Are you tired of the same old math review drills and worksheets? Do you want to engage your students in a fun and interactive way? Look no further! In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to three math review games that your students will beg to play. Get ready to spice up your classroom with Knockout, One Word Game, and What’s the Word?
Math Review Games I Love #1: One Word Game
The One Word Game is a review game in which a student has a word on the board behind them and their team has to give them clues using only one word at a time. This game is a great way to test students’ knowledge and help them retain information. It can also be a fun and engaging way to review material before a test or exam.
The One Word Game is great because it can be used with any topic. For example, when reviewing CVC words, students can take turns naming something that rhymes with the word shown on the board. Specifically, if the word is rat, they can give one-word clues like ‘bat’ or can lean into the meaning of the word and say ‘tail’ or ‘cheese.’ “This helps them practice their phonics skills while also reinforcing word meaning.
Similarly, when learning about something science-related like the water cycle, students can play the One Word Game by taking turns saying one word that describes a step in the cycle shown behind the guesser. This can help them remember the different stages of the water cycle in a memorable and interactive way. You can also encourage students to choose details from each step of the cycle to really dive deep into the concept. For example, during evaporation, a one-word clue might be “molecule” or “heat.” Overall, the One Word Game is a versatile tool that can be used in many different subjects to help with reviewing and retention. Check out the back to school One Word game here.
Math Review Games I Love #2: Knockout
Knockout is a review game that involves splitting the class into two teams facing the whiteboard. The game starts with the first two players facing off to answer their slide correctly first. Certain slides, like “Knockout,” automatically oust players from the game, while “Free pass” slides let them stay in the game. Additionally, the “Pick a pal” slide allows ousted players to return to the game. The game ends when one team loses all of its players. You can read more about the rules of Knockout here.
Knockout is a versatile game that can be used to help review any subject or topic. For example, it can be used to review fractions in any grade (seen above). Use Knockout to practice CVC words by asking students to identify which words follow the CVC pattern, asking them to read the word on their slide, or filling in the missing letter in a CVC word when given the picture.
Additionally, it can be used to help students learn concepts beyond the math and ELA realm– about animal habitats, for example. One of our science Knockout games features pictures of animals that you match to their habitat. I offer a ton of Knockout games here.
Overall, Knockout is super versatile and provides a fun and interactive way for students to review and reinforce their understanding of various concepts.
Math Review Games I Love #3: What’s the Word?
Finally, a review game I love playing with elementary students is called “What’s the Word?”. For this game, students are given three pictures and they have to guess what word all of the pictures share in common. It can be used with any subject or topic, and it’s a simple way to reinforce knowing keywords. For example, to encourage the answer ‘forest,’ showing 3 animals of the same habitat would be great. Another way to use it would be changing it to “What’s the number?” and giving students 3 clues about the number (less than _____, more than _____, odd/even, etc.).
It’s crystal clear that using review games like Knockout, What’s the Word, and One Word Game make learning exciting and engaging for elementary students–and this makes YOUR job easier. These games are not only fun but also effective in reinforcing key concepts and promoting teamwork among students. By incorporating these games into your teaching strategy, you can create a positive and interactive learning experience that your students will love and beg to do all the time. Trust me when I say your students will thank you for it!
Want to try a Knockout game? Download a 2-digit subtraction game here:
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