Classroom Pictionary

Classroom Pictionary
Marie, Elementary Teacher

A great way to review just about anything is to use the game pictionary. I break the class into teams of three and four students. I prepare five levels of notecards ahead of time. On each notecard I write single word concepts or definitions. Level one cards are easiest and level five cards are very difficult. Each level card translates to equal point values. For example, a level three card is worth three points.

When the game begins a team gets to pick a level card prior to viewing it. They must send one drawer up to the board. The drawer has forty-five seconds to get their team to guess the word/concept on the card by drawing. The drawer cannot use numbers, letters, or symbols, if they do, the team's turn ends. If the team guesses correctly, they receive the point value. If they guess incorrectly, the card is passed to the next team and an extra point is accumulated. So, if a two point card is missed twice, it counts as four points if that team guesses correctly. I have also added the rule that if I hear the word/concept aloud in the classroom during a teams turn they automatically receive the points. Additionally, to keep the class controlled, if another group is rude or loud they automatically lose one point.

I find this to be an invaluable activity. It engages the students in the activity.