Pop It Math
From Fidgets to Formulas: How Pop-Its Can Power Up Your Math Lessons
If you’ve only seen Pop-its as fidget toys, buckle up. These little rainbow bubbles can be so much more—they can be full-on math manipulatives, perfect for everything from counting to decimals. Whether you’re working with wiggly kindergartners or cool-headed fifth graders, Pop-its can help you make math hands-on, visual, and way more engaging.
In Primary Grades (K–2): Counting, Adding, and Building Number Sense
1. Skip Counting Superstars
Skip counting by 2s, 5s, or 10s? Use the Pop-it to make it visual and kinesthetic. Have students “pop” every second, fifth, or tenth bubble while chanting the numbers aloud. Suddenly, a rote skill turns into a tactile pattern hunt.
2. Addition with Strategies
Show doubles (e.g., 6 + 6), make-a-ten strategies, or counting on by popping in color-coded sections. Students can physically feel the sum build as they work through each bubble.
3. Number Bonds & Part–Part–Whole
Give a number (like 9) and have students pop one group, then another, to see how many combinations they can make. They can record each on a whiteboard for a quick assessment.
4. Comparing Numbers
Pop two different numbers on the board and talk about which is greater, less, or equal—then model with symbols. This helps connect concrete actions to abstract notation.
5. More or Less
Explore ten more or ten less by popping them on the pop it board.
In Upper Elementary (3–5): Multiplication, Division, and Beyond
1. Factors and Multiples
Highlight (pop) the factors of a number in one color and the multiples in another to make the connections visual.
2. Multiples & LCM
Choose two numbers and pop their multiples in different colors. Overlaps show the Least Common Multiple visually.
3. Rounding to the Nearest 10 or 100
Numbered Pop-its like the one in the video are ideal for teaching rounding rules. Students can “walk” their fingers to the nearest ten or hundred bubble row.
4. Prime & Composite Number Sort
Pop or mark prime numbers in one color and composite numbers in another. Students can visually see patterns (like why all numbers ending in 5 are composite except 5).
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