10 No-Prep Activities for Middle School Math Teachers

Ever find yourself with a few extra minutes at the end of class and no idea how to use them meaningfully? Those final 5 minutes are valuable—perfect for reinforcing concepts, encouraging math talk, or simply ending the class on a high note. Instead of reaching for busywork or letting chaos creep in, try one of these quick, no-prep activities to make the most of that time. They’re engaging, effective, and require zero planning on your part..

1. Stand Up, Sit Down: Vocabulary Showdown

Call out math vocabulary words (e.g., “coefficient,” “rational number”). If students know what it means, they stand. Call on someone standing to define it. If they’re correct, they stay up; if not, they sit. Keep going—last one standing wins!

2. Math Scavenger Hunt (Using the Room!)

Give students a list: Find something with a right angle, find a ratio in the room, etc. Let them find examples around the classroom or in their notebooks.

3. Two Truths and a Lie – Math Edition

Have students write two true math facts and one false one about the current topic. Their peers guess the lie. Great for reviewing concepts!

4. Speed Chat

Put a problem on the board. Students pair up and take turns explaining how they would solve it. Then rotate! This builds math talk skills fast.

5. Math Would You Rather

Would you rather get 10% off $50 or 25% off $20? Use “Would You Rather” prompts to spark quick mental math and deep discussion.

6. Estimation Station

Show a picture or object (like a jar of paperclips or a tall building) and ask students to estimate a quantity. Then refine their estimates with math.

7. Emoji Exit Tickets

On a sticky note or in a journal, students draw an emoji to represent how they felt about today’s lesson, then write one sentence explaining why.

8. Graph It Quick

Give students a weird scenario: Graph how much fun you have vs. how much homework you get. Let them be silly—but they must label axes correctly!

9. Mystery Number

You give the clues: “I am a two-digit number. I am divisible by 3. My digits add to 9…” Students guess the number. Keep narrowing down until someone solves it.

10. This or That?

Put two equations, expressions, or math models on the board. Ask students: Which is better? More accurate? Easier? Justify your thinking.

Why These Work:

These quick wins don’t just fill time—they build collaboration, promote critical thinking, and make your classroom the kind of place students want to be. And the best part? You don’t need fancy materials or hours of prep.

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Michelle Sigaran

How to Make Middle School Math Review Meaningful and Effective

Let’s be real—reviewing in middle school math can feel like a never-ending loop.

You’ve taught the concept, your students got it, and then a few weeks later... it’s like they’ve never seen it before. 😅

Sound familiar?

Here’s the thing: math review isn’t just a few warm-up problems or a handful of spiral questions at the end of the week. It’s so much more than that. When done right, review can solidify understanding, strengthen connections, and boost student confidence.

So what makes math review actually work?

✅ It’s intentional.
Review shouldn’t be random or rushed. It should be built into your routine with purpose—targeting the concepts that need reinforcement the most.

✅ It spirals back to key concepts.
Instead of teaching a topic once and moving on, spiral review brings those core ideas back again and again in different contexts, helping students retain what they’ve learned.

✅ It’s interactive.
Partner games, hands-on activities, and low-stakes practice can turn review into something students look forward to (yes, really!).

✅ It builds math talk.
Review is a chance for students to explain their thinking and hear different strategies, which strengthens both their understanding and communication skills.

If you're looking for ready-to-use resources that make review meaningful and fun, I’ve got you covered. Browse and click on the resources that fit your classroom needs.

6th Grade Math End of Year Review Activities

7th Grade Math End of Year Review Activities

8th Grade Math End of Year Review Activities

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Michelle Sigaran

Encouraging Math Talk in Middle School Math

When we think about teaching math, our minds often jump straight to solving problems, equations, or reviewing content. But one of the most powerful (and often overlooked) tools we can use in the classroom is math talk—giving students consistent opportunities to discuss, explain, and reflect on mathematical ideas out loud.

In middle school, students are developing deeper reasoning skills. They're beginning to connect concepts, question processes, and justify their thinking. Math talk gives them the space to do just that.

Why Math Talk Matters

Math talk encourages students to:

• Make sense of math by verbalizing their thinking

• Listen to and build on the ideas of others

• Ask meaningful questions and learn to justify their reasoning

• Deepen understanding instead of just memorizing steps

It shifts the focus from getting the right answer to understanding the why behind it.

What Math Talk Looks Like

It doesn’t have to be complicated. Math talk can be as simple as:

• “Explain how you solved this problem.”

• “Is there another way to approach it?”

• “Do you agree or disagree with that answer? Why?”

• “What do you notice? What do you wonder?”

These small, intentional prompts lead to powerful conversations.

You don’t need to have a full-blown class discussion every day. In fact, even just 5 minutes of math talk during warm-ups or exit tickets can make a big difference over time.

Getting Started with Math Talk

If you’re not sure where to begin, I’ve created a helpful resource:
👉 Download 20 Math Talk Prompts to Use in Middle School Math

This free set includes ready-to-use prompts questions that promote meaningful conversation, build student confidence, and create a culture of math thinking in your classroom.

Whether you use them during a warm-up, small group, or whole-class discussion, these prompts are designed to be simple, effective, and adaptable.

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Michelle Sigaran

7th Grade Math Curriculum & 
8th Grade Math Curriculum

Middle School Math Curriculum by Make Sense of Math

Let’s make math planning easy—send me the curriculum and activities!

What Makes Make Sense of Math different?

1. Built by a Middle School Math Teacher, for Middle School Math Teachers
2. Focus on Conceptual Understanding & Procedural Fluency
3. Engaging, Student-Friendly Activities
4. Standards-Aligned with Flexibility
5. Supports differentiation.
6. Time-Saving for Teachers
7. Qualtiy
8. Activities that use higher-order tihnking skills
9. Approachable for all levels
10. Guides students to make their own connections

Highlights

• Aligned with Common Core State Standards
• Includes assessments, guided notes, and activities.
• Each unit includes a pacing guide.
• Ready-to-use format for teachers.
• Material that encourages higher-order thinking and fosters a deeper understanding of math.

What’s Packed Into Each Unit

• Guided Notes for each Topic
• Practice/Activities
• Mini - Assessments (Editable)
• Pretest & Posttest (Editable)
• Pacing Guide
• Answer Keys
• Quality Resources

DOWNLOAD THE FREE MAKE SENSE OF MATH CURRICULUM & ACTIVITIES GUIDE

★ 7TH GRADE MATH CURRICULUM AND ACTIVITIES GUIDE

★ 8TH GRADE MATH CURRICULUM AND ACTIVITIES GUIDE

I'm ready to plan my Math Year with EASE.

Give me this curriculum and activities—I’m ready to dive in!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is the curriculum aligned to my state's standards?

The curriculum is aligned to the common core state standards. MOST states use the common core state stadards within a 15% variation.  If the state has adopted the standards they are encouraged to not deviate more than 15% from the curriculum to provide a cohesive approach to math education across the states.  It is up to you to check the guide to see if the curriculum works for you.  I am happy to answer any questions that you may have.

I don't need the whole curriuclum. Can I purchase the units that I need separately?

Absolutely! Here is a link to the 7th Grade Math Units and the 8th Grade Math Units. 

What if more products are addecd to the curriculum after I have already purchased the curriculum...do I have to purchase those seperately?

No way. Once purchased, you will receive all products added to the curriculum for FREE.  You will also receive any and all updates to any exisiting products at no cost to you.

Is the content editable?

Currently the mini-assessments and pre-tests & post-tests are editable and a few activities. 

Why don't you make all the content editable?

Many of the fonts and clipart that I use are copyrighted and I must protect the creator's content.

I love this curriculum, can I share it with my co-worker?

Each purchase comes with ONE license for ONE teacher/family. You may purchase additional licenses at a discount on TPT. Please contact me if you need more than 10 licenses for an additional discount.

Do you have a question?

I am happy to answer any questions you may have. Contact Me HERE

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Michelle Sigaran