Adding games to a lesson is the QUICKEST and EASIEST way to make content more engaging and fun. Below I have compiled a list of the best games to use! What kid wouldn’t answer a task card using RACE, complete sentences, appropriate capitalization, and punctuation in order to get pied in the face!!
PIEFACE!!! It’s such a huge hit in our classroom. For this activity I simply pulled up task cards on the smartboard. Students answered questions at their desk using a white board/marker. I chose students who correctly answered to spin and play!
Use bean boozled just like you would Pie Face. Bring the game to the front of the room and select students with correct answers to spin!
There are SO many resources on TPT to use with jenga pieces!
EggedOn: I’ve always wanted to try egg-roulette in my room…but I’m just not brave enough! haha. This was a GREAT alternative. Instead of using actual eggs, you fill up a few eggs with water. I also purchased these ponchos that are the perfect addition! For this lesson (video shown below) students answered task cards using their desk and a dry erase marker. I used the “random” tool on Class Dojo to select two students at random. If the student answered correctly, they got to come up front to play!! If they did not answer correctly, we fixed their answer and I chose another random student.
KERPLUNK: This is a GREAT behavior management tool to use during those stressful weeks in the classroom. I like to pull this guy out during those CRAZY weeks…around the holidays…you know which weeks I’m talking about! We are able to practice our rules and procedures until they are perfect. Choose a procedure for the week and post it in your classroom or on your Kerplunk game. I used these velcro circles and changed out my procedure whenever I felt like it! Whenever my class has successfully practiced the procedure without guidance I would select a student to pull a stick. When all of the balls fall, students receive a class reward!
Check out my TPT for FREE editable procedure cards! Just add your own bitmojis!
Connect Four
This game requires NO purchases! It is so easy to implement in the classroom. Simply draw a connect four board on your whiteboard. All student groups receive sticky notes that are different colors. Give groups a task to complete. When you have checked that their answer is correct, they get to place a sticky on the game board. Their goal is to connect four sticky’s in a row or block another team from making four in a row.
Minute to Win it
Select students who have correct answers to problems or task cards to compete in a minute to win it game! You can also reward an entire group by playing as well! One of my all time favorites minute to win it games is is “Cookie Face.”
For Cookie Face students form a line in the front of the room. Each student receives a cookie that they place on their forehead. The goal is to move the cookie to your mouth without your hands and without dropping the cookie. Simple and easy!
Board Games
Have any old board games?! Ditch the old rules and create your own. Print task cards and have students answer them in order to move spaces!