If you're looking for a quick and easy way to review vocabulary, here is a low-tech idea that my Father passed on to me during my first few years of teaching:
Tic-Tac-Toe !
Ok - it doesn't sound earth-shattering but it really works in getting the kids up, moving and engaged! This is how it works:
1. Draw a tic-tac-toe board on the whiteboard.
2. Divide the class into 2 teams - the "x" and the "o" team.
3. You decide which team goes first.
4. Let's say it's the "x" team - each student on the team takes a turn answering a question and the first student is "up".
5. The student is asked a question. If they give the correct answer, they get to put the "x" on the board for the team. If the student gives the wrong answer, the other team gets a chance to answer.
6. Go back and forth between teams with each person on the team getting their own question and the first team with 3 in a row wins!
My Tips:
- You could play several games and keep track of which team has won the most games to determine the "ultimate winner".
- Consider keeping a board that shows the wins throughout the year. (My middle schoolers love having "bragging rights".)
- Consider giving the winning team bonus points on a test/quiz.
I have almost exclusively used this game to review for spelling tests and/or vocabulary tests but you could easily use this for any concept being taught and it requires very little prep!
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