Board Game Review Project
Student Created Summary Activity for Test Preparation
Jan 12, 2010 Tammy Andrew
Projects are an effective way to include rigor and motivate students. They can also be used to review material by applying the concepts and vocabulary in a different setting. Creating a board game as a review project combines the motivational side of creating a project with the review of material necessary to be successful on a content based test.
The following is a general description of how to create a board game project that can be modified for specific subjects and groups of students.
Teacher Preparation for Board Game Project
Subject material that works well for creating a board game is that which contains many vocabulary words, concepts, themes or symbolism. For example, a math unit with vocabulary words that will appear on standardized exams or a novel that is heavy with symbolism. This will become the basis for the questions in the game.
Handouts will need to be prepared so students understand what is required for the project. One should be an explanation of what is expected, such as neat work, at least 25 questions, and clearly written directions. Another is a copy of the rubric that will be used to assess the board game, which provides students with another way to view the requirements and no surprises about the final grade.
Board Game Review Activity Requirements
In general, the requirements for the project should resemble the level of work expected by the age group. For example, fifth graders could be provided a printout of possible game boards and directions to use as a model for their game, whereas ninth graders might be expected to create their own on the inside of a file folder.
Specific requirements might include the following:
- Students should create question cards that reflect both the assigned subject material and their level of understanding.
- Questions written by the group should be appropriate for classmates; not too hard and not too easy.
- Directions are written clearly so that classmates understand how to play the game.
Board Game Project Assessment
A rubric is a suitable way to grade a board game project. Points or levels can be assigned either using an available school-wide adopted version or adapted by the teacher to reflect what is expected.
For example, the question cards could be ranged from 1 to 10 points or basic through advanced. All 10 points, or an advanced rating, could be obtained by including the same number or more cards as specified in the handout, all of which have correct answers with them. A basic rating, or one point, would mean that either there were only a few questions written or that many of the answers are incorrect.
Using a board game as a review project is a fun way for students to summarize material and prepare for a content exam. This generic set up can be modified for most grade levels and subject material so it is specific for each class.
Related Articles: Project Based Review Assignments, Creating Project Mission Statements, Grading with Rubrics
