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This is a great review game for any subject

MATERIALS:

• pre-made cards or slips of paper for question and answer (5x7 index cards work well, and can be easily stored when done)

PROCEDURE:

Prepare at least as many cards as you have students. These cards need not be in any particular order, in fact, it is best when handing them out that they are mixed up well. Depending upon the amount you have, some students may get more than one card.

Directions for preparing cards:

Each card has a question at the bottom about the subject you are reviewing, and an answer to a question posed on another card at the top of the card. For example:

In the example above, the answer would go with the question, "What is known as the first permanent English settlement in the New World?"

• Put the 1st question on the bottom of the 1st card. (The first card is the Teacher's card)
• Put the answer to the 1st question on the top of the 2nd card.
• Put the 2nd question on the bottom of the 2nd card.
• Put the answer to the 2nd question on the top of the 3rd card and so on.
• The answer to your last question goes on the top of the first card. (Again, the Teacher's card)

Directions for playing the review game:

If the above card were the first card in the review game, it would be considered the teacher's card. The teacher would ask the question presented on the card to begin the game. The student who holds the card that begins with the answer "Virginia Dare" would answer the above question with that response and then read the question that is presented at the bottom of his/her card. The student with the answer to that question would say the answer and then read the question at the bottom of his/her card.

The game would continue until the last question is asked by a student and answered by the teacher, who will have the correct answer to the last question on the card he/she is holding.

Here's a complete example using 4 cards:

Notice that the answer on the first card is the response needed to complete the question on the last card shown.

Do not number the cards, as students may count the number of questions and know when to answer. Since this is a review that will allow you to ascertain what the students know, accurate results will not be provided if the cards are numbered.

You can add some challenge to this activity by timing the students as they play. Once the first game is done, shuffle the cards, hand them out again - making sure no one has the same card the second time around - and time them once more. Set a goal for the students by which they should beat their previous time.

Throughout a unit of study, tell students that they should be on the "lookout" for good review questions. Tell them that they should alert the class when a good question comes up. Keep a running list of the questions that students feel would be acceptable for the game. You might even ask the student who found the question to write it down for you. This way, less time is spent by you in creating the questions!