Different Ways To Use Pool Noodles in the Classroom

Pool noodles are a fun toy to play with during the summer, but did you know that you can add pool noodles into your lesson plans if you’re a teacher? They’re fun, bright, and make excellent tools, as is obvious from the different ways to use pool noodles in the classroom. You can use pool noodles in every subject. But first, you need some ideas of how to incorporate them into your lesson plans. Pool noodles have many benefits, and using them in education is an impactful way to make classroom learning fun.

Play With Marbles and Pool Noodles for Science

This fun STEAM project will keep your students’ minds hard at work. The project challenges your students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Here is how you do it: first, cut the pool noodles into various sized sections, then cut the sections in half. This will help the students learn how long different-sized portions can be when placed together and how high they can go. You can even use the pieces to create the largest or longest marble run.

For Math Fun, Use Patterns or Sort Colors

This activity is engaging and straightforward. All you’ll need is your pool noodles and a piece of rope. Gather different assorted colors of your pool noodles and tell your students to create different patterns by placing the noodle pieces onto the rope.

Sort colors by using colorful pompoms. Doing this will challenge your students’ minds to memorize and learn how to count. Make sure to have tweezers for your students to use when sorting—this will help them get the pompoms into the circular part of the noodle. Use a graph to count how many times a color appears in each noodle.

For Literacy, Create Alphabet Soup or Build Words

The alphabet soup game is an easy one that your students will love. For this game, cut your pool noodles into separate sections and draw capital letters onto each piece using a permanent marker. This will teach your students to pronounce letters, learn how to identify letters with a word, and so much more.

For word building, cut your pool noodle into smaller sections and write big letters in permanent marker. Then, attach them to rods—when students turn them, the noodles will form a word for students to read. This game also helps them learn to spell the words.

Your students will love these games that challenge their minds and help them develop critical soft skillsets. Take the chance and come up with other different ways to use pool noodles in the classroom to motivate your students and challenge them in a way that shows them that learning is fun.