Makeshift Table Skirt for the Classroom

My creativity was shining today!!!  Well, I thought it was.

I DO NOT like this look. Wires everywhere and students can see what is in my storage unit, the one with the clear plastic drawers.  I also don't like the mess on top of the table, but that's a totally different story. I'm working on that one too.

Anywho, I remembered a while back when Dollar Tree first opened, they use to sell plastic adhesive table skirts, I used one years back to hide a similar type of mess when I was teaching 5th grade.  Well, guess what? They don't have them any more!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! (Your trying to figure out when Dollar Tree first opened, aren't you? STOP! It was in 1986.)

So I went to WalMart to see if they had any adhesive table skirts. Well, the answer was ""Nah, to the ah to the NO, NO, NO!" However, in the party section, they did have plastic table covers for $0.97. So I grabbed a couple of teal colored ones to match my theme for this year.

So I'm looking at my messy table trying to figure out how I can make this table cover into a table skirt and then it dawns on me! The edge of the table is metal!!!  I can use hot glue!! Hot glue will peel off metal and not damage it!  Well, that's what I was thinking. So I rushed home and grabbed my trusty ole' hot glue gun and glue sticks and tried it.

It peeled right off! The hot glue, after it cooled, peeled right off!  YAAAASSS!!!!

So here is what I did next.

Apply glue.

Pinch plastic, but do it carefully!!! The glue is very hot!!!!

Press it down further with an old pencil so that you don't burn yourself.  I'm not gonna lie.  It would have probably been easier if someone was helping me.  But I glued small sections at a time and it was pretty easy.  Don't  put glue on large sections because it will cool fast and the skirt won't stick.

I had to carefully go around the wires to the E.L.M.O. so I left a small area that was not glued down.  Just in case I had to remove the cords for some reason.

I know it seems a little messy, but I'm snapping pics up close to the edge of the table.  Be patient. The final picture is coming up!

 I have to give you a few more details.

First of all, when you take the table skirt out of the package DO NOT unfold the entire thing. Unfold it up to the point that it is still folded in half.

The folded edge is what I glue to the metal part of the table.

Well.  Here it is!  I think it looks great! I'm still trying to decide if I should add a border to cover the top section. Tell me what you think!

SUGGESTIONS:  If you decide try this, first apply hot glue to a small section of the table in an area that is hidden or can't be seen.  Wait for it to cool, then try peeling it off. I highly recommend that you do this first to test and see if it will work on your table.

Another option is adhering painter's tape to the section of the table you plan to glue the skirt onto. When applying glue and plastic table cover, do it only on the painter's tape.  

I hope this idea is helpful!  Thanks for looking!!!  If you do try it, I'd love to see the outcome!!

Practice Integers with a Deck of Cards!

First of all, I know first hand that buying materials for your classroom can get pricey and adds up to quite a bit by the end of the year.  This is why I try to look for ways to save money on items for my classroom.  I also try to look for items I can use in more than one way.

Now, onward to using a deck of cards for integers!

I found the best deal at Dollar Tree!  You get TWO decks of cards for $1!  Fifty cents a deck is a real bargain. Of course, if you can get them donated, that would be even better.

Here is what the package looks like if you happen to have a Dollar Tree near you.  If not, I'm sure you can find them at other types of dollar stores.

They are glossy and pretty durable.

I usually take out the Jokers, since I have no use for them.



This is how I use a deck of cards to have my students practice addition of integers.  My students call it Integer War and it is a game for two players.

First, I tell students that all face cards (King, Queen, Jack) have a value of 10.  All blacks are positive and all reds are negative.

For example, 6 of diamonds (red) has a value of (-6) and a Jack of spades (black) has a value of (+10).  I then instruct students to use addition to solve.

Step 1: Divide the entire deck of cards between two players.

Step 2: Both players take a card from the very top of their stack and place them down next to each other.  Be sure to tell you students that peeking is not allowed!  They MUST take the card from the top of the stack.  Now they have created an integer problem!  This one shows (+10) + (-8).
Step 3: The first student to shout out the answer takes both cards.  The coolest part is that they can use the symbols on the cards to create their "zero pairs" if they are still struggling solving it mentally!  Since face cards don't have symbols, you can have students take all face cards out for the first few times they play this game.  Then have them play the game with the face cards included as they are gradually building integer fluency.

Here are some more examples:

(+10) + (+7) = (+17)

(+10) + (-10) = 0

(-4) + (+10) = (+6)

(-10) + (+8) = (-2)

(-10) + (-10) = (-20)

It's that easy!

I think the colors really help students determine positive and negative values and understand when they have to add or subtract the values.


I usually have my students seated in groups of four. So what I do is have two students play against each other and the other two students use a calculator to check the answer.  That way they know who stated the correct answer first.  Then the pairs of students trade tasks.  It's a great way to build integer fluency and students end up discussing when answers are incorrect.  They teach each other!  How awesome it that?!

Take it to the next level!  After students understand directions and the goal of this game, change it up and have them subtract the integers.  I usually have them write down the problem when they use subtraction.  Eventually, I also have them practice multiplication of integers.

So you actually get THREE activities that will have your students practicing with integers using only one deck of cards!


WARNING!  When students are playing this game, you will hear them gradually get louder as they shout out the answer, because they want to win!  They get really excited.  Student engagement at it's finest!  :D

Here are some of the activities I have available at my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.

Integer Fluency Circles


Exponents with Integers


Christmas Tree Negatives and Positives - Mixed Computation with Integers This one is FREE!


I will be posting other ways I use decks of cards in my classroom at a later date.  Stay tuned!

Thanks for looking.  I hope this was helpful!