Simple Games for Review of Classroom Subjects

I became a classroom teacher because I love to learn. But--I have a low boredom threshold. (Some people refer to my condition as ADD). I can handle only so much rote repetition before my mind is wandering. That's why I have always loved games. Call me Mary Poppins, but I believe "a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down". Throughout my teaching career, I have used games at every grade level from preschool through high school to help students recall information and review material. Most of them are very simple and flexible enough to be used in most subject areas.

BINGO

Make a grid template so you can make multiple copies. Decide on the number of squares according to the age group playing the game. Write the answers to the questions you are reviewing on the board and instruct the students to copy them randomly onto their grid. I have used this game for math facts, science terms, vocabulary definitions, historical events---you get the idea. Instead of the winner yelling "bingo", make up an appropriate word for the subject--"Civil War", "animal groups", "multiplication", etc. For markers, you can use dry beans, pennies, poker chips, or those handy games pieces found in teacher supply stores.

TIC TAC TOE

Divide the class into teams. Draw the tic-tac-toe grid on the board. In order to place a mark in a square, the students must answer the review questions. It's fun to use marks other than the traditional X and O. Use perpendicular and horizontal arrows or triangles and squares. Then you are reinforcing the concepts of direction or shapes while playing the game.

TEN QUESTIONS

This is a variation of the game Twenty Questions and works well for history, geography or science. Write the review ideas-persons, places, things or concepts--on slips on paper. One student chooses from the pile. The other students must ask questions that can only be answered with "yes" or "no". Ten questions must be asked before specific guesses begin. The student who figures out the answer is the next one to answer questions.

Have fun using these easy games to review before tests or before moving on to new topics. They will help make dull review time something you and the students can enjoy. Even those with low boredom thresholds...