Engaging Review Games That Are Effective for Middle Schoolers & High Schoolers
- Ms. Bolier
- Apr 8
- 5 min read
Why play review games in your classroom?? Playing review games have can be much more effective than just lectures or worksheets. Here are some reasons for incorporating review games into your class:
1. Increased Engagement and Motivation
Active Participation: Traditional review methods can sometimes lead to disengagement, especially if students are asked to simply recall facts or complete repetitive exercises. Review games inject energy and excitement into the process, making learning more dynamic and participatory. When students are actively involved, they're more likely to retain the material.
Intrinsic Motivation: The competitive or collaborative nature of games can motivate students to participate more fully, even if they find the subject matter challenging or repetitive. Games often spark a sense of fun and enthusiasm that drives students to engage with the content more deeply.
2. Active Recall and Reinforcement
Promotes Retrieval Practice: Research in cognitive science supports the idea that active recall—actively trying to retrieve information from memory—is one of the most effective ways to reinforce learning. Review games often involve this type of recall, where students must answer questions or make connections from memory, helping solidify concepts in their minds.
Immediate Feedback: In many review games, students receive instant feedback on whether their answers are correct or incorrect. This immediate correction helps students identify areas they need to focus on, reinforcing their understanding of the material in real-time.
3. Increased Retention
Gamification Enhances Memory: The use of games taps into the brain's reward system, which can increase dopamine production, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and memory. When students enjoy the process of reviewing, their brains are more likely to retain the information long-term.
Variety in Learning: Playing a game allows students to encounter the material in a different format (e.g., through puzzles, challenges, or competition) than they might through typical study methods. This variety helps reinforce learning in multiple ways, improving retention.
4. Healthy Competition and Collaboration
Friendly Competition: Review games often involve some level of competition, whether it's individual or team-based. This competition can motivate students to put forth their best effort. The desire to win or perform well often encourages students to review and engage with the material more thoroughly.
Collaboration and Teamwork: Many review games are designed to be played in teams, encouraging students to work together, share ideas, and help each other understand concepts. Collaborative games foster peer-to-peer learning, which can deepen understanding through discussion and explanation.
5. Can Incorporate Critical Thinking
Higher-Order Thinking: Well-designed review games can require students to apply, analyze, or synthesize knowledge, not just recall facts. For example, a game might ask students to solve problems or make connections between different concepts, which strengthens their higher-order thinking skills.
Problem-Solving Skills: Some games involve puzzles, scenarios, or case studies that challenge students to think critically and use their knowledge in creative ways. This kind of thinking is essential for deeper learning and for preparing students to use their knowledge in real-world situations.
6. Reduces Stress
Making Review Fun: Reviewing for tests or exams can be stressful for many students. By incorporating games, teachers can turn review sessions into something less intimidating and more enjoyable. Games help reduce anxiety and allow students to approach the material in a less high-pressure environment.
Promotes a Positive Classroom Atmosphere: The playful nature of games fosters a relaxed and supportive classroom atmosphere where students feel comfortable making mistakes and learning from them. This promotes a growth mindset, where mistakes are seen as part of the learning process.
7. Encourages Social Interaction
Building Relationships: Review games often require students to interact with each other, whether it’s through team-based competitions or group problem-solving. This social interaction can help build relationships among classmates, promote positive social dynamics, and create a sense of community in the classroom.
Communication Skills: Many review games require students to articulate their reasoning or explain their answers to others, which helps develop communication skills. This is especially beneficial in group settings, where students learn to listen to and respect diverse ideas.
8. Differentiates Learning
Engaging Various Learning Styles: Review games can cater to different learning styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, etc.). For instance, students who learn best through movement may enjoy games like scavenger hunts or interactive team challenges, while others may prefer quiz-style formats that rely on verbal or written responses.
Personalization: Some review games can be tailored to meet the needs of individual students or groups. For example, teachers can modify the difficulty of the questions, add hints, or use various formats that provide extra support for struggling students while still challenging others.
9. Helps Build Routine and Structure
Review Game as a Ritual: Incorporating review games regularly helps establish a routine. When students know that review sessions will be interactive and fun, they may come to expect them and feel more prepared for exams or assessments.
Structured Learning: Even though the game format is informal, the process of answering questions, keeping score, and reviewing material in a structured way can help students focus and organize their thinking in a productive manner.
10. Instant Feedback for Teachers
Formative Assessment: Review games offer teachers valuable real-time feedback on how well students are understanding the material. By observing student performance during the game, teachers can identify areas where students may need more review or clarification before a test or quiz.
Identifying Gaps: Games highlight areas where students may be struggling, allowing teachers to adjust instruction or provide additional support before the final assessment.
11. Easy to Use
Can Be Used for Any Subject: Review games are flexible and can be adapted to almost any subject area. Teachers can design games around vocabulary, concepts, skills, or problem-solving, making them an effective tool for all kinds of content.
Different Formats: Review games can be played in a variety of formats—digital (like Gimkit and Blooket), board games, group challenges, or even outdoor activities—making them adaptable to different classroom settings, technology availability, and student needs.
12. Strengthens Lifelong Learning Skills
Self-Directed Learning: In competitive review games, students often need to independently recall information or strategize answers, which fosters self-directed learning and critical thinking. They learn how to assess their own knowledge and seek out areas where they need improvement.
Adaptability and Problem Solving: Many games require students to think on their feet and adapt their strategies in real-time. This can develop problem-solving skills and adaptability, which are important skills for success beyond the classroom.
Review games provide an enjoyable, interactive, and effective way to reinforce learning. They engage students, promote higher-order thinking, offer instant feedback, and help reduce anxiety while providing an opportunity for students to collaborate and learn from each other. The variety of formats and adaptability to different content areas make them a versatile and powerful tool in any educator's arsenal. By incorporating review games into lesson plans, teachers can create a more dynamic, enjoyable, and effective learning environment that prepares students for success.
Review Game Resources I've used and students have loved:
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