Engaging Science Review Games That Require Minimal Prep

How do you review for assessments? I spend at least one class period reviewing the key parts of the unit – defining vocab, answering practice questions, and reviewing concepts. And I also like to spend a day playing a review game. It’s easy to create engaging science review games for your middle schoolers to practice what they know and prepare for assessments.

Benefits of review games

Review games help middle school science students in many ways.

• Enhanced retention. Engaging science review games provide an opportunity for active learning and reinforcement of concepts and vocabulary leading to better retention of material as compared to passive study methods.
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  Increased motivation. Playing a game lets students have fun while learning. More enjoyable activities increase student motivation. Games are a well needed break from traditional classroom activities and re-energize students.
• Opportunity for collaboration. Middle schoolers in 2024 need people skills. Rather than interacting with a computer, let students interact with each other and practice their communication and social skills.
• Immediate feedback. Science review games provide instant reinforcement or correction of their answers and therefore allow students (and teachers) to identify areas of strength and weakness.
• Low stakes. Engaging science review games are less intimidating than a traditional review activity. Students aren’t as intimidated in a game as they might be when directly questioned, and games provide a safe space for growing learners to practice and hone their skills.

15 Engaging Science Review Games

Here are 15 different ways you can review science concepts with your middle schoolers this unit:

• Scavenger hunts – Students work in teams or independently to find clues around your classroom. Tie this in with solving a riddle and they’ll be super engaged. Try a free scavenger hunt about renewable and nonrenewable energy here!
• Kahoot – Whole class games are incredibly engaging for middle schoolers who love competition. Kahoot has pre-made quiz type games but it’s also super easy (and free) to create your own questions.
• Boom cards – Boom cards are digital flash cards that my middle schoolers love! A deck of Boom cards can have 20-100 cards that students can use to practice any content you want. Here’s a link to try a free set of Boom cards about plate tectonics.
• Quizziz – Quizziz has lots of free whole class activities and it’s also super easy to create your own game. Very fun for competitive classes.
• Self checking quizzes – Activities students can use independently to practice their knowledge of a unit are the big winners in engaging science review games. Using a Google form, you can allow students unlimited practice along with immediate feedback in a low stakes environment. Click here to download a free Google form self checking worksheet you can use today!
• Blooket – This is a versatile web page where you can create a set of multiple choice questions and then apply them to a wide variety of games like Gold Quest, Tower Defense, and Fishing Frenzy.
• I have, Who has – Students each receive a game card with a question and an answer on it. Then, I read a question. The student with the answer on his or her card reads the answer and then reads their question. If you set this up correctly, the answer to the last question a student reads will be on my card. I use a timer and encourage inter-class competition. Here’s a free template.
• File Folder games – A file folder game consists of a board game with pieces that all fit inside a file folder.  I start the year with one that I’ve created, but then have my students create their own as the year progresses.
• Quizlet live – Use Quizlet to create vocab flash cards that students can practice with, and then play a game of Quizlet Live during class. Quizlet Live allows quick games that engage all learners in a low stakes competition. This is a great one for a quick closure or warm up as well.
• Self checking worksheets – Google sheets can be used to create the ultimate in engaging science review games. With a little bit of prep work, you can design worksheets that give students immediate feedback on their answers. A little bit more work and the feedback can take the form of a digital image, pixel art, or a digital game. Try this free moon phases digital worksheet to get an idea of how versatile Google sheets can be.
• 2 player digital racing games – Pair your students up and have them share a pre-made digital worksheet where they answer questions to advance their player in a competitive game. My kids love them and beg for more. If you haven’t tried them, here’s a free one for you!
• Escape rooms – An escape room uses content related puzzles to find clues and solve mysteries. A simple way to make a digital breakout is to use Google Sites. On Google Sites, you can add text to explain the problem, add images that link to puzzles, and add a Google Form onto which students must enter a password that they’ve learned from the clues. You can try a free Weather Vocabulary Escape Activity here.
• Boom card escape rooms – Designed to be completed independently rather than in groups, a Boom card escape room uses Boom cards to progress through a series of challenges.
• Trivia games – This is my own take on bar trivia in which students form teams and have to answer a series of “trivia” questions that review content they need to know. Here’s a free animal kingdom trivia game you can download today!
• Scoot – Lay task cards around the room or hang them on the walls. Students travel from one card to another, recording their answers to each task card on a recording sheet. Sometimes I let students move to the next card at their own pace. Other times, I play music and they move when the music stops. I also might set a timer to let them know when to move.

incorporating engaging science review games into your middle school classroom can transform traditional review sessions into dynamic and interactive learning experiences. By embracing the power of play, you not only reinforce key concepts and vocabulary but also foster collaboration, motivation, and critical thinking skills among your students. These 15 review games offer endless opportunities to make science review sessions both educational and enjoyable. By infusing your curriculum with these interactive activities, you’ll not only enhance student comprehension and retention but also ignite a passion for learning that extends far beyond the classroom walls. So why wait? Start playing, exploring, and inspiring scientific curiosity today!