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At the end of a topic, the best way to get a good idea of how much your kiddos have picked up is to do a review of the learning. You’ve probably noticed that your middle school students learn more when they’re having fun, so what better way to get them engaged with your review session than with a game? Take a look at our list of 19 engaging review activities and inject some fun into your next end-of-topic knowledge check!

1. Hot Potato

This is the perfect energizing activity for a review session! Arrange your kids in a circle, start some music, and have them pass the ‘hot potato’. When the music stops, the ‘hot potato’ holder answers a review question – if it’s incorrect, they sit down, but if it’s correct, they stay in the game. The last student standing wins!

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2. Heads Up

No matter how you implement this next game, as a partner or whole class review, it’s sure to generate some giggles! Your students will have to resist peeking as they place sticky notes with vocabulary words or topics on their foreheads! They’ll then provide each other with clues or actions, and ask questions to figure out their word! 

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3. Board Race

Ready, set, review! Start this fun game by dividing your class into two teams. A member from each team will race to the board to write their answer to your review question before quickly passing the pen to the next teammate. When you stop your timer, the team with the most correct answers on the board wins! 

Learn More: YouTube

4. Snowball Fight

A ‘snowball’ fight in school? Your kiddos won’t believe how much fun reviewing can be with this activity! Start by writing some questions on paper, crumple into balls, and then give each of your students an answer sheet. Have them start throwing ‘snowballs’ which they’ll then catch to read and answer the review questions.

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5. Digital Classroom Game

Your tech-loving students will enjoy reviewing their learning with a digital game. Find your favorite interactive platform like Kahoot! or Quizizz and create a multiple-choice quiz. All that’s left is to divide your class into teams and get them ready for a little healthy competition!

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6. Jeopardy

Figurative language for $400! This classic game show is a blast for reviewing with your middle schoolers. Create six categories, each with five questions of increasing difficulty, and let the games begin as your kids start answering questions. Add a little paper money for some added fun and a little math practice! 

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7. Trashketball

This one is for your sports fanatics! Split your class into two teams, ask a review question, and call on a student from each team to answer. If they are correct, they get to shoot a hoop for an extra point. A wrong answer gives the other team a chance to steal!

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8. Around the World

Pack your bags and get your kids moving with this active review game! Start by having the first student in a row stand behind the next student. Ask a review question and whoever answers correctly and the fastest gets to travel to the next person until the last jetsetter standing wins!

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9. Inside Outside Circles

This one is superb if you’re looking for a great whole-class review! Start by having your students sit in two circles where the inner circle faces the outer circle. Give them two minutes to ask and answer a set of review questions. When the time is up, the inside circle will rotate one position clockwise and then start again. 

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10. Crocodile

Your kiddos will love the suspense of this game! Project a 6×6 chart on your whiteboard and divide your students into teams. They’ll choose a square to answer a hidden review question, but they’ll need to be careful- some squares are actually covering a hungry crocodile that eats points! Which team will survive with the most points?

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11. Bingo

Bingo is a sure crowd-pleaser and is perfect for a review game across any content area! Using this customizable Bingo card, create your very own cards for your class containing answers to review questions. Once you’ve handed out the cards to your students, challenge them to search for the answers to your questions until someone yells “BINGO!”.

Learn More: Education World

12. Scavenger Hunt

Who doesn’t love a scavenger hunt? Start by creating review cards and hiding them around your classroom. Then, task your students with searching for cards to answer questions correctly so they can get the clue to the next card! This great activity is even more fun when done in teams!

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13. Memory

The classic game of Memory is perfect for a review session! A stack of cards containing matching pairs is laid face down and your players will turn over two cards to find a matching pair. Switch things up by using questions and answers as matching pairs to make this a fun review game for your middle schoolers!

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14. Pick a Card Review

This activity is all about the luck of the draw! Your kiddos will love the chance to choose a playing card from a deck of cards after answering a review question correctly. It’s a gamble as the highest card will get the most points! Use this one with partners or as a whole class review.

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15. Snowman

This activity transforms the traditional hangman game into a more positive experience! Write spaces for the number of letters in a review word on your board. Let your kids take turns to guess, and with each incorrect letter, draw a part of a snowman. The game ends when either the word or a snowman appears! 

Learn More: YouTube

16. Beach Ball

Your kids are sure to have a ball playing this fun review game! Write review questions on a beach ball and then have them stand in a circle. One of your kids will toss the ball to another who will catch the ball and answer the question under their hand. They’ll then throw the ball to the next classmate!

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17. Tic-Tac-Toe

Another easy, low-prep review activity for you to try is the classic game of Tic-Tac-Toe! Just create a list of review questions and place your students in pairs. They’ll take turns answering a review question correctly to try and claim a square. The first three in a row wins!

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18. Gallery Walk

Want to get your kiddies moving without the competition? Begin by scattering review questions around your room and let your kids start from anywhere. Just set a timer for them to complete the task before they move on to the next card. Playing classical music will create an even more relaxing experience! 

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19. Dice Roll

Your kids are sure to love the simple and classic dice roll game! Whoever answers your review question correctly will roll the dice and earn the number of points that appear. You can use virtual dice, small dice for a partner activity, or huge dice for a whole class review! 

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers