Explore 7 Civic Institutions & Law review games designed by a teacher to engage students and reinforce curriculum. When students are having fun, they forget they are reviewing, making games a great way to practice Social Studies.

• The TERRIBLE Game rewards correct answers with positive or negative points that students can strategically assign to their own team or their opponents.
• In GRUDGEBALL, teams answer questions to fire on their opponents’ ships, then make baskets to earn even more shots.
• BUMP combines fast-paced question review with a competitive challenge where students land shots and knock other teams off the platform.
• FRAZZLED keeps students guessing as correct answers reveal surprise points, wrong answers can reward the other team, and bombs can wipe out a score.
• The BIG TERRIBLE Game keeps the whole class involved as up to eight teams answer together and watch their scores swing above and below zero.
• Turn review into a team competition with TRASHKETBALL™, where students answer questions, earn shots, and try to outscore the other teams.
• With SCOOT, students move around the room answering task cards, turning curriculum review into an active classroom game.

I’ve always found that students are much more willing to review when they feel like they’re playing instead of studying. You’ll see students lean into the questions, debate answers with their teammates, and hang on every result as the game unfolds. When games become a regular part of review, students quickly learn that knowing the material gives them an advantage, and they start showing up ready to compete.

The excitement is great, but the research is even better—educational games have been linked to stronger achievement, retention, and motivation. See the research.