There are many different ways to review math for end-of-year testing. You can use worksheets, task cards, Boom cards, or games. This article focuses on math review games your students will love. Specifically, I want to talk about games that are similar to Jeopardy.
I enjoy using Jeopardy-style games because students love playing them. They usually have so much fun playing the game that they forget that they’re doing math.
They can also work in groups which takes the pressure off knowing all the correct answers. They also learn how to collaborate with their peers.
Here are some tips for choosing math review games that your students will love.
Consider Games with Editable Questions
All of the PowerPoint games in my TpT store feature editable questions. That means you can change any of the questions and answers to customize the difficulty of the questions. You can use some or all of the questions. It’s completely flexible.
For an extra activity, consider having your students write some of the questions themselves. They’ll love the opportunity to stump their classmates with their review questions. Plus, you’ll have multiple game versions that you can save for future years.
Make It Fun
I always suggest assigning only positive points for correct answers. Subtracting points for incorrect answers prevents students from wanting to participate. Positive points also create a safe zone for students to try without the worry of answering incorrectly in front of their classmates.
Having the students work in groups also makes the game more fun. You can divide your class into four or five teams with a handful of students in each team. Assign a team leader who will answer the questions, so you don’t have many students shouting answers at you.
Be generous with the time they have for each question. Some questions require computation and will require more time than multiple choice answers.
Award Fun Prizes for the Winning Team
Students tend to work a little harder when they’re excited about the winning prize. Homework passes are usually my go-to for prizes. Homework passes allow students to miss a day of homework when they’re busy with after-school activities. Students valued those homework passes.
Candy or baked goods are always desirable. Make sure you consider food allergies and sensitivities when selecting any food items. Store-bought foods with easy-to-read labels will help students who need to know the ingredients.
Use Games as Rewards
I also use games as a reward for good behavior. At the beginning of the week, I’d write the word GAME on the whiteboard. When the class was loud or had difficulties settling down, I’d quietly erase one of the letters. If they didn’t settle down after a minute or two, I’d erase a second letter. They knew they had to have all four letters in the word GAME on the board by Friday morning to play the game. That helped them settle down pretty quickly.
If they were missing letters, I’d give them back during class when they actively participated or were kind to each other. It was a great way to encourage positive behavior. Luckily I had a lot of games in my TpT store to choose from each week. My students particularly enjoyed holiday-themed games like this St. Patrick’s Day Game.