5 Back From Winter Break Activities for Middle School
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Need some ideas for back from winter break activities?
In this blog post, I share 5 back from winter break activities that your students will love. Try as many as you have time for, you could spread them out over the week. But be warned, only ONE of the ideas actually includes math! It’s helpful to also give students time to exhale after a break before diving into the content. Once we do dive into math content, it will be review.
1. Quizizz
Quizizz is one of my absolute favorite learning platforms! It is where games and learning collide. For this, I like to put my students into groups.
When you log in to Quizizz, find a quiz (or use the ones I suggested below), click Start a Live Quiz, and choose Classic!
You will notice three modes:
1. Classic
2. Test and
3. Team.
I always use Classic, even with groups. Classic mode allows students to work independently. Team mode assigns students to teams for points but they work independently. Test mode is for an actual assessment. To play Classic mode in groups, I give each group one device (laptop, iPad, Chromebook, phone…etc.)
Either allow your students to pick a team name, or use the Quizizz Name Factory to generate random names for each group.
Students will then work together as a group to solve each problem!
They get SO into it!!
If you want to hold off on actual teaching the first day back, check out the trivia games I LOVE below!
Snowman math worksheets are my absolute favorite wintertime activity!
A few years ago, I had my students build a snowman on the whiteboard as they answered questions.
For example: after they answered problem #1, I would give them a nose to add to their snowman!
It was so much fun. The first group to finish won some candy!
During virtual learning, I knew I wanted them to still build a snowman but I was not quite sure how to do that virtually, until…I realized it could be a digital drag-and-drop activity!
I created a digital and printable Build A Snowman template and you can grab it here! You just need to add your questions and answers.
For Math Teachers: Done-For-You Build a Snowman while Solving Two-Step Equations, check it out here.
3. New Year Coloring Page
Want to celebrate the new year withoutsacrificing your precious class time? This is the new years activity for you!
Just use your study guide or textbook to gather 10 questions based on the skill your students need to practice for the day.
This LOW PREPNew Years Coloring Sheet is a completely editable template. I update the balloons every year.
For Math Teachers: Done-For-You Solving Multi Step Equations New Year Coloring Activity, check it out here.
4. Reflection and New Year Goals with Desmos
Goal setting in middle school is so much more fun than you would think!
I have noticed my students have great goals, they just need a little help staying accountable and breaking them up into smaller steps.
So when we get back from winter break, we will definitely be doing this one!
For example:
SMART Goal: I want to get all A’s and B’s in all of my core classes this year.
Smaller Steps:
Complete assignments on time
Ask my teacher for help as needed
Pay attention in class
Study for my test at least one week before!
I have created a Desmos activity that I will use to help my middle school students brainstorm their goals, you can access it here!
You could also use this free printable for setting S.M.A.R.T. goals from Literacy in Focus.
5. Vision Board
A new year is a great time to have middle school students create their very own vision boards! I create one every couple of years and it feels so good to check things off.
I want my students to feel that very same joy! You could either have your students do this with a poster board/large piece of construction paper or Google Slides!
This would be great to use as an extension to the Desmos goals activity (Activity #4).
Students could start by brainstorming long-term and/or short-term personal, school, and activity (sports/extracurricular) goals.
A few questions they could ask themselves:
Where would you love to visit?
How will you be more active?
What brings you joy?
How can you be a better student?
Any new skills you would like to learn?
What is a goal you would like to accomplish by the end of this school year?
What is something you struggle with that you would like to improve?
What would you like to do when you graduate high school?
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