class review games

Okay, so, I’ve been trying to make my classes more fun and engaging, especially when it’s time to review stuff. You know, ’cause no one likes boring review sessions. So, I thought, why not try some class review games? I started with this idea of turning the review into a game day.

First thing I did was split the class into teams. I made sure each team had a mix of students, you know, so it wasn’t just the smart ones on one team and… well, you get it. Each team had to come up with a team name too, and man, they were creative! We had names like “The Quantum Quokkas” and “The Lit Litigators”. That alone got them pumped!

Starting Simple

We started simple. I had this game called “Friendly Feud” in mind. It’s like that game show, but, you know, classroom-friendly. I’d give them a topic we covered, like, “What are the causes of World War II?” and each team had to brainstorm answers and rank them.

Then, we’d go team by team, and they’d try to guess the top answers. They got points based on how many people in the class agreed with their answers. It was a blast! They were shouting, debating, and, most importantly, actually remembering stuff. Also, they have to use the knowledge they learned to complete the game.

Getting Competitive

After that, I introduced group contests. I made these worksheets with different types of questions – multiple choice, short answer, even some drawing tasks for the visual learners. Each team worked together to complete their worksheet, and I made sure to walk around, giving hints when they were stuck, but not giving away the answers, of course.

I added a little competition, you know, for that extra motivation. Each group contest could earn their team points. I kept a scoreboard up front, and you could see the teams getting competitive, but in a good way! They were helping each other, discussing answers, and really engaging with the material.

Why This Worked

• Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Seriously, putting them in teams changed everything. They were more engaged, more willing to participate, and they learned from each other.
• Competition is Key: A little friendly competition went a long way. They were motivated to do well, not just for themselves, but for their team.
• Variety is the Spice of Life: Mixing up the types of games and questions kept things interesting. They never knew what to expect next.

By the end of the review day, they were tired, but in a good way. They had fun, they worked together, and they actually remembered the stuff we reviewed. And I realized that making review sessions into games wasn’t just about making it fun – it was about making it effective. I saw a big difference in how well they did on the test after the game day review compared to previous tests. It seems like team-based classroom review games are a win-win.

I’m definitely going to keep using these review games and probably try to come up with some new ones too. I felt like I was actually teaching them, and not just going through the motions. That’s a good feeling.