5 Tips for Using Games in the Science Classroom

Games are a great way to make learning more engaging and interactive. Here are 5 tips for using games in the Science classroom:

1. Use games to introduce new concepts or reinforce existing ones.

Introduce Food Webs/Food Chains.  Students learn the relationships between organisms (predator/prey, herbivore/carnivore/omnivore) quickly during this competitive game!  An alligator may eat most prey but all is equal when it comes to death & decay.

This is a great review of vocabulary such as autotroph/heterotroph, chloroplast/mitochondria… using a crossword and/or hidden message puzzles.  I have used it in class but it’s great as homework!  It’s one of a few homework assignments students actually like to do!

2. Incorporate games into lesson plans to break up the routine.

Interactive Jeopardy involves the entire class not just 1 student!  Each student has an answer sheet which can be used at the end to make their Final Jeopardy wager and as a formative assessment. We play in teams so students can collaborate, and their spokesperson rotates so everyone is engaged.

Students draw pictures to get their team/class to guess vocabulary terms.  I use this at the end of class and students have begged to stay after the bell to “finish.”  It is almost no prep.  I print the pages, cut the words apart and put them in a container. It sits on my desk so I can grab it whenever I have a few extra minutes.  I also add it to my sub plans.

3. Use games to review material before a test or quiz.

This game uses questions that address the state standards taught in 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade Science. We use it to review before the test given in the spring.

4. Allow students to collaborate and work in teams to promote teamwork.

Students answer a few questions on their own then they “find” other students to help answer the rest.  It’s a great way to get students moving and interacting with the content.  I have students initial the answer they give and then we review the answers together.

5. Use games to teach problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

In this game, students have to use their knowledge of the periodic table to find their opponents ship/element before theirs is found by asking questions and guessing elements.  I am so impressed when students ask “higher-order questions!” It’s also really interesting to see how they plot out their strategies!

 

Incorporating games into my Science classroom is a fun and effective way to enhance learning! By following these tips in your classroom, you can ensure that games are used in a way that is both educational and engaging.

Use your content to make games for your classroom.

I hope your students enjoy games as much as mine.  It really makes Science fun!