Recently I wrote about using Instant Games in the classroom, and how much my kids have really enjoyed this. A couple of weeks ago I happened to try out a new application of this. The students beat me by two and wanted an instant game. The problem was that we had just started our chapter. Often this would not be a problem. A lot of what we cover in science they have had a little experience with in a lower grade already, so I could pull in some questions that they could answer.
This time, however, we were doing a chapter on applying technology, and it was all new material for them. I decided to try something a little different. I had them all turn to the first page in the chapter and explained that we were going to play and take notes as a game.
We talked about the learning goals, and essential ideas for the chapter, and especially for the first section. Then I asked a question that was central to the section and said “Go!”
The first team to find the answer in the text raised their hands, and got a chance to answer. If they were correct they got a point for their team. Then everyone taught it to partners using Teach!-ok! We followed that up with notes on paper on the key point we had just learned.
They loved it, and were more engaged than usual in the resulting lesson. We played for about ten minutes, and they were jazzed and ready to work at the end.
Try it and let me know how it worked for you.
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