Reinforce & Revive: Middle School Review Games, Part 1:

By Sandra Burgess

I have finally seen the value of a dash of fun in my classroom after 27 years of teaching.  I have a new appreciation for the movement that students need in order to enjoy and learn!  If you want to read more about my philosophy and what changed my heart on this matter, go check out my previous blog post. 

I am a stickler for a calm classroom, so this is a bit outside my comfort zone.  However, I have put in a great deal of time and effort scouring the internet for several games that are merely mid-range chaos!  

After roughly six weeks on my newly turned-over leaf, here are some of my favorites.

Spelling Plates

I am starting with the absolute MOST chaotic game in my repertoire!  It only gets calmer from here, I promise.  Also, not surprisingly, this has been the favorite game among my students!

I began by buying very cheap paper plates…you know the kind.  Flimsy.  Thin.  Scalloped edges.  Cheap paper plates.

I wrote one letter of the alphabet on each plate (in the same color) with a Sharpie.  I chose purple. I then made an exact identical set, also in purple.  We are now 52 plates in, two of each letter, all purple.  😊

I made a green set to match the purple set.  

I then consulted my spelling list to make sure no word contained more than two of any given letter.  If I saw a word with three E’s, let’s say, I added another plate with an E in each color.  

When it is time to play, I divided my class into two teams, a purple team and a green team**.  And I explained ‘THE RULES”!  

The Rules:

  1. Each group will receive a set of plates, on which letters are written in their team color.
  2. Each group will sit on the floor in the designated area with said plates. (I put my groups in opposite corners of the room)
  3. Each group will have a designated “answer station” on which they must place their correctly spelled word, using the plates. (I moved a few desks together to create a long surface near their area on the floor.)
  4. I will call out a word
  5. Each group works simultaneously to spell the word using the plates. All students may work together on this task.
  6. When a group thinks they have the correct spelling on their answer station, they must raise their hands.  I will check.  If they are correct, they receive a point.  If they are incorrect, both groups may continue working.
  7. Once a team has gotten the correct answer, all plates and people return to the floor so that the next round can start.

What I love about this game:  

  • When they are spelling the words, they are working together and are far more successful if they can figure out how to work as a team.  
  • It quickly becomes clear that the more organized your plates are, the easier it is to find the correct letters.  
  •  And my favorite thing is that when they miss a word, they are all in discussion about what could be wrong.  “Does it have two Ls??”  “Is that E supposed be an A??”  They are thinking through the phonics of each word to determine what mistakes need to be corrected.  

Tips:  

Listen…it’s not a calm game!  There are plates flying and children crying out in desperation, “We need a J!  We need a J!”  I will use this one sparingly, but it is a very fun game, and they ARE learning!

**My largest fifth grade class has 12 students.  If I had more students, I would probably have more groups.  But six students in a group was a really good number. 

Let’s Get Rolling

This game is far tamer, but also a good bit of fun.

In this game, you will need dice.  I have regular dice, virtual dice, and (my personal favorite) big foam dice.  Any dice will do.  In fact, you actually only need one die.

I decide what each number on the die will require the player to do.  I always include a couple of non-academic instructions to keep it fun.  If every number required a student to “Answer a history question”, that would not be any more fun that just answering history questions!  Jumping jacks, burpees, turning in a circle, saying the ABCs, and high-fiving everyone on their team are some great options.  These things do not earn any points in my game, but you do what makes your heart happy!

I split my class up into teams.  I like to have smaller groups for this one.  I find that 4 in a team is a great number.  

The Rules:

  1. Note the posted instructions on the screen. (See a screenshot of my most recent instructions)
  2. One designated contestant on one team will roll the die.  
  3. That same designated contestant will complete the assigned activity based on the number rolled.
  4. Points will be assigned.  Or deducted.  It depends!  😊
  5. The next team will take a turn.
  6. Students will take turns in an orderly fashion.  No team members will be skipped.

What I like about this game:  

  • It can be tailored to review any content.  In my example, we were reviewing spelling words, so the largest point values go to that.  
  • The non-point-earning options are just fun.  The potential penalty convinces them to do the task for 0 points! 
  • There can be cross-curricular review by adding a lower point value option that reviews a different subject or topic.  
  • It is a very flexible game and can be used for many subjects.  
  • Each child is solely responsible for answering his or her own questions.  I like a little pressure!  
  • It is a low prep game.  I just need one die and the instructions.  I make my slide on Canva and can easily go in and modify it for other topics.  

Tips:  

If you don’t move a good clip, it can start to feel stagnant.  You have to keep it moving at a quick pace.  I have even put a time limit on the answers when things started to slow down.  I do find that having one or two active things (like jumping jacks) keeps the energy up!

Keep an eye out for Part 2, coming soon.  Happy gaming!