Explore 13 Functions of Government 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.

• TRASHKETBALL™ gets teams racing to answer correctly, then rewards them with shots at the trash can to score points.
• BUMP gets teams racing to answer correctly, then gives them a chance to score points by knocking other teams off the platform.
• SCOOT gets students out of their seats and moving around the classroom as they rotate from desk to desk answering task cards.
• FRAZZLED keeps students guessing as correct answers reveal surprise points, wrong answers can reward the other team, and bombs can wipe out a score.
• In The TERRIBLE Game, teams answer questions to reveal mystery scores, then decide who gets the points as everyone battles to finish closest to zero.
• 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 classroom battle with GRUDGEBALL, where correct answers earn attacks and successful baskets give teams extra shots at their opponents.

When it’s time to review, a little competition can go a long way toward getting students focused, participating, and having fun. Students who normally sit back during review often jump into the action, working with their teammates and getting caught up in every question and result. Play review games regularly and students start preparing for them, because just like sports, they know being ready gives them a better chance to win.

Want the evidence behind the games? Research comparing game-based learning with traditional approaches has found improvements in achievement, retention, and student motivation. See the research.