Elementary and Middle School Task Card Review Activity for Any Subject: Footloose

I’m sure you use a variety of task card activities and games in your middle school or upper elementary math classroom, but have you ever used Footloose activities?

I’ve mentioned the activity in my blog posts before, but have never really explained it on this blog (I did on my old one, over 5 years ago), so unless you’ve used one of my Footloose activities in your classroom, you might not know how it works.

Footloose is an activity that is enjoyed by students of all ages, and can be used with just about any topic you’re teaching. I use it mostly for math, because that’s what I teach now; but in the past, when I taught different grade levels, I used it as a review activity in other subject areas as well.

It’s amazing how quiet and engaged students are when working on this task card activity. They are up and down, out of their seats, and you’d think they’d be very distracted…but no matter what the grade level (I’ve used it with 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grades), students stay focused and work hard to complete the questions!

How the Footloose Task Card Activity Works

1. There are 30 cards, with a question on each card. Each card is numbered, from 1-30. I do laminate the cards so they don’t get ruined after one use:)
2. Students receive a Footloose grid (pictured in the images).
3. Each student is given a card to start with, and the extras are placed around the room.

I typically put them on the chalk/whiteboards ledges
Sometimes I tape them up around the entire room

4. Students find the answer to each question, writing their work on the grid or on separate paper. Then they record the answer to each question on the grid, in the box with the corresponding number.
5. When students finish with a card, they put it back on the ledge and get a new card.
6. This continues until students have answered all questions.

Tips for Using Footloose Games in Middle School Math

Remind students to walk away from the board when they’re working on a card – sometimes they like to hang out and do their work at the board, and that blocks other students from finding the cards they need.
Remind students they can only have ONE card at a time – some students like to grab a couple so they don’t have to get up for a new one as often, and then other students can’t find the cards they need.

Instead of using the ledges, as mentioned above, you might tape the cards all around the room, because when students are looking for the last couple of cards, they have trouble finding them. When they’re posted in numerical order, it’s easier to find them all.
Play the song ‘Footloose’ during the activity!

Ways To Use Footloose Math Task Cards

Footloose can be used as a math center – I’ve found it to be a great center activity!
Sometimes I make Footloose a game/competition, and the students who finish first (with the most answers correct) are the winners.
Many times I use the activity as a graded review before a test.
Footloose can be a great partner activity, allowing students to discuss a bit and come to agreement on the answers.
You can provide students with a copy of the answer key and allow them to self-check when they finish all the cards.

I hope you get a chance to use this activity!

If you haven’t tried Footloose before, you can download the FREE Order of Operations Footloose task cards using the button below.