Catch Kids’ Attention with Wacky Wednesday Antics!
What’s wacky about this math problem? See if students spot this (or another) upside down and backwards equation when you post it on Wacky Wednesday.
Hi and welcome back to Attentionology for K – 5 Teachers!
Dr. Seuss, the world-famous children’s book author has a birthday coming soon in March.
Why wait for the calendar to turn from February to the third month of the year to celebrate his wacky word play.
Dr. Seuss inspires year ’round.
His book, Wacky Wednesday, published in 1974, lit a wacky fire in my own writing zone that sizzled with ideas to share…
Catch kids’ attention with Wacky Wednesday antics!
Challenge Students to Find What’s Wacky at the Start of a Wacky Wednesday – When attendance is taken and morning announcements are past, ask your class to look around the room to see if anything is “wacky.”
“Wacky,” they might ask, “What do you mean?”
“Out of sorts,” will be your reply. “Something not quite right in our classroom; can you find it?” is your challenge to now very attentive kids.
On Wacky Wednesday, post a sign in a place where you usually encourage students to spend time, like your classroom library! No Students Allowed. That’s wacky! This sign will catch kids’ attention.
Upside Down Math Problem – Before students arrive, post a new math problem upside down and backwards on the board as part of a math set for students to work for extra credit as a school day starter or during math time.
When you ask the class if anything looks wacky on the board on Wacky Wednesday, see if a student discovers the wacky upside down and backwards math problem.
Set Out a Wacky, Silly Sign – On a Wacky Wednesday, tape up a sign that reads “No Students Allowed” in a place, like your classroom library, where you normally encourage children to visit!
“What in the world?!” kids might call out. “Why is there a No Students Allowed sign in our classroom library?”
Your answer of course…“It’s Wacky Wednesday.”
Count the Wacky Ways on a Wednesday – Delight younger students with a countdown to wacky ways on a Wacky Wednesday.
Begin with one wacky discovery, like the upside down and backwards math problem that you’ve posted on the board and move on with rhyme…
Well, we’ve found Wacky Way, number one,
But Wacky Wednesday has only just begun.
Where will we find Wacky Way, number two?
Will I discover it on Wacky Wednesday, or will you?
…and so the count goes on.
How else can you catch kids’ attention with Wacky Wednesday antics? (more…)
Barbara Cleary has been serving as a resource to hundreds of educators for more than 25 years.
An award-winning writer, producer, teacher, and trainer, Barbara’s focus is on offering easy, fun tools and tricks that support K-5 curricula and assist teachers with classroom management.
