Review Games

Sometimes we need something to spice up the review game world, but also need it QUICK! Here are some fun, low prep ways to turn a worksheet or set of questions into a fun interactive game with your students!

Attack!

Overview: This one is my personal favorite (and I think my 7th graders would agree)! Each group draws a castle (or anything, really) on the board. Groups compete to “attack” the other castles. Teachers asks groups questions one at a time. When a group answers correctly, they get to “attack” a castle by drawing an “X” in their castle space. When a castle gets “attacked” 3 times, the group is disqualified.

Modifications: This game is flexible, so you can use it whenever! It can be a 50-minute game or a 15-minute game. You can modify the time by having groups “attack” more than one castle at a time. You can also modify the number of “attacks” to disqualify. If you want it to last longer, the castles could withstand 5 “attacks” instead of 3, for example.

Prep: Have a list of questions ready. Section off the board for the groups’ castles. Optional: group students ahead of time.

2. Battleship

Overview: This is usually a hit with middle school students. Groups write 5 different content-relevant questions on separate sheets of paper and crumple it up into a ball. When it’s their turn, they will throw the paper to another group. If this group answers correctly, they can throw one of their papers to a different group. If the group answers incorrectly, one of their ships has sunk. When 5 ships have sunk, the group is disqualified.

Modifications: To save time (and to be sure the questions are relevant and rigorous), print a bank of questions for groups to choose from. The groups can cut them out (in strips) and crumple it up to use. You can adjust the number of questions and the number of ships.

Prep: Optional: printed list of questions for each group

3. Beachball Toss

Overview: This is a great quick game that can be played if you end up with a spare few minutes at the end of class! Basically, you just toss the beachball and that student answers a question. They toss to another to take turns.

Modifications: Write numbers on the beachball. The number the student’s right hand is closest to signifies the question in your list. You could also write the question directly on the beachball. Personally, I prefer writing the numbers, so it can be used for any content.

Prep: List of questions.

4. Trashketball

Overview: This one is pretty common, and it’s pretty simple! Students/groups take turns answering questions to earn points. For extra points, they can shoot into the trashcan.

Modifications: Use what you have in the classroom! You can use balled up paper and a trashcan, or you can get fancy with a real toy basketball hoop and real toy balls. You can adjust the line at which students must stand to shoot. You can even have 3 different lines to represent 3 different point values. This might help your non-athletic/shy students if you’re requiring each student to shoot.

Prep: List of questions. Crumpled paper (or whatever you’re using for a ball).

5. Grudgeball

Overview: This is a combination or Trashketball and Attack! Teams take turn trying to answer questions, and then shooting a ball. They then can erase "X's" depending on how well they did. Although this game takes a little set up and has a couple rules, the kids love it.

Set up a basketball zone. You’ll need a hoop or trash can, a ball, and some masking tape. Place the hoop or trash can and then mark two lines on the floor with masking tape for students to stand behind when shooting at the hoop or trash can; a ‘2-point’ line that is close-ish and a ‘3-point’ line that is farther away. Divide class into teams (5-6, depending on class size) and have them select names. Write the team names on the board and mark 10 X’s below each team names.
If they answer correctly, they get to take a shot at the hoop. If they miss the shot, they get to erase one X from the board (they cannot erase their own Xs; they can erase them both from the same team or one each from different teams. If they make the shot from the 2-point line, they get to erase 2 X’s total from other teams. If they make the shot from the 3-point line, they get to erase 3 X’s total from other teams. If the team answers incorrectly, they must ADD 2 X’s to the board (they cannot add X’s to their own team). The question is then asked to the next team in the sequence until someone gets it right. If a team is eliminated, they are still asked a question. To get back in the game, they must answer the question correctly AND make a 3-point shot. If they do, they get 3 new X’s.
The team with the most X's at the end of the game wins -- even if it was a team that had been eliminated and came back!

Modifications: The most important part of this game, in my mind, is how you introduce it to students. You have to talk to them about sportsmanship. The game is called GRUDGE BALL, for crying out loud! They are going to get frustrated if their team is targeted. It’s okay to feel frustrated and angry when you feel like you are being targeted unfairly, but remember that it’s just a game and at the end we will all walk away friends. To reinforce this very important idea, I like to make the winning team give compliments to the losing teams at the end of the game. In my experience, it relieves the tension that has built up during game play. It also keeps students from playing like bullies because they know that at the end of the class they will need to say something genuinely kind to whoever loses

Prep: List or Google Slides with questions, trashcan, ball, and 2 pieces of masking tape.

6. Vindictive

Overview: This is in the same genre as Grudgeball. Everyone stands up. You ask questions, and students put their hands up to answer a question. If the student you chose answers correctly they choose 3 people to sit down, if they get it wrong they sit down. Even if you are sitting down you can still answer. If you are sitting and you answer correctly you get to stand back up and choose 2 people to sit down. The last person standing wins.

Modifications: You can change the number of people that can sit or stand for this one.

Prep: Set of questions

7. Dice Roll

Overview: You ask a student (or a team) a question. If they answer it correctly, they get to roll the dice. They earn the number of points that are on the dice.

Modifications: Pick to roll 1, 2 or 3 dice.

Prep: List of Questions, Dice or Virtual Dice, and decide if students will be in teams

8. Lego Game

Overview: The concept of this game is simple. If a student (or team) answers a question correctly, they receive a Lego.

Modifications: You can give students one or multiple Legos depending on their age, or change the size depending on the age. You can also have students vote at the end for the best design, they just can't vote for their own!

Prep: List of Questions and Lego Pieces

Bonus Idea: Jeopardy

So this isn't no prep, but if you have a little more time to prep consider making your own Jeopardy Game! Here is a link for your template, just click here to get your own copy!

Here is a great planning sheet to help you set up your game too! Click Here to access the planning sheet.

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