Exam Review Activities & TGIF

Shiver me timbers! Another blog posting & Friday are here! Following Tuesday’s topics of Time Management Skills & Exam review tips, here are some new activities that you can use with your students/mentees. Are there some activities that work really well for you? Or maybe not? Let us know in the comments!

Exam Review Activities

A.    Exam Reviews

Lecture Size Sessions

Supplies/Prep: Design a graphic organizer worksheet that suits the course material. Post session: scan notes taken during the session; get students’ email addresses to send the compiled lecture summaries – preferably same day, depending on when the exam will be following this activity.

Multiple-Choice Madness

Supplies/Prep: Create a multiple choice exam and print enough copies for each student.

*To add more of a challenge, I wrote six possible answers (a-f) so that choosing among only four choices on the real exam would seem easier.

Reviewing with Sticky Notes

Supplies/Prep: Prepare a set of 12-15 Post-it® notes for each group, with important events, places, or people discussed in lecture and the readings; stack of blank Post-it® notes for each group.

* At the beginning of the session, I asked the whole group to brainstorm the major themes of the course thus far, which I wrote on the board. Even though students generate most of the activity, I still came to the session with certain themes in mind to use if necessary. I split the students into groups of four and handed each group a stack of fifteen Post-it notes. They were then instructed to put each post-it note under the theme on the board where they thought it best fit. Once the teams had placed all of their notes on the board, we reviewed the themes as a class, with each group explaining in detail why the item fit the theme.

Who Makes the Study Guide?

Supplies/Prep: Create a review sheet and print one copy per student.

* An alternative is to have students create parts of the study guide during peer learning. Model with an example; make a guide for one chapter/section, distribute them, and give students a limited amount of time to work on the model that you’ve provided. Then assign each small group a chapter/section to create a similar guide. Collect the student-made study guides, scan them, and send to those who attended the session.

Station to Station

Supplies/Prep: Decide on the number of concepts to review (each station is a specific concept). For each station prepare 2-4 problems, each on a separate worksheet with the solutions on the backside.

B.    Game-based Reviews

Chemistry Bingo

Supplies/Prep: Make a 5x5 grid with a different problem number in each square. (If problems are more difficult, choose a 4x4 grid).) Prepare a list of problems as review for their exam. Each problem corresponds to the numbers on whatever size bingo board you design. Print a separate board for each pair of students – each board should have the numbers organized differently.

Game Rules/Goals: The facilitator designates what type of Bingo formation is needed to win (straight – row or column, “plus” sign, “X”, picture frame).

Bingo with Buildings

Supplies/Prep: Prepare a set of terms/images with corresponding definitions/descriptions – enough for whatever size bingo board you design. Print a separate board for each student – each organized differently, small paper chips (or candy) as markers, copies of answer key for all students.

Game Rules/Goals: Facilitator reads the definitions; students match and cover the corresponding picture or term on their bingo board (see examples below). The first student to complete a row correctly wins.

Dueling Teams

Supplies/Prep: Select problems for a worksheet and print two copies. Cut problems into strips, making two piles, with problems in the same order in each pile.

Game Rules/Goals: One student from each team works on the same problem at the board. Each team helps their representative student complete the problem and the first team to finish wins that round.

Capture the Flag

Supplies/Prep: Decide on the number of stations between flags. For each station prepare 3-4 problems on a worksheet (in case they don’t solve the first problem correctly). Prepare answers on backside (prior to the session) so teams may check the solution at the station. Make copies of flags (I used Big Ten college logos).

Game Rules/Goals: Each team of students plays against another team. The goal is to obtain the opposing team’s flag and return to your home base before the other team returns to their home base. To advance in the game and obtain the other team’s flag, a team must correctly solve one of the problems on the worksheet at each station in order to move to the next station; if their solution is incorrect, they must try the next problem on the worksheet. Once they arrive at the other team’s flag, they must answer a problem correctly to obtain the flag. Once the flag is obtained, the team returns to their home base by continuing (counterclockwise) through the stations.

