I love September.
Okay…maybe I love September in theory.
We’re finally starting to settle into our routines, I know everyone’s name, we’re figuring each other out, and the beginning-of-the-year craziness is starting to feel slightly less crazy.
And there are so many fun things happening this time of year!
The State Fair is coming, apples are everywhere, football is back, and the weather is trying to tell us fall is coming—even if New Mexico doesn’t always get the memo.
So I thought I’d start putting together some of the things I’m doing in my classroom, things I want to try, and easy ideas you can steal for yours.
Nothing complicated. Nothing that requires you to completely rearrange your lesson plans.
Just a few fun ways to make September feel like September.
Bring the State Fair Into Math
Our New Mexico State Fair is a pretty big deal around here, so my teacher brain started thinking about ways I could bring a little State Fair fun into our classroom.
We were working on addition strategies, including doubles and doubles +1. I was wanting to bring in a craft with what we were learning and since Farris Wheels remind me of the state fair… Doubles Go ‘Round was created.
This is the kind of extra practice I really love.
I’m not trying to replace what we’re already doing in our adopted math program. We’ve learned the strategy. We’ve practiced the strategy. Sometimes I just want to give my kids another way to use it—and if that way involves cutting, coloring and building a Ferris wheel, even better.
With Doubles Go ‘Round, students create a doubles fact and then use it to make a related doubles +1 fact.
It’s math practice. But it doesn’t necessarily feel like more math practice.
And that’s always a win.
Want to TRY it for FREE?
I’ve made Doubles Go ‘Round FREE for you!
If you use it, I’d love to see your Ferris wheels! Tag me on Instagram so I can see them in action.
And then I couldn’t stop…
Of course, one State Fair math activity turned into another…and another.
Before I knew it, I had balloon popping for making a 10, racing to 10 on a number line, ring toss for counting on, and knocking down cans for fact families.
What I really like about these is that I tried to make the fair games actually show the math strategy, rather than just putting State Fair clipart on a worksheet.
The balloons work like a ten-frame. The race shows the jumps on a number line. The rings show how many to count on.
They’re meant to come after you’ve taught the strategy as another way for kids to practice and apply what they’re learning.
If you’re working on addition strategies too, you can find the entire State Fair Addition Strategies set in my TPT store.
There's A Star Hiding in Your Apple
Here’s one that requires almost no prep and is just plain COOL.
Grab an apple.
Before you cut it, ask your students:
“What do you think we’ll see inside?”
You’ll probably hear seeds, a core, maybe a worm if you have that kid.
But instead of cutting the apple from the stem down like we usually do, turn it sideways and cut straight across the middle.
There’s a star hiding inside!
The five seed chambers inside an apple create a star-like shape when the apple is cut crosswise.
I’ve seen this before and I still think it’s one of those little things that feels magical.
And there are SO many directions you could take this depending on what you’re already teaching.
Have students make observations.
Count the seeds.
Estimate how many seeds there will be before you cut it.
Talk about the parts of an apple.
Look for symmetry.
Write about what they notice.
Or…just cut the apple open and let them think it’s cool.
Not everything has to turn into a worksheet.
Sometimes a two-minute “Come look at this!” moment is enough.
Have An Apple Taste Test
While you’ve got the apples out…
Grab a few different varieties and have an apple taste test.
You don’t have to turn this into an elaborate activity either. Cut up a few apples, let students taste them, and vote for their favorite.
Then use the results for whatever fits into your day.
You can make a class graph, compare the results, talk about most and least, or turn it into a quick opinion-writing prompt:
Which apple is the best? Give reasons to convince us.
Math + writing + snack.
Done.
Take the Writing Outside
This might be my favorite because you literally need paper and a pencil.
As the weather starts changing, take writing outside.
That’s it.
Find a spot, let everyone sit down, and spend a few quiet minutes noticing what’s around you.
Then use the five senses to write.
What do you see?
What do you hear?
What can you feel?
What can you smell?
And okay, maybe we don’t need to taste anything we find on the playground. 😂
You could turn those observations into sentences, a paragraph, a poem, or simply a list depending on your students.
I love activities like this because we’re still doing exactly what we need to be doing—observing, adding details and writing—but a change of scenery somehow makes it feel completely different.
And after spending August establishing routines and getting everyone settled, September feels like the perfect time to start doing a few things outside those four classroom walls.
Use this One for Football Season
Here’s an easy one I’m saving for later.
Grab a soft football—or honestly, any ball—and turn review into a passing game.
Have students stand or sit in a circle. Ask a review question, let a student answer, and then they pass the football to the next person for another question.
Math facts.
Vocabulary.
Phonics.
Sight words.
Questions about a read-aloud.
Whatever you’re already reviewing.
You could even have the student holding the football answer and then choose who gets the next “pass.”
Nothing to print. Nothing to laminate. Nothing to prep.
Sometimes putting a football in the middle of something we’ve already been doing is apparently all it takes to make it new again.
I’ll take it.
That's September So Far...
I’m trying to get better about sharing the little things I’m doing in my classroom instead of waiting until I have some huge, perfectly put-together idea to share.
Because honestly, most of the things I use every day aren’t huge.
They’re a Ferris wheel that makes doubles practice more fun.
An apple cut the wrong way.
Taking our writing notebooks outside.
Or tossing a football around while we review.
Little things.
But sometimes those are the things kids remember.
I’ll keep adding to this post as I find more September ideas worth sharing. And if you have something your class LOVES doing this time of year, I’d love to hear about it!
And don’t forget to grab your Doubles Go ‘Round freebie before you go!
See you in October…when I will undoubtedly have way too many ideas involving pumpkins.