Academic Games

*Word Searches and Crossword Puzzles*

It helps to have a selection of word searches and crossword puzzles on hand that relate to different subjects. For example, one with math vocabulary, one with animal names, one with science vocabulary, one with French or Spanish vocabulary etc. This way, you can pull one out to photocopy when a curriculum based activity is needed.

*Math Cue Card Game*

Each student is given a cue card. A math equation is written on one side of the cue card, and its answer is written on one side of a DIFFERENT cue card. So, each cue card has an math equation on one side, and the answer to a different math equation on the other side. One card has "START" written on one side, and a math equation written on the other side. The person with this card starts the game by standing up and saying "start", and then reading out the equation written on their card. Whoever has the answer to that equation written on one side of their card then stands up and reads out the answer, and then the equation they have written on the other side of their card. Whoever has the answer to that equation stands up next. The game continues on until the end when everyone has read their cue cards. They can race to try and finish the activity in a certain amount of time, and reward can be given. The cards can be mixed up and redistributed for more games.

*BINGO for any subject*

Carry blank homemade Bingo sheets around, and they can used for any subject at any grade level. They blank squares can be filled in with numbers up to 30 (you read math equations equally numbers up to 30) or French vocabulary (you keep a master list to read from, they use the same list to pick and choose words from and place them where they like on the card). They can be filled in with lots of other things as well including spelling words, science vocabulary words, upper and lower case letters etc. Students use small objects like counting blocks or bingo chips to cover the spaces, or they can place a check mark in the corner of each box with erasable pencil.

*Read a Book and Write About it*

With the primary grades, you can read a book to them, and then have them complete a simple activity to go along with it. For example, after reading "The Balloon Tree" by Phoebe Gilman, have the students write a few sentences about what they would like to have growing on a tree in their backyard, and then illustrate it. Or, read "The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs" by Jon Scieszka, and then have students write a new ending to their own favourite fairy tale.

*Mooooooo*

Students sit in a circle and a ball is passed around the circle. You pick a magic number, like 9 for instance. As they receive the ball, students say a number, counting up from 1. Any time a student must say a number that has a 9 in it, they must say "Mooooo" instead. So for instance, students who receive the ball for the numbers 9, 19, 29, 39 etc. must say "Mooooo" instead of the number. This game can be made even more complicated by requiring that students say "Mooooo" at numbers that are a multiple of 9 as well (ie. 18, 27, 36, 45 etc.).