Reviewing for quizzes and tests can be made interesting by
using a variety of activities. The suggestions which follow
have been shared by a few Virginia math teachers. Two of them
(the Match game below and Hangman above)
take very little preparation and can be used at a moment's
notice.
The teacher divides the class into four to six equal member
teams. Each team elects a captain. (If the desks in the classroom are arranged in rows, have the captain sit in the first
seat of the row while the remaining team members sit in the same
row behind the captain.) The teacher writes a math problem from
the current work on the board or overhead projector. All
students compute the problem on their own paper. After enough
time has elapsed for most students to complete the problem, the
teacher requests that all pencils be put down on the desk top.
The teacher then proceeds through the, problem requesting student
input as to the procedure or required facts. The teacher may
also take this opportunity to note any additional review
comments regarding the problem. The teacher then checks each of
the captain's answers. Each captain that correctly answers the
problem scores one point for the team. Each team member that
"matches" the captain's correct answer also scores one point for
the team. The team with the greatest number of points after a
given number of problems or after a set amount of time is the
winner. (This game actively involves all students in the
review.)