Megan Reynolds

Megan Reynolds

I am a teacher & designer. Connecting with students & seeing them enjoy learning is my favorite feeling on earth! I hope you enjoy this article!

5th Grade Math Choice Board Tutorial for Teachers

Build your own Math Choice Board for 5th Grade in minutes! Keep kids engaged & learning using these tactics & templates
To use a choice board in your 5th Grade Classroom during Math you will need to create the Mathchoices (there are lots of examples), organize the classroom, and have a goal;

Time-saving, differentiation, and dynamic classroom management are my favorite reasons to use a choice board!

Integrating choices every day you will need to hone in on the best way to apply 5th Grade Math choice boards to your classroom style!

Here are a few ideas and instructions on choices, classroom management and getting buy-in from your5th Graders

Ideas & Examples of Great 5th Grade Math Choices

Fraction Art with Paper Strips
Cut paper strips into fractions (1/2, 1/4, 1/8). Arrange them to create a design. Each strip represents a part of a whole. Overlap them to show how fractions combine.
Create a Math Word Problem Comic Strip
Create a comic where Superhero Sum saves 20 cats, each cat has 4 kittens. How many kittens are there? Draw panels showing the multiplication and the superhero’s victory!
Geometry Scavenger Hunt
Find shapes in real life! Hunt for 3 circles, squares, triangles, rectangles, and any 3D shapes you know. Draw or list them. Bonus: Spot a hexagon or pentagon!
Decimal Detective: Solve the Mystery
Become a Decimal Detective! Use clues to find hidden numbers with decimals. Add, subtract, and compare them to crack the case. It’s fun math sleuthing!
Time Capsule Estimator
A Time Capsule Estimator is a tool to guess how many items you can fit in a box to open in the future. Measure the box, then estimate using math!
Symmetry Self-Portrait Challenge
Draw half your face on paper, fold it along your drawing’s edge, and reflect the image to complete a symmetrical portrait. Use lines, shapes, and patterns!
Multiplication Chart Mastery
Master a multiplication chart by practicing daily. Learn to quickly find the product of two numbers by following one number’s row and the other’s column until they meet.
Area and Perimeter Dream Room Design
Design your dream room! Draw a simple floor plan, label lengths of walls. Calculate perimeter by adding all sides. For area, multiply length by width. Use square units for area, units for perimeter. Have fun decorating!
Graphing Story Adventure
Create a comic strip where characters go on a quest, using a graph to show their journey! Plot points for each adventure step, and watch your story climb!

Using a Choice Board to Differentiate Math in a 5th Grade Classroom

Keep It Simple

Everyone “teacher & student” should know exactly what they are doing. If you don’t make it even easier! 

Differential Instruction vs Saving time?

There is nothing more irritating than “Saving Time” with a Choice Board & ending up with “More work!”.  Are you using this to hit standards or save time or both? 

"Self Guided" or "instruction-based"?

If you giving out work, should they do it on their own or are these more instructions for each choice?

General rule, if the grade is > 3 there is more work per choice.

FREE Blank Fillable & Custom Choice Board

All ages, all grades where you need 9 grid choice board. Start loving learning again! 

How To Manage Your 5th Grade Classroom During Math (With a Choice Board)

I find its easiest to use a big board at the front of the classroom where all students can see the choices  then decide what they want to do

This often will be coming in from a break or transition between subjects. 

If you can get all students to know whats expected during a choice activity it becomes one-hundred times easier to manage the class & have everyone know what choices they have!  

There are three core steps you have to hit when using a Choice Board; 

1) The Set Up
2) 
The Instruction 
3) The Q+A 

1) The Set Up

Select your choices, decide on how you are going to use this time in your classroom. Build the choice board

1) The Instruction

Tell the students what they are going to be doing (this becomes easier over time) Simply start with 3 options & move from there. 

1) The Q & A

Does anyone have questions? This will help you or the next time. Remember the goal is to make this easier each time! 

Why Use A Choice Board?

So, let’s chat about choiceboards and why they’re like the coolest thing ever in your classroom. 

Picture this: kiddos bouncing into the room, eyes lighting up because they get to pick their own adventure in learning new words.

 It’s like a mini vocab party, and everyone’s invited!

We all have our own jam, right? Some of us are little artists, others are born performers, and some love to get lost in stories. Choice boards are like a buffet of fun learning snacks, so every munchkin finds something tasty that helps the vocab stick!

And here’s the kicker – when the little ones get to steer the ship, they turn into these mini captains of learning. They’re making the calls, and with every choice, they puff up a bit more with confidence. It’s a win-win – they’re learning and feeling like the boss at the same time.

Plus, for us teachers, it’s like having a secret helper in the room. We get to sprinkle in all sorts of activities that match our students’ levels and what makes their hearts tick. It’s like custom-making a learning playlist that gets every kid grooving to the vocab beat. How cool is that?