Free school newsletter content: ready to paste, December to March
Short, useful items for school & pta newsletters. Copy one as plain text or HTML and paste it into your newsletter, bulletin, email builder or intranet. Each item ends with a one-line credit; please keep it.
Breakfast warm-up (2 minutes):
Little ones: 2 + 4 = ?
Bigger kids: 27 + 14 = ? and 2 × 4 = ?
Word game: how many words can you make that rhyme with 'bed'? Real words only!
Answers: 6 · 41 · 8
Shared from Brainy Bucks: Math & Reading, a free iPhone app.
Brain teaser of the month
If 5 machines make 5 widgets in 5 minutes, how long do 100 machines take to make 100 widgets?
Give it 60 seconds before you look.
Answer: 5 minutes. Each machine makes one widget in 5 minutes.
Shared from Cognilo: Brain Training Games, a free iPhone app.
Make 10: a number-bond challenge
Three quick ones:
1) 9 + ? = 10
2) 7 + 5 = 10 + ?
3) 18 − ? = 10
Tip for 2: give 3 from the 5 to the 7 to make 10, and see what's left.
Answers: 1) 1 2) 2 (so 7 + 5 = 12) 3) 8
Shared from Number Beasts: Bond Lab, a free iPhone app.
January 2027
Breakfast math & rhyme warm-up
Breakfast warm-up (2 minutes):
Little ones: 4 + 4 = ?
Bigger kids: 20 + 3 = ? and 4 × 4 = ?
Word game: how many words can you make that rhyme with 'light'? Real words only!
Answers: 8 · 23 · 16
Shared from Brainy Bucks: Math & Reading, a free iPhone app.
Brain teaser of the month
What comes next: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ?
Give it 60 seconds before you look.
Answer: 13. Each number is the sum of the previous two (Fibonacci).
Shared from Cognilo: Brain Training Games, a free iPhone app.
Make 10: a number-bond challenge
Three quick ones:
1) 7 + ? = 10
2) 9 + 8 = 10 + ?
3) 18 − ? = 10
Tip for 2: give 1 from the 8 to the 9 to make 10, and see what's left.
Answers: 1) 3 2) 7 (so 9 + 8 = 17) 3) 8
Shared from Number Beasts: Bond Lab, a free iPhone app.
February 2027
Breakfast math & rhyme warm-up
Breakfast warm-up (2 minutes):
Little ones: 4 + 4 = ?
Bigger kids: 36 + 5 = ? and 4 × 4 = ?
Word game: how many words can you make that rhyme with 'shop'? Real words only!
Answers: 8 · 41 · 16
Shared from Brainy Bucks: Math & Reading, a free iPhone app.
Brain teaser of the month
Rearrange the letters of LISTEN to make another word.
Give it 60 seconds before you look.
Answer: SILENT (also ENLIST, TINSEL, INLETS).
Shared from Cognilo: Brain Training Games, a free iPhone app.
Make 10: a number-bond challenge
Three quick ones:
1) 4 + ? = 10
2) 8 + 8 = 10 + ?
3) 11 − ? = 10
Tip for 2: give 2 from the 8 to the 8 to make 10, and see what's left.
Answers: 1) 6 2) 6 (so 8 + 8 = 16) 3) 1
Shared from Number Beasts: Bond Lab, a free iPhone app.
March 2027
Breakfast math & rhyme warm-up
Breakfast warm-up (2 minutes):
Little ones: 2 + 6 = ?
Bigger kids: 80 + 3 = ? and 2 × 6 = ?
Word game: how many words can you make that rhyme with 'tree'? Real words only!
Answers: 8 · 83 · 12
Shared from Brainy Bucks: Math & Reading, a free iPhone app.
Brain teaser of the month
Next: 3, 9, 27, 81, ?
Give it 60 seconds before you look.
Answer: 243. Multiply by 3 each time.
Shared from Cognilo: Brain Training Games, a free iPhone app.
Make 10: a number-bond challenge
Three quick ones:
1) 7 + ? = 10
2) 7 + 4 = 10 + ?
3) 15 − ? = 10
Tip for 2: give 3 from the 4 to the 7 to make 10, and see what's left.
Answers: 1) 3 2) 1 (so 7 + 4 = 11) 3) 5
Shared from Number Beasts: Bond Lab, a free iPhone app.
Reprint terms
Free to reprint in non-commercial newsletters, bulletins and intranets as long as the credit line stays with the item. Facts were checked against the sources named in each item; for health or money topics this is general information, not advice.