The grass is green again, the air is warm, and summer is just weeks away! As you wrap up the school year, you may want to review and reinforce some of the things your kids have learned this year. Here are a few review activities to cover the material while engaging their attention and keeping it fun!
Jeopardy Review Game
With a large whiteboard and some sticky notes of various colors, you can make your own Jeopardy-style review game. You can play this with all your kids at the same time; give extra points if a child knows the answer to a question above his or her grade level! Make different Jeopardy boards for each subject. For example, the heritage studies game might include headings such as “Inventors” or “Explorers” or “Important Battles.” The kids will love saying things like, “Landforms for 200” or “Bible Heroes for 300.” Erase and refill the board with questions as many times as you like.
Candy Land Math Review
How about adding an element of review to the favorite children’s game Candy Land? Every time your child draws a card, he or she must answer a review question. If the answer is correct, the child gets to move to the corresponding colored space. If not, he or she must stay in the same spot. Double squares require two questions and two correct answers!
Multiplication with Dice
Do you have a second grader or third grader who is learning the multiplication tables? As you play a game that involves a pair of dice, require the child to multiply each number he or she rolls before continuing the turn. For example, if the child rolls a 3 and a 5, he must multiply the two numbers as well as adding them up. A game like Monopoly is excellent for review of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and other math-related concepts.
Fishing for Questions
For younger children who like to move while learning, try a fishing game. With tape or string, make a line on the floor for the children to stand behind. Cut out fish shapes from paper (a different color for each grade level) and write age-appropriate review questions on the back. Glue a large, child-safe magnet to each fish and attach another child-safe magnet to a pretend fishing line. The kids will love “fishing” for their review questions.
Jumping Review
Here’s another easy review game that involves movement. Write questions on sheets of colored construction paper—one question on each. Use painter’s tape to attach each paper to the floor with the question face down. Roll a die and have each child jump that number of colored spaces. The child must answer the question he or she lands on. You can make up your own rules for moving and winning, depending on the ages of your kids.
You’ll find more ideas for games and activities in the Teacher’s Editions of each subject in the BJU Press curriculum. Why not do one or two of these activities per week throughout the summer to keep that knowledge fresh in their minds? Have fun with review as you celebrate another successful school year!
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Rebecca is a work-at-home freelance writer, novelist, wife, and the mom of two bright-eyed little ones. She credits her success in writing and her love of books to her own mom, who homeschooled three kids from pre-K through high school.