Group Relay

Supplies/Prep: Prepare questions from the study guide. Print as many copies as there will be groups. Cut into strips – one pile for each group (each group will get the same set of questions). Students should bring their notebooks and textbooks.

Game Rules/Goals: Like most relay games, one person from the team grabs a question for their team to answer before they can move onto the next question. In this version, peers confirm if the answer is correct. Groups can have only one question at a time, and a different group member should get the next question. The team that completes the most questions in the designated amount of time wins.

X"ed out in Tic-Tac-Toe

Supplies/Prep: Draw a game grid of nine squares on the board. Prepare nine problems (or 18 if you have time to play two rounds). Draw squares to be the same size as the printer paper. Tape the nine premade problems in the squares; cover them with blank printer paper.

Game Rules/Goals: The goal is to connect three X’s or O’s in a row – horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. A group on the X team selects a question/problem on the grid; if answered correctly, place an “X” in that space. Repeat with the O team; if answered correctly, place an “O.” If a group answers incorrectly, any group from the opposing team can answer it and earn an “X” or an “O” on the game grid.

Jeopardy

Supplies/Prep: Jeopardy template using PowerPoint or similar program; select and organize questions into five different categories; laptop and projector in classroom.

Game Rules/Goals: Groups take turns choosing a category and attempting to answer the question. If correct, group earns the points; if answered incorrectly, question moves counterclockwise to next group, who has a chance to answer it correctly and win the points. Each group takes turns choosing a topic (regardless of who won the previous points). Highest number of points wins.

Scratch Off with IF-ATs

Supplies/Prep: 1 IF-AT (Immediate Feedback Assessment Technique) form per group, 10-question worksheet – 1 sheet per student. IF-AT forms can be ordered at: http://www.epsteineducation.com/home/about/

Game Rules/Goals: Work as a team to scratch off the best answer to each question. If incorrect, proceed to scratch off another choice until answered correctly. Team with the fewest spaces scratched off is the winner (if each question answered correctly, there will be only one space scratched off per question).

*For the first part, I have students work on the test alone, so they can see where their own weaknesses are. Then they get in groups to compare answers or discuss problems they don't know. Then I distribute the IF-AT's, one per group; and for about 10 minutes, they scratch off their answers and try to figure out the ones they got wrong.

Musical Quizzes

Supplies/Prep: Device for playing music; one copy of notes from each chapter/lecture; candy (optional).

Game Rules/Goals: Answer other teams’ questions correctly to gain points and win the round

Circle of Fortune

Supplies/Prep: Construction paper to create a circle with values (each 100 points or more) similar to Wheel of Fortune (omit “Bankrupt” or “Lose a Turn” spaces). Make spinners from plastic; pins to attach spinner to circle. Prepare 5 problems and their solutions for each value on the wheel (in case a value is landed on repeatedly).

Game Rules/Goals: Answer questions correctly to gain points and win the round.

Pick Your Present

Supplies/Prep: Tape, scissors, worksheets. Prep: Gather a supply of magazines and advertisements. Create a worksheet of problems - cut into strips (one problem per strip). Designate a space on the board/wall for each group.

Game Rules/Goals: Students cut out gift ideas from the magazines and ads. A student from each group comes up to get a problem from the facilitator for their group to solve. When a group finishes their problem, facilitator checks the solution; if correct, group gets to tape a gift in their space on the board.

Quiz Your Peers

Supplies/Prep: Students will need lecture notes and textbook.

Game Rules/Goals: Answer questions correctly to gain points and win the round.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

Supplies/Prep: Make copies of a “Millionaire” worksheet (one per person), with lifeline icons and money/point designations for each question; colored markers – one for each group. Put answers in multiple-choice form. Find at superteachertools.com

Game Rules/Goals: Students select one of four choices to be their final answer for each question. Facilitator gets a copy of groups’ answers written on a blank sheet of paper (students should keep the copy with questions to take home for later review). Problems are reviewed in order on the board, and after each question, the groups are allowed to “walk away” with the amount they have. If a question is answered incorrectly, the group walks away with $0. The team reaching the highest dollar amount wins the game.