It’s 2024, which means… it’s Leap Year!!! I’ll be honest, I can never remember which year Leap Year falls on, but after discovering it is this year, I knew I had to do something special to celebrate with my class. I created a set of free Leap Year activities to use with my students, and now, I want to share them with you! Read on to learn more about these Leap Year math activities and 3 fun ways to use these task cards in your classroom this (and every) Leap Year.
Reviewing Key Skills With Leap Year Math Activities
These free Leap Year math activities are perfect for reviewing key skills in 2nd grade. No matter what concept you’re currently teaching, incorporating spiral review of previously taught skills is key for helping students retain knowledge, master skills, and apply this to future learning. You can incorporate these task cards during whole group instruction, small groups, or even during your math centers for spiral review.
This Leap Year Freebie has 20 review task cards covering these 2nd grade math skills:
- Basic addition and subtraction to and from 20.
- Place value.
- Comparing and ordering numbers least to greatest.
- 2-digit addition and subtraction.
Want to grab these free Leap Year activities for your classroom? Simply fill out the form below and they’ll be delivered straight to your inbox!
3 Ways to Use These Free Leap Year Activities
These free Leap Year activities are super versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. I’m sharing 3 ways to use them below, but you can also find 10 unique ways to use task cards in this blog post, all of which would work for these Leap Year math task cards.
Leap Frog
The first way to use the Leap Year math task cards is to play a fun game called, Leap Frog! To play, each student will need a copy of the Leap Year math task card recording sheet and a clipboard.
How to play:
- Mix the task cards up and place them face down in a circle around your room. If you have more than 20 students, take a blank half piece of paper to use as a placeholder. Have students find a card and stand beside it. This will be their starting card.
- When you say the word “FLIP”, they can flip the card over and solve the math problem shown. Once they have solved the problem next to the matching number on their recording sheet, have them flip the card back over so you know when everyone is ready to move on.
- When all students are ready to move to the next card, say the word “LEAP” and they will leap to the next card in the circle. If they land on a blank card, this is their time to have a short brain break. They can stand or sit quietly until it is time to leap to the next card.
- Repeat the process until all 20 cards have been solved.
Scoot
You may be familiar with this popular task card game, Scoot! It is always a kid-favorite and gets them up and moving while they’re learning. To play, each student will need a copy of the Leap Year math task card recording sheet.
How to play:
- Place the cards on student desks face down. (If you have more than 20 students, they can use a blank desk as a brain break).
- Have them solve the problem shown on their card next to the matching number on their recording sheet. Once solved, have them turn the card back face down so you know when they are ready to move on.
- When the teacher says “SCOOT,” they will move to the next desk and solve.
- Repeat the process until all 20 cards have been solved.
Around the Room
Around the Room is another fun game to play with these free Leap Year math task cards! Each student will need a copy of the Leap Year math recording sheet and a clipboard.
How to play:
- Hide the cards in various spots around the classroom (on the back of chairs, inside a bookshelf, on a cabinet, etc.).
- Students will walk around the room looking for cards. Once found, they’ll solve the problem next to the matching number on their recording sheet.
- Repeat the process until all 20 cards have been solved.
I hope your students enjoy these free Leap Year activities and have a blast with them! Even though Leap Year only comes around every 4 years, you can definitely use them all throughout the year. They’re perfect for spring with a fun frog theme!
I recommend printing on cardstock and laminating so you can use them for (LEAP) years to come!
If you’re looking for more task card activities to use with your class, check out these resources below or in my TPT store!
Do you have a favorite way that you like to use task cards in your classroom? Hit reply and share it with me!