GameWize Kindergarten through Second Grade

Use Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint to spice up lessons. Bring even the most hesitant learner out of their lazy daze. Invigorate your classroom with a learning-based, competitive enthusiasm that will have students begging to play (and learn) some more. Tailor each game to meet the needs of your unique classroom environment. Play as a whole class activity, or set up stations in the classroom for partner or small group competitions. Modify game components to make it relevant to current topics of study, and create a memorable learning experience for yourself and your students.

Includes 15 games!!

See below for the list of games, a brief description, and sample image from each game.

#1 Rainbow Land

Each time a team correctly answers a question, they get to move their team “letter” or “number” on the game board as indicated by the colors shown in the “colors” box. If they land on another team’s marker, that team goes back three spaces. If the colors box shows four X’s instead of colors, then the team moves their marker back to the first available white space. The first team to get to the end of the rainbow wins the game.

#2 Stop and Go

Each time a team correctly answers a question, they roll a six-sided die to determine the number of times the traffic light changes. If the traffic light ends on green, the team earns 4 points. If it lands on yellow, they receive 2 points. If it lands on red, they get one point. Points earned are recorded by placing an x in the appropriate cells of the spreadsheet. The first team to cross the finish line wins the game.

#3 Autumn Leaves

Student teams take turns answering questions. Each time a team correctly answers a question, they select and click on one of the leaves. The leaf will change color and float down to the ground. The number revealed behind the leaf is the team’s score for answering that question.

#4 Beginning Letters

In BeginningLetters1.ppt, each slide displays three pictures of objects with a button below each picture. Each button has the same letter, or combination of letters (th or st for example) on the button. In BeginningLetters2.ppt, each slide displays one picture with three buttons. Each button has a different letter, or combination of letters on it. Students click on the button that has the correct initial sound for the object displayed. A happy “thumbs up” face is displayed if they are correct and the clicked button turns green. An unhappy face is displayed if they are incorrect, the clicked button turns red, and then the unhappy face fades away so they can try again. Points can be awarded for each correct response.

#5 Build a Bug

Students are divided into four teams and assigned a “bug” to build. Teams answer questions on a given topic. If they are correct, the team rolls a die and then clicks on the corresponding number for their bug. The first team to finish building their bug, wins the game.

#6 Dots

Students are divided into up to four teams and assigned a dot (yellow, red, blue, or green). Each time a team correctly answers a question, they click on one of the numbered squares at the bottom of the screen to advance their dot around the track. The first team to answer five questions correctly will cross the finish line and win the game.

#7 Dragon Breath

Teams answer questions, and then roll a die to move their character toward the safety of the castle. But beware. A fire-breathing dragon lurks beneath the path. Step on the wrong stone, and its dragon breath will heat up the stone and send you back three spaces.

#8 Error E Racer

Students select a question and determine which green box contains an error. If they are correct, they click their team eraser to remove part of their line. The first team to find enough errors to erase the entire line wins the game.

#9 Go Fish

Given a hint at the top of the slide about the part of speech needed to fill in the blank, students select a word from five available words to complete a sentence. The catch: students don’t know what the sentence is until after they have selected a word. All the words could be appropriate (i.e. all verbs) for completing the sentence, or create a more challenging game that mixes nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc. on one slide.

#10 Hot Stuff

Student teams answer questions on a given topic. If they are correct, click an arrow on the team’s thermometer and their temperature will rise. If they are incorrect, give another team an opportunity to answer and prove how “hot” they are.

#11 Mr. Tomato Head

Students are divided into two teams and assigned a tomato. Teams answer questions on a given topic. When a team answers correctly, they select a number (MrTomatoHeadNumbers.ppt) or a letter (MrTomatoHeadLetters.ppt) from one of the five different sections: hats, ears, eyes, noses, or mouths. The first team to finish their tomato’s head wins the game.

#12 On Target

Teams answer displayed questions. The first team to answer correctly, clicks on one of six different “darts” to throw at a target. Points earned are determined by where the dart hits the target.

#13 A Sorted Fun

Student teams click to put items in order (alphabetize words, arrange numbers in ascending or descending order, etc). After each click, prompts appear to let participants know if their order is correct so far. If the team makes a mistake, the slide can be reset so that another team can attempt to put the items into the correct order.

#14 Stair Climber

After each correct answer, teams roll a six-sided die and “hop” their player up the stairs the number of times shown on the die. To win, a team must land exactly on the top step. If a team goes too far, they go back to the bottom and start climbing again.

#15 Varoom!

Student teams try to answer questions on a given topic. If they are correct, click a circle the same color as the team’s car. If they are incorrect, give another team an opportunity to answer and advance their car toward the finish line.