Ahh, test season! Possibly the most stressful time of the school year. That’s why I’m sharing 3 review games for test review and why I want to help you bring some fun to your classroom during this otherwise intense and serious time of year.
Review is one of the most important study skills you could teach your students. Click here to read my blog post where I share other important study skills to teach your elementary students.
Do you value teaching soft skills like study skills, empathy and time management?
Click here to download The Soft SkillsGuide for Elementary ELA Teachers.
Let’s check out the 3 review games for test season…
Review Game #1- Blockbuster
This test review game is the simplest, yet most requested activity that I’ve ever done with students! This game is a must for all teachers entering the testing season. Make the exam period more fun by showing students this engaging test review game!
All you need are 25 questions and answers!
This Google Slides Game is editable, making it easy to input answers! Everything else is clickable, making it easy to navigate between the game board and the question/answer slides!
Includes 5 different coloured game boards to choose from!
Here is how you play:
- Start off by choosing which game board you would like to use (pink,orange, blue, green or yellow). Then type 25 questions and answers into the Google Slides
- Split your class or group into two teams. One team will have the black tokens at the top of the game board, and the other team will have coloured pieces. The goal of the game is to win enough spaces on the board to have a line going across the board. This could be a straight line going from the top to the bottom (vertically), from side to side (horizontally) or a zig-zag line. The zig-zag line must at least touch at the corners.
- How students win spaces on the board is by answering your review questions. If students get the answer correct, they can move one of their tokens to the space.
- Once a team has won a space on the board, that space belongs to them. The opposing team cannot place a token on that space.
- Start the game by choosing question 1. You can flip a coin to see which team gets to answer first.
- If a team gets the answer wrong, the other team gets a chance to steal and win the space on the board. It is up to you whether the question goes back to the first team if the second team also gets the answer wrong.
Review Game #2-Trashketball
I first discovered this game when watching a YouTube video by Pocketful of Primary (who I am a huge fan of!). This game is a very simple question-and-answer game. If students get the answer right, they get a point and have a chance to earn either one of two bonus points by shooting the ball through a basketball net.
I personally went to the dollar store and bought a basketball-net-looking trashcan and some foam basketballs. However, you can use any type of hoop (a garbage can, a cardboard box, etc..)
Click here to get Pocketful of Primary’s Trashketball resource!
Read my blog post where I share more engaging games to play with students.
Review Game #3 Jeopardy
Who doesn’t love jeopardy? Ok, maybe you want to exit this page because of this generic, unoriginal idea, but please let me explain!
This oldie is a goodie because it has students thinking about the questions they ask, or will be asked on a test! Students are so used to being asked questions but how often do they have to form meaningful questions in order to come to an answer?
Either create your own Jeopardy board or find one online. Click here to check out Jeopardy games on Teachers Pay Teachers!
If you are creating the test you want students to review, try to use the answers directly from the test, (or at least as close as possible to the real test).
That way, students will be familiar with the wording of answers and will have practiced using the language that will be used in the test’s questions.
Click here to get a jeopardy board!
Want to learn more about teaching soft skills in the classroom?
Click here to download the free Soft Skills Guide for Elementary ELA Teachers.
Final Thoughts on Review Games for Test Season
Have other great ideas for review games for test season? Comment down below!
Here are some other blog posts to check out:
What Are the Study Habits I Should Be Teaching My Elementary Students?
What Are Hard Skills And Soft Skills- How Do They Show Up In Education?
The Top 3 Hurdles Facing Teachers Teaching Students Soft Skills
PS Don’t forget to grab the free Soft Skills Guide for Elementary Teachers
