How to play a 2 player digital racing game

You’ve probably seen the 2 player digital racing games on TpT. They’re kind of cool – two different students compete on the same worksheet to answer questions. For each question they get correct, a racecar (or hot air balloon or dump truck or whatever) or moves up the screen representing their progress. What are some ways you can use this technology in your classroom? Here are my favorite ways to play a 2 player digital racing game:

How 2 player digital racing games work

To play the game, the teacher assigns the pre-coded Google Sheet on Google Classroom, making sure to select “Make a copy for each student.”

When you’re ready to play, one student opens the game and shares it with another student. Both students will play on the same game, each with his or her own set of questions. The questions each student is assigned are the same questions but the order is shuffled so that students have to solve each question on their own.

The two players will work on different sides of the screen on their own computer. Player 1 will answer the questions on the left and player 2 will answer questions on the right.

 

At the top of the page are the directions which tell the players to click the arrow above the task cards at the top to advance to the next question. Then, players type their answers in the boxes under the task cards on their own side of the page.

As each player gets a question correct, their icon moves up the screen. In the case of the rock cycle 2 player racing game, the icon is a dump truck collecting rocks to bring to the quarry. In the case of the density 2 player racing game, the icon is a hot air balloon. Additionally, students get instant feedback because correct answers turn green (or blue in the density game) and incorrect answers turn red.

When one player answers all 16 questions correctly, a banner appears at the top announcing which player has won the game.

This is what it looks like when 2 players are playing the soil vocabulary racing game:

Benefits of 2 player digital racing games

• Students are engaged by technology. The newer and more innovative the technology is, the happier they are.
• Students get immediate feedback which helps build a growth mindset.
• Learning becomes student directed when they don’t need me to grade papers to provide feedback.
• Competition can help students strive for success.

How to use a 2 player digital racing game in your middle school science classroom

Practice. The most obvious use for a self checking worksheet is for practice. Students who have learned the vocabulary of the rock cycle can practice recognizing and using those words with a digital worksheet. Students who are learning how to use the density formula can practice using a digital worksheet.

Review. Another great use of 2 player digital racing games is to review material previously learned. Use a game that covers concepts from last year or earlier this year as a way of spiraling back. Use games to review content before an assessment.

Enrichment. Students who finish early can earn the right to play a game with a classmate.

What 2 player racing games are there?

You can try a free 2 player racing game about the solar system here:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More and more TpT sellers are using the racing game template so there are plenty out there. Here’s what we have available in the JustAddH2OSchool store, but we’re adding more every day:

 

 

 

 

 

 

If there’s a subject area that you’d like to use a 2 player racing game, comment below and I’ll create one! I’ll even offer it to you for 1/2 price if you’re the one who suggested the idea!