Easy Review Games

We're wrapping up another week of learning at USHS and I thought today would be the perfect day to blog about review games (since we're playing one in almost every class). I love playing review games and my students do, too. I think they get much more out of it than just doing the review sheet and us going over it (which I also do, so I usually do 2 days of review).

The problem with doing review is that it can take a lot of time and effort for one class period. When I student taught, my cooperating teacher gave me a bunch of SMART templates for review games. I literally find a worksheet, cut it up, and use the template. This is how it usually happens:

1. I find a worksheet that has questions over what topics I want the students to review. In my Algebra I class today we're reviewing for Chapter 1 test. So I took used a test that came with my book materials.

2. I cut it up into little strips and put it in one of my question cans (pictured below)

 

 

3. I split the students into teams (I usually like 4 teams)

4. I have the students number their papers according to the number of questions in the cans (leave the numbers on the questions when you cut them up)

5. I pass out a question to each group
6. That group works out that question on their answer sheet -- if they got number 20 first, their answer would go next to number 20 on their answer sheet (this is why I leave the numbers on the questions)

7. I usually sit up front. Once they have their question answered, a member of that group will bring me their question and their answer sheet. I look at the answer and tell them if they got it right or not. If they did, they draw another question out of the question can. If they get it wrong, they have to go back and do it again until they get it right.
8. Once they get the question right, they get to do whatever is on the board. Most of my review games have spinners and they get to spin the spinner and add/subtract the number of objects from their board. The Apple Tree Game is pictured below.

I also have a soccer game, baseball game, Christmas presents game, flower game, Easter basket game, fall leaves game, Trick or Treat game, volleyball game, and a money game. They all are the same concept as the Apple Tree game.

I love these games and I'm so glad that I was introduced to them a while ago. Every time I think about reviewing a concept but don't want to put too much effort into making a game, I pull out a worksheet and one of these games and away we go. The kids love it, I love it, so it's a great way to spend a class period.

I believe these games came from the NCTM, but I'm not 100% sure. If you would like copies of these games, you can contact me using the contact form on the right of my blog and I will be more than happy to email these to you. You will need SMART Notebook to be able to use these.

Happy reviewing!