Submitted by Jacqueline Lopez, Morris, Connecticut
Idea posted March 3, 2004
SUPPLIES:
Foam board
Envelopes, cut in half
Index cards
3 bells (that sit on a desk, one for each team)
Paperclips
Each envelope will make two pockets. Tape pockets in rows on the foam board, five rows across, six rows down. The top row will be the "categories." The second row will get 10 points across, going all the way down to 50 points. Ex:
categories here
10 10 10 10 10
20 20 20 20 20
30 30 30 30 30
40 40 40 40 40
50 50 50 50 50
I always put the easier questions towards the top. Make up your categories and place your questions in each pocket. I also place paper clips on each pocket so when a question has been chosen, I can place it on the outside of the pocket, and that way it is easy to see what questions have not yet been answered. I also try to make my category names a little silly for fun.
I divide the class into three teams (three groups of 10). The foam board allows this game to lean up on the blackboard so that all teams can see the categories. I start the game off by choosing a category, having three students, one from each team, compete. They sit side by side behind desks with their hands ready to strike a bell. Whichever team wins, their next teammate chooses the next category and point value. After each round, another three team members come forward to compete. The team with the most points at the end wins the game. I always have a final jeopardy question at the end where all teammates get together and quietly answer the final question by writing their wager AND the answer on a piece of paper.
I usually use this game as a review a week before a test. It takes a whole class period (about 40 minutes). This board can be used over and over, just by changing the categories at the top.