The concept of a Math Laboratory was born out of the need to occupy early finishers in my class with meaningful activities that can be completed independently and that offer more of a challenge than the routine day-to-day activities.
Math Laboratory can be run in a variety of different ways. In my own classroom they are the “go to” activities if a student has completed the allocated Math tasks for the day. Students may select an activity to complete. As we complete maths tasks in books, I expect the children to copy and complete the activity on a blank recording sheet which they paste into their books.
Alternatively, you could laminate the recording sheets and students could use write and wipe pens to complete the activity directly onto the laminated card.
Once the activity has been completed the students collect the answer sheet and check their own responses. If they complete the card correctly they may receive a sticker to place on the Math Laboratory recording card. The primary role of the recording card is for the students to keep track of the cards they have completed. It is up to you whether you wish to offer an added incentive for completing a set of cards or a level. (Personally, I don’t as I like children to work for the reward of accomplishment and self-gratification.)
You may decide whether you make all sets of cards accessible to your students simultaneously, or whether you only allow access to one or two sets at a time. Each set contains 8 different cards, with 10 sets within a level. You can easily differentiate learning within your class by having different groups of children working on different sets of cards.
An alternative way to use Math Laboratory would be to use the activities as part of your Math rotations. As your students work through the sets within one level they will gain confidence and much practise of the skills involved. Each levelled set of cards includes the same activities so your students will quickly become confident with the format of the activities.
I hope your students enjoy using Math Laboratory as much as I enjoyed creating it!