Math projects are an ideal way to consolidate learning. I recommend using them as an engaging activity AFTER skills have been learned rather than during learning. You will likely find that engagement is very high and that your students ask to do more of these!

There are many ways to use math projects in your classroom. Some of the most popular are:

•a small-group or pairs activity

•a guided math activity to allow you to see where your students are struggling

•a fun, rewarding way to engage your early finishers

•a low-prep, easy-to-implement activity for a substitute teacher

You might choose to print specific tasks to use during Math centers, or you might make a booklet out of all of the tasks and let your students choose which one to do when.

This resource is included in PDF format for printing and in Google Slides™️ format for digital learning. This makes it useable with Google Classroom™️.

Take a look at what you’ll find inside this math project:

TASK #1: CAMPING SUPPLIES

You are going on a camping trip! But first, you’ll need to buy some supplies. You have $225 to spend. Decide what you will purchase.

Math Skills: addition, money 

TASK #2: CAMPSITE PLANNING

Altogether there are four families coming on your camping trip! Let’s figure out the best campsite for everyone.

Skills: using criteria to eliminate options

TASK #3: GROCERY SHOPPING

You’re in charge of grocery shopping for your family. What will you buy?

Math Skills: multiplication, addition, money

TASK #4: FIREWOOD

What’s the most important part of camping? The bonfire of course! We’ll need to make sure that there’s enough firewood to last the entire weekend!

Math Skills: multiplication, division, elapsed time

TASK #5: TIME FOR S’MORES

The fire is going – now it’s time for s’mores! Let’s make sure that we have enough for everyone!

Math Skills: multiplication, division

TASK #6: BEACH TIME!

It’s a sunny day today, and that calls for a fun day at the beach! Let’s work with the people at the beach and a seashell collection!

Math Skills: fractions, decimals, hundredths, addition

TASK #7: TIME TO BBQ!

What better way to end a full day at the beach than with a BBQ! Solve each problem and show your thinking.

Math Skills: multiplication, division, addition, subtraction, elapsed time multi-step word problems

TASK #8: TIME FOR GAMES

There are lots of outdoor games to play while you are camping. You and a few of the others set up two different games to play.

Math Skills: graphing and data interpretation, addition, subtraction 

TASK #9: CANOE AND PADDLEBOAT RENTALS

It’s a beautiful day so you decide to go to the canoe and paddleboat shop to see what’s available! Let’s find the total cost for each family.

Math Skills: money, multiplication, addition, comparing

TASK #10: GOING FOR ICE CREAM

After the hike you’re starving! Let’s go to the campground ice cream shop! First we’ll take a look at a few customer orders, then we’ll figure out the total for our extra-large order!

Math Skills: money, addition, subtraction

TASK #11: GOING FOR A HIKE

The campground has a popular hiking trail. Everyone decides to go on a group hike. Use the map to answer the questions.

Math Skills: measurement, addition, subtraction, elapsed time

TASK #12: NATURE WALK

As you walk through the trails, you notice that so many things in nature are symmetrical. Circle the items that are symmetrical and draw the line of symmetry for each. Then interpret the leaf collection data.

Math Skills: symmetry, multiplication, addition, subtraction, graphing and data interpretation

TASK #13: TIME TO PACK UP

It’s been an amazing camping trip, but now it’s time to pack up and go home. Let’s figure out how long it will take to pack up and get home.

Math Skills: addition, elapsed time, problem-solving

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "I used this with my 5th grade students at the beginning of the school year as a review to see what they remembered from 4th grade. It was great to use in small groups and the students were able to do almost all the work independently." Danielle R.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "My students really enjoyed this project. We took it a bit further and made solar oven s'mores! They also wanted me to add dangers to the project, like a bear coming into the campground so I had them solve a math problem and if it was even they scared the bear away!" Mary A.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Used for modified students in grade 8 math class. Resource is helpful as it is difficult to teach both levels at once. This resource helped the modified students to work with assistance without waiting for me." Kathryn E.