I have always loved using games in the classroom. My students have always loved them too, whether they’re the 3rd grade elementary cuties or the big 8th grade middle school kids. I would use games every day except they’re not always easy, convenient, or have enough useful content to justify classroom time. (At least in the eyes of my administrator!) Games are great if you’re looking for fun ways to review or unwind, but they can also get out of hand or become huge time-wasters. They need to be structured the right way.
What is Math Madness?
Math Madness is one of my favorite games because it’s fun, easy, and engages students in real math content! The same standards used for testing during the year appear on the slides. The interactive features of the power point quiz game allow every question to be linked to a “Correct!” or “Oops!” page. Students get immediate feedback and you don’t even need an answer key! The game is designed so well that students could play independently in centers, small groups, or teams. Each game is created for one grade level, 3rd through 8th.
Follow the link below for your grade level.
Then read on to find a few tips to keeping the game moving…
Psst… If you already own a license for this game, you’ll want to download it again from your “My Purchases” page on Teacherspayteachers.com. I just updated the graphics and animations for more visual appeal!
This Game is On!
The best tool I’ve found to manage game time is to use a timer!! This is very simple and very effective in getting a cooperative response from your students. It helps me to maintain a facilitative role instead of looking like the bad guy for stopping the fun!
Structure:
Groups of students take turns choosing questions and answers. You can also assign small groups of 2-4 students to play on their own.
Rules:
- Each team takes turns choosing a question and answering it. (Two teams keeps the game moving best, but you can have more). Setting a timer for turns also keeps the game moving fairly. (1-3 minutes per question.)
- Teams click on their answer once they’ve solved a problem. The presentation will lead them to a “Correct!” page, or an “Oops! Try Again” page.
- If they have answered correctly, they receive the points linked to that question. If they do not answer correctly, another team has the chance to answer the question correctly. (In a few cases, there are only two answer choices, so I usually move on to the next question with no points awarded.)
- The next team either chooses a new question, or has a chance to answer the previous question correctly, for points.
- When all of the questions have been answered, the team with the highest total points wins!
The questions that have already been selected will change color. This makes it easy to keep track of the game’s progress. Seriously, this is so easy you almost don’t even have to be there! Can anyone say…sub plans?
This video, Student Engagement: The Difference a Game Makes, presents an interesting argument for games in the classroom. “Could play make school a more rigorous and engaging place?” It’s a bit long, but worth it! Enjoy! 😉
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy trying this out with your class! Please leave any comments or ideas below. I love hearing new ideas!
Thank you to Miss Smith-Create Inspire Teach (TpT Seller) for her recent comments regarding 3rd Grade ELA Posters with Marzano Scales.
“Such a great way for students to take ownership of their learning. These scales are so well thought out, accurate, and organized. Thanks for saving me SO much time!!!” – April 23, 201
