Like many other teachers, I am currently teaching virtually while trying to make learning both fun and meaningful! We have been learning about all things farm the last few weeks. To end our farm unit, I wanted the kids to enjoy a fun activity that also makes for a yummy snack!
Pigs in the Mud Snack and Hands-On Activity
To begin, we discussed why we think pigs roll around in the mud. We learned that pigs roll in the mud to stay cool since they do not sweat like humans do! (Fun fact for the day!) I sent a small Ziploc of mini marshmallows and a chocolate pudding cup home to each student. The marshmallows were the “pigs” and the pudding was the “mud.”
Adding Math Skills to a Fun Snack!
I have seen this snack made many times before, but I wanted to add in some math skills. Students took turns rolling a die and calling out the number that they rolled. We put that many “pigs” in the “mud.” We recorded the numbers on our papers and then counted the marshmallows in the pudding to see how many pigs were in the mud. We alternated between addition and subtraction to keep the game interesting!
I loved seeing the looks on my students’ faces as we played this game! It was hands-on, yummy, engaging, and just the right amount of messy! The kids LOVED it!
Although it can be difficult to incorporate these kinds of hands-on experiences for our students virtually, it is still important and SO worth it! It just took a few supplies and we had a great math lesson on addition and subtraction that will stick with the kids far into the future.
I am looking forward to incorporating more hands-on activities for my virtual learners as the year continues. As we head into October, I think my next activity will include candy corn!
By Erin Kassly
9/25/2020
Erin Kassly is a first-grade teacher in Illinois. She is also the CEO of Erin’s Ink, a teacher resource and accessory company. She received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Illinois State University. Her education experience includes nine years in first grade, two years in Kindergarten and one year in fifth grade. She creates teacher resources for TPT and designs accessories for teachers including bracelets, earrings and stickers.