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June 22, 2015

Teacher Hack: Pool-Noodle Card Holders

Hello friends! If you are a regular reader, you know we love games in our classroom – especially card games. It’s the perfect opportunity to practice core math and reading skills under the pretense of fun! 🙂 With my 1st graders, the struggle of handling the playing cards is REAL. Most of the time, the cards are too big or too many for our little hands, so we have to turn around and lay our cards on the floor. Then, students spin around to face their partner when they are ready to make a play. This means that we can spend more time getting ready to play than practicing our learning skills – ha! So, today I wanted to share with you an easy solution to make cards more manageable.

The supplies are simple – a cutting board, a smooth knife (if you use a serrated one, you’ll have blue noodle-foam everywhere), and a pool noodle.

I cut the pool noodle into 1-2 inch segments. You could pre-meausre the holders, but I just eye-balled it.

Then, after you’ve cut your holders, you need to cut the slit in each holder. I cut all around the circle down about 3/4 inch. It’s enough so cards can fit, but not so much that the noodle will fall apart. I cut a 360-degree slit so students don’t have to worry about holding the correct side of the card holder.

Before using the card holders, you will need to teach students how to fan cards. I always teach them to put one card in and place the rest of the cards on top. Then, swipe.

With 1 pool noodle I was able to make 50 card holders. Enough for my classroom, as well as, one of my teaching teammates. Typically I would only need a small-group set for centers, but at the beginning of the year, we do practice card games in partners as a whole class.

Well friends, there you go! This is a simple, inexpensive ($1), and quick (less than 30 minutes) way to make card-games more manageable for little hands.

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Sweet! Thanks so much for joining me. Now check your email to confirm your address & snag your freebies. Happy Teaching! -Catherine

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Filed Under: 1st Grade, Guided Math, Tips & Tricks Tagged With: 1st Grade, Math

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rachel Lantay says

    June 22, 2015 at 2:31 pm

    Love this, thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  2. Primarily Penguins says

    June 23, 2015 at 12:54 am

    I love this! What a great idea, especially for the little friends!
    Amanda

    Reply
  3. Jen Bonner says

    June 23, 2015 at 2:38 am

    Well that's simple, easy, and BRILLIANT thank you 🙂

    Reply
  4. Kristy Pruett says

    June 23, 2015 at 3:19 am

    I love this idea. Your pictures are always so clear and pretty. Could you tell me what kind of camera you use? So good to get back in touch with you after our Nashville meet-up. Would love to meet up again. Kristy from Teaching Times 2

    Reply
  5. Linda Groce says

    June 23, 2015 at 12:11 pm

    This is awesome! Inexpensive and easy….that's makes it a big winner!! Thank you! lindaslearningloot

    Reply
  6. Patti Loya says

    June 24, 2015 at 2:55 am

    Genius! I'm going to make these tomorrow! Thank you so much for sharing!

    Reply
  7. Mary W says

    June 24, 2015 at 4:19 am

    What a great idea! I think I am going to make some of these when I watch my young nieces next week. Thank you!

    Mary
    Fit to be Fourth

    Reply
  8. Shelli Rohr says

    June 25, 2015 at 10:43 pm

    Wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  9. Melissa Nuckolls says

    May 12, 2016 at 12:41 am

    Where did you get the math cards? Love the ten frames on the card!!!

    Reply
  10. Brenda Campbell says

    May 19, 2016 at 12:39 am

    This would be great for senior citizen centers!

    Reply
  11. rosario martin says

    August 5, 2016 at 1:52 am

    Did you make the ten frame game cards on the pool noodle?

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      August 8, 2016 at 2:58 am

      Hello! Yes, you can check out the game here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Centers-1st-Grade-26-Centers-Labels-and-Visual-Directions-1668540

      Reply
  12. Lavern Hollis says

    September 28, 2016 at 4:27 am

    A great idea. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

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My name is Catherine Reed, and I am in my 8th year in elementary life, residing in small-town, Kentucky.  I student taught in 1st grade and never ...

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Join me for weekly classroom updates and free resources that are just-right for your guided math classroom!

Sweet! Thanks so much for joining me. Now check your email to confirm your address & snag your freebies. Happy Teaching! -Catherine

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