Doodle Math: Twist on Color by Number
$7.50
Looking for a version of this that you can reuse year-round?
I’ve produced a special Doodle Math 6-Holiday Pack for decimal operations. It contains 6 decimal operations problem sets together with 6 template images for different holidays (e.g. Hannukkah, Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day):
Decimal Operations (Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide) — HOLIDAY
$15.00
Challenge: Geometry
Wondering how to support fast finisher 5th graders around the holidays?
One of my favorite tools for fast finishers in the classroom is Google Sheets Pixel Art. Students solve a series of problems, and get instant feedback as they go — each correct answer unlocks part of a mystery picture. It's perfect if you have fast finishers, as you can assign Pixel Art to them, and they can work entirely independently.
And better yet, I’ve developed a set of winter-themed Pixel Art activities perfect for the holidays as well as the new year.
Area and Perimeter: Rectangles, Triangles and Composite — 2 Pixel Art
$3.99
Area and Perimeter Polygons Composite Pixel Art BUNDLE — 4 Pixel Art
$5.99
Stay Tuned
These are just the beginning. I’m continuing to produce more winter activities. Don’t miss them by signing up for my mailing list — you’ll receive sample activities right away and tips for using them too!
Happy holidays!
More to read
3 Timeless Math Documentaries for a Movie Day
Here's my favorite educational math movies for middle schoolers
Monday, January 16, 2023
Why I Love Google Sheets Pixel Art for Math Class
Give students rapid feedback, save time, and differentiate more effectively
Tuesday, November 1, 2022
4 Fun Halloween Math Activities for 6th Grade
My favorite ways to celebrate Halloween in class with 6th graders
Sunday, October 23, 2022