By February, test prep season starts creeping into the upper elementary classroom -- and let's be honest, traditional review packets are not something that sparks excitement. But, there's good news. Review doesn't have to feel like a drill or a thousand extra worksheets. When you turn practice into a game, class engagement skyrockets, participation increases, and your students retain even more content.
If your goal is high engagement + meaningful review + zero groans, these three classroom-tested games deliver every single time.
Why Review Games Work
Upper elementary students thrive when learning feels:
- active
- social
- competitive (in just the right amount)
- low-pressure
- fun
Games tap into all five. Instead of fearing mistakes, students become willing to try, discuss, and revise answers --which is exactly what a strong review should do.
Game 1: Boom Clap Snatch
Best for: quick recall, math facts, vocabulary, grammar, science terms
Time: 10-20 minutes
Energy Level: High (students love this one)
How to Play
1. Students are paired off.
2. Fold four index cards in half to create a tent. Write A, B, C, or D on the front and back of each tent (one letter repeated on the front and back of each card). These will be for multiple choice.
3. The teacher asks a question and lists four different choices.
4. Students perform the rhythm together: Boom (hit desk with open palms), Clap (clap hands), snatch (be the first in the pair to grab the correct answer)
5. If the student is correct, they receive a point. I have the pairs keep track of their points on a sticky note.
Why Students Love It
This game combines rhythm, competition, and quick thinking. It builds suspense and the physical motion helps kinesthetic learners stay focused and alert.
Teacher Tip
Use it even as a 5-minute review opener before a lesson to activate prior knowledge.
Game 2: Grudge Ball
Best for: spiral review, test prep questions, mixed skill review
Time: 20-30 minutes
Energy Level: Medium-high with teamwork
How to Play:
1. Divide class into teams. You can have more than two if you wish. Draw a table with space for each team and under each of the team names, add between 5 & 10 "x's" depending on how much time you want to play. more x's will make a longer game.
2. I like for each student to have a white board. All students answer every question. That way all students are engaged.
3. The teacher will ask a review question.
4. If everyone on the team gets the correct answer, the team will first erase one X from another team.
5. Then one person from the team will try to shoot a ball (I use a wadded up paper) into a trash can or basket.
6. If they make the basket, they can add one "x" back to their team.
7. The last team with "x's" wins. You may not erase or throw a ball into the basket if your team runs out of points, but you will still be required to answer on your white board until the end of the game.
Why Students Love it
The strategy element makes this game unforgettable. Even students who normally stay quiet want to participate because their answer affects the team's score.
Teacher Tip
You can even require teams to explain answers before shooting to reinforce academic language to make the game more rigorous if you choose.
Game 3: Blooket
Best for: digital review, test practice, homework review, independent centers
Time: flexible
Energy Level: Controlled excitement
Why Teachers Love It
- auto-grades responses
- tracks student data
- works for any subject
- students beg to play
Classroom Ideas
- Friday Review Tournament
- Early Finisher Station
- Partner Mode for Collaboration
- Homework Review Challenge
Teacher Tip
Choose game modes that reward accuracy instead of speed when reviewing new material
Pro Strategy: Rotate Games Weekly
Instead of repeating the same review game activity, rotate formats:
Day Game
Monday Boom Clap Snatch
Wednesday Blooket
Friday Grudge Ball
This keeps the novelty high while still reinforcing the same standards.
Bonus Classroom Management Trick
Before starting any review game say something like this:
"We only play if we can learn."
If noise or behavior gets off track, pause the game. Students quickly self-correct because they want to keep playing.
Why This Matters for Test Prep
