Academic Games
Grades 2 - 12
Big Idea
Directions
Objective: You will create a board game that relates to the topics we have studied in class. The game should be able to re-teach or reinforce (practice) this topic. Think about other board games you’ve played and their rules. As you create your own game, please keep your classmates in mind. You will play your games with your classmates.
Topic of your game: Select one topic (or two if they are closely related) from a list provided that your game will highlight. All of your questions should be related to your topic!
Create for your game:
· Catchy Name – the name should be fun and creative and make people want to play it!
· Theme – create a theme for your game (candy or food, under the sea, beach, sports, vacation, etc…)
· Goal – decide what criteria is needed to win: the first/last player to ______ wins, etc.
· Steps to navigate the board – clear, step-by-step directions on how to move through the board and how to teach others what you have learned
· Game Directions – clear, step-by-step instructions on how to play the game. Your game should also include:
o Players needed for this game: 2 -4
o Materials Needed
o How to win your game
o Answer key for all questions
· Game Board – design a colorful, neat chart or board with a start and a finish or any other spaces your game will use
· Game Pieces – choose or create dice, pennies, rocks, paper pieces, tokens that fit your theme
· Game Cards – You should include at least 15 game cards (or fewer for younger students) with 15 different problems to solve
· Your game should have AN ATTRACTIVE, COLORFUL FINISHED PRODUCT that others will want to play!
When to use
- are finished with a unit of study
- can demonstrate a mastery of content
- have time to play the games with other students
Save their games during the year and students can play them again to review content throughout the year!
Strategy Variations
- allow students to make rule changes that necessitate high-level thinking, involve a great need for attention, or require a more complex process
- Have students sit in a circle and play two games simultaneously
- Adapt an existing commercial game to make it specific to their topic of study that extends beyond basic information (adapt Monopoly to fit your specific topic)
Adapted from: Tiered Learning Stations in Minutes by Bertie Kingore