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The Brown Bag Teacher

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Stacks: Making Learning FUN!

Happy July, friends! I would tell you Happy (insert day of the week), but all I know it is July. So, there we go. Today I am joining with dozens of amazing teacher-bloggers to bring you simple and promotion-free ideas for your classroom.

I’m sharing about an easy and fun way to practice skills that we want to become automatic for our students. Stacks, the real-world game, can easily be channeled into learning-goodness! It’s great for students of all ages, and it requires minimal supplies – Dixie Cups and Sharpies. In 5th grade, one of our favorite ways to use Stacks was to learn Greek/Latin roots and vocabulary words. In this post, you’ll see our root word and prefix Stacks in action! 

On the outside bottom of the cups, I write the “question” or what I want students to solve or answer. In the picture below students are expected to define the prefix on the bottom. Then, on the inside of the cup, I write the answer.
Stacks is one of the Word Work choices students may make during our Reader’s Workshop! I include directions and “I Can” statement at the center to keep students on track. 

When we’re not using a set of Stacks, I keep them stacked in a large Sterilite container. I’ve seen some teachers store the cups in Pringles cans…BUT I’ve eaten maybe 10 Pringles in my entire life. So, this storage works for me!

See friends, I told you, simple! This is a low-prep but high-return workstation that kids love. This was always one of the highest-demand stations because to my friends, it was a game. Plus, if 2 partners wanted to step up the game, they would build separate towers, competing to be the first person with a complete tower!
If you teach in Primary, you might consider using stacks for…
  • Addition and subtraction facts (doubles, doubles plus one, sums to 10)
  • Sight words
  • Times and clock faces
  • Spanish/English translations
If you teach in Intermediate Land, you might use stacks for…
  • States and capitals
  • Parts of speech
  • Greek and Latin Roots
  • Practice moving from Fractions to decimals or decimals to percents

The possibilities for Stacks are endless and fun. Students love the game-feeling, and I love the urgency in which they practice/quiz each other. Have you used Stacks before? If so, what do you use them to review or practice?

If you enjoyed this idea, I’d love for you to connect with me on Teachers Pay Teachers, Facebook, Instagram where I share loads of pictures each week! Now, to read about dozens of other ready-to-use classroom ideas, check the link-up below! Happy reading, friends. 🙂

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Comments

  5. Love this! Do you have the printables somewhere? I love the I Can sheet as well as the student writing piece to keep them accountable! 🙂

    Reply

  12. LOVE these!!! Putting Dixie cups on my shopping list right now!!! And random question, but where are those tubs from that you use to store everything? I'm looking for some that are a little taller than my current ones and those look great!

    Reply

  13. Where did you get your containers for your centers? Also the containers for your library? One of my goals is to be more organized this year and I love how you have things set up!

    Reply

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