10 Amazing Ways to Use Task Cards in Your Classroom
Task cards….what are they and how can you use them in your classroom? Task cards are more than just problems on cards. They are a way to get your students engaged in every subject. How do you use them to engage students? By using them in a variety of ways.
In this blog post, we’ll go over 10 amazing ways to use task cards in your classroom! Read on for more.
What are task cards?
Basically, task cards are a set of cards with one problem or task on each card. Some task cards also include instructional cards so students can review the concept being assessed. Task cards are available for any subject - math, language arts, science, social studies, the arts, social-emotional skills….you name it!
Task cards come in both printable and digital formats. Printable task cards are just like they sound - meant to be printed and used in a paper and pencil format. Digital task cards can come in many formats - Google Slides™, Boom™ Cards, etc. You decide which version is best for your classroom. Some task card sets also include both printable and digital versions of the cards.
How To Use Task Cards?
The awesome thing about task cards is that they are so versatile. It’s easy to engage students with them because they can be used in so many different ways. So, here they are - 10 amazing ways to use task cards!
A Game of Scoot
Students love this game that involves movement! It’s simple to do - set a task card on each desk. Each student has an answer document and starts at their own desk. Set a timer for 30 seconds or a time appropriate for each task card to be completed. Start the timer. Students have 30 seconds to complete the problem on their card. They stay at that desk until the timer goes off. When the timer goes off, call out “Scoot!” Students move over to the next desk and solve the next problem. Play until all students have gone through all the task cards.
Note: It’s helpful to discuss the movement through the classroom before you play so that students know how to responsibly move and where to go when they get to the end of a row. Scoot is also a great “silent” game! ;)
Scavenger Hunt
This method also involves movement! Place the cards around the room. As long as the cards are numbered, they can go anywhere and in any order. Students walk around the room, look for the cards, and record their answers next to the matching card numbers on a recording page.
Morning Work or Daily Review
Place one card on the board each day for students to solve. This works especially well with digital task cards and an interactive whiteboard.
Quick Whole Group Time Filler
Keep a set of task cards on a ring near the door. As your class is waiting in line for recess, specials, the restroom, lunch, etc, read problems off the cards and have students answer them orally. You can also take the ring of task cards with you in the hallway. It’s an easy way to keep students learning and quiet while waiting in the hall.
With Board Games
Put a set of task cards with a favorite class board game, such as checkers. Before students can make a move, they must answer a task card.
Centers
Laminate the cards and keep them on a ring. Students can answer the questions right on the cards with a dry-erase marker, or they can record answers on a recording sheet to turn in.
Individual Quick Assessment
When assessing a topic, pull individual students aside and have them answer a small number of task cards over that topic.
Early Finishers Activity
Keep sets of task cards over more challenging topics handy for your early finishers. You may make an individual set for each student, or have multiple sets available to all students in a basket or drawer in the classroom.
Mix & Match
You can always mix and match task cards from multiple sets! As you finish with a set of task cards, add it to your “mix & match” pile for the year. This is especially helpful when reviewing for a unit test or year-end assessment.
Easy Sub Activity
Leave a set of task cards in your sub folder with this list of activities! Your sub will thank you.
Need a way to store and organize your task cards? You can click here to find a photo case that stores 16 sets of task cards! (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Are any of these ways to use task cards new to you? Do you have more ideas? I’d love to hear. Let me know at laura@thirdgradeengaged.com.
Laura at 3rd Grade Engaged
P.S. - Looking for task cards that are already made and ready to use? I have LOTS of task cards in my Teachers Pay Teachers shop. They’re actually the first resources I ever made, so they have a soft spot in my heart. You can click here to see ALLLL the task cards in my TpT store.
