10 "game" style ways to review math

Powerpoint Game Reviewing Slope/Intercepts

I'm always looking for a way to involve students in mastering content through games.  The following game works well for practicing finding slope and intercepts of linear functions.  The game can be fast paced, and doesn't require extra materials.

Slope Intercept Gameboard by Beth Ferguson

Visit my Scribd site for other free algebra materials.  Also visit my TpT site for engaging algebra materials!

Finished ... and the countdown begins!

WHEW!  We just finished our last lesson of required content this year!  It's been tough ... there have been times when we pushed on before students were ready.  But now we can say we faithfully taught all the required content before the high-stakes math test.  (The test counts 15% of the semester grade and a passing score is required for graduation  Our high schoolers have to pass 15 of these tests to graduate ... unless lawmakers make needed changes!)  Our big test is Monday, May 6.

We have 5 class days (actually 9 ... but we have A/B days) to go on a whirlwind review of key topics from this year.  Our PLC members each took a day and created 3 stations and/or activities for each of those days.  Our schedule looks like this:

Day 1: Foundation of Functions and Equations

• Interpret Data
• Solve Equations
• Solve Word Problems (in one variable)

Day 2:  Linear Functions

• Slopes and Intercepts
• Solving for "y"
• Converting to standard form

Day 3:  Linear Functions cont

• Writing/Graphing Equations
• Using Point & Slope
• Interpreting Equations/Graphs

Day 4:  Linear Functions cont

• Transformations
• Is it linear, quadratic or exponential
• Solving systems by graphing

Day 5:  Systems and Test-Taking Tips

• Solving systems using substitution/elimination
• Error Analysis in test taking
• Sharing test taking tips

Obviously there are some topics not included ... polynomials, laws of exponents, quadratics.  We focused on topics from first semester and on topics our students struggled with.

I'll share an activity or two soon ... but since I didn't create all the activities I need to check to see if my colleagues mind if I share them online.

How do you help students prepare for high-stakes testing?

equations of lines review

We were supposed to test on equations of lines, transformations tomorrow in our Algebra 1 class.  But my students are not ready!  So I created a review to hit several of the skills that students still need to practice.  I'm sharing the review here - Equations of Lines Review.


I thought about setting up the stations somehow but the more I think about it, the more I want students to practice as partners.  I think I will set up a table for students who need extra help - they can join me at the table just long enough to get help with specific problems.  I am still pondering how I might require a stamp to move to the next set of problems, or provide feedback in the midst of the work.  I want students to correct their work in class so that when the class is completed, they will have worked all problems correctly.

Sunday Funday Team Review Game

Team Review

I found this game at this site:  http://www.kutasoftware.com/activities.html

I haven't used it yet ... but I plan to do so in our next unit.  I like the game because it involves all students all the time, and it is also possible to use ready-made worksheets to create the game.  There are times when creating materials is more than I have time for!

Group activity  /  Groups of 3 - 4 students  /  Suitable for single topics, units, or whole course reviews  /  15-30 min

Overview - Groups of 3 - 4 students will race to see which can first correctly answer all of the questions on their worksheet.

Planning - Create a worksheet that has six questions on it. Print 30 different versions, each with an answer sheet and with a version ID number. Separate the answer keys and the worksheets.  (You can cut up textbook workbook pages for this activity or create your own problem sets.)

Classroom Setup - Divide the class into groups of 3 – 4 students. Have them move their desks together. Ask each group to choose a name. Write these names on the board and use them to keep score. Ask each group to choose a runner. The runner is the student who will bring the group's answers to you.  (The job of runner could rotate in the group.  The other job responsibilities could be recorder, analyst (checking work), and task manager (keeping the team on task).

Play - Give each group a worksheet. They must correctly answer each question on the worksheet as quickly as they can. They can divide the questions any way they wish. All of the answers must be written on the paper you gave them. When they have solved all of the questions and written the answers on the paper, the runner brings the paper to you. Check the answers, stopping as soon as you find one that is wrong. Give the paper back to the runner and tell them which question was wrong (Note: there might be other questions that are wrong that you didn't get to check yet.) The first group to get all of their questions correct wins three points. The second place team wins two points. If a team submits wrong answers three times then they are disqualified from that round. Once the first two teams are done, stop the round, record the points on the board and begin a new round.

To maintain discipline, tell the class that if a group is too loud, then all of the other groups will be given one point.

Reward the winning team (I keep a big bag of Jolly Ranchers for rewards).