Because even upper elementary math deserves to look cute!
Let’s be honest: hanging another boring worksheet in the hallway just isn’t it. As upper elementary teachers, we still have bulletin board requirements. No fluff, either; ours must be academic in nature. And while rigor matters, there’s no rule that says math can’t also be adorable, right? That’s where my math craftivities come in. They are the perfect blend of content mastery, creativity, and seasonal fun!
Why Math Crafts Work
Math craftivities allow students to show what they know in a hands-on, visual way. Instead of filling in rows of problems, they’re solving real equations, explaining their reasoning, and displaying it all in a way that makes your hallway pop. Each project focuses on a specific math standard, so your bulletin board isn’t just cute — it’s curriculum-aligned and standards-based. Talk about a win-win situation!
October’s Math Craft: Ghostly Decimal Operations 👻
October is the perfect time to introduce ghost zeros with decimal operations. My previous fifth graders loved this one! Students create little ghosts while working on problems like 0.3 + 0.65. It’s a great way to reinforce lining up decimals correctly and recognizing that there’s a “ghost zero” after the tenths place — making 0.3 into 0.30.
As students complete their equations, they write their work right on the ghost craft, making the learning visible and the concept memorable. Plus, it looks so cute as a bulletin board display when all those spooky math ghosts “float” across your hallway walls!
November’s Math Craft: Candy Corn Expressions 🍬
Once Halloween wraps up, I transition to my candy corn math craftivity. It’s always a hit, year after year! Each student gets a candy corn template with a math expression printed in the orange band. They solve the expression in the yellow section, then record their final answer in the white tip.
This candy corn math craft is such a fun way to sneak in skill review before Thanksgiving break. The finished pieces make the hallway look festive, and you can easily differentiate the math problems to meet each student where they are.
Built-In Feedback Made Simple
One of my favorite parts of these math crafts? How simple they are to implement in the classroom! Each math craftivity download comes with:
✅ A teacher explanation page
✅ Directions for easy student setup (teachers, simply print and distribute in class!)
✅ A grading rubric you can staple or glue right to the back of each project
Since our bulletin boards have to include academic feedback, these little rubrics make that process seamless without cluttering the display. They’re quick to fill out, keep things consistent, and help students understand exactly what they did well — and what to improve upon next time.
Ready to Try These in Your Classroom?
You can grab both my Ghostly Decimal Operations and Candy Corn Expressions craftivities in my TeachersPayTeachers store. Each PDF download comes with everything you need to get started!
ACTIONABLE STEPS: If there’s a theme or math topic you’d love to see turned into a craftivity, don’t be shy; say hi. I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below or send me an email, and I’ll get to work on it. Because your math bulletin boards deserve to be just as creative as your students are. 💛
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