Boom Cards are one of the newest must-have classroom activities. There has been a lot of buzz about them online and on social media. You may be wondering what all the fuss is about. This article has everything you need to know about Boom Cards and using them in the kindergarten classroom.
What are Boom Cards?
Boom cards are digital, interactive activities created by teachers. I like to think of them like digital task cards. The decks are made up of individual cards or slides for the students to complete.
Each card has one activity or question for students to complete. This is a great way to keep them focused on the task and not get overwhelmed with multiple activities.
Boom Cards are great for morning work or centers because it is sooooo easy for students to work independenty. They are self-checking which means that students are provided with immediate feedback on their answer. This way you can let students work and be confident in knowing that they are not reinforcing bad habits or wrong answers.
Why Boom Cards Are a Must in Kindergarten
1. Students Love Boom Cards
But one of the top reasons is that students love them too! Boom cards have a game-like feel which is great for student engagement. They are bright, colorful and interactive. Students ask for Boom Cards again and again. As a teacher I know that if students are engaged then there is more learning happening.
You can easily use Boom Cards as part of your whole class lesson by projecting the Boom Cards on the front board. This allows you to add a highly engaging and interactive activity to your lesson. Boom Cards can also be used individually by students as a center, morning work or even at home for additional practice.
2. Boom Cards are No Prep
Boom Cards require no prep and this makes them super easy to use in the kindergarten classroom. With so many activities that need prepping, save some time by adding a few no prep activities to your center rotations. All you have to do is share the Boom Card Deck Fast Pin link or assign to students. It literally only takes a few seconds!
3. Easily Differentiate with Boom Cards
Boom Cards make is really easy to differentiate for your students. By assigning or sharing different Boom Card Decks you easily make sure that each student gets just the right practice activity.
4. Perfect for Last Minute Plans
Woke up sick and need last minute sub plans? Add some Boom Cards to the day. You can be confident in knowing that your students will be getting great skills practice. Also, your sub will have less classroom management issues because the students will be so engaged in working on them.
With so many schools opting for virtual learning for bad weather days Boom Cards are great for those last minute lesson plan changes. If your class is meeting together on a platform like Zoom, simply start the Boom Cards on your computer and share your screen with the class. They will loving using the cards as a whole class activity. Then you can quickly assign independent practice by sharing the link. Each student will be able to then complete the Boom Cards on their own.
What Do I Need for Using Boom Cards?
The great thing about using Boom Cards in kindergarten is that you don’t need a lot of supplies. In fact, the only thing students will need is a computer or tablet. When teaching in a grade level that generally uses lots of supplies it is nice to be able to provide a skills-based activity that does not need a lot of prep!
In order to access and work through Boom Cards, students will need to have an internet connection since this is a web-based activity. But don’t worry – students won’t be surfing the web – they just need access to the Boom Learning site or the Boom Learning app.
As the teacher, you will need a Boom Learning account. While they have a free and paid option, the free account is more than enough to use Boom Cards in your classroom. If you want the data reporting features you will need to upgrade to the paid account.
Do My Students Need a Boom Learning Account?
No, all your students need is a device with internet connection. Through your teacher account you will share the Boom Cards you want your students to work on.
Where Can I Get Boom Decks?
You can find lots of ready to use Boom Decks on the Boom Learning website. Of course you can always create your own, but let’s be honest . . . Who has time for that? I have an amazing collection of boom cards just for you. Check them out in my Boom Learning store!
Did I mention that you can even try a deck for FREE? How awesome is that? Try these Free Positional Word Boom Cards with your students.
When you are looking at a Boom Deck, make sure that it fits the needs of your students. You can always preview the first four slides of any deck before purchasing. I love this option because you can see exactly what your students will see to make sure it is a good fit.
All you have to do is click on the deck you want to check out. Then click “full sized preview” above the image. You’re all set! Check them all out now!
How Do I Assign Boom Cards to Students?
Once you select your Boom Card Deck you will first add it to your library. From here you can assign a deck to an entire class or to a single student.
If your students have a Boom Learning account, they will see the assigned deck when they log in. If they don’t have an account you can use Fast Pins to distribute links. You can also use HyperPlay to distribute links without a student log in if you have a paid Boom Learning Account. Using HyperPlay also gives you access to reports and data on student answers and activity.
If you are using a program like Google Classroom, Moodle, Canvas, or Seesaw you will want to use Fast Pins or HyperPlay to assign student links.
Ways to Use Boom Cards in Kindergarten
Boom Cards are a versatile activity and there are many different ways you can use them in the kindergarten classroom. Here’s some of my favorite ways to use Boom Cards:
- Add Boom Cards as an interactive activity in a lesson on a new skill
- Use to review a concept or skill as a class or individually
- Extra skills practice that is easily differentiated for students
- Use as a class game to play in class or with virtual learning
- Use Boom Cards as an independent center
- Boom Cards make great morning work
- Easily send skills practice home using Boom Cards
As you can see there is a lot to love about Boom Cards. They are so versatile and easily adaptable that they can be used in so many different situations. I hope you see why Boom Cards are a must for your kindergarten classroom! Get started with Boom Cards today!
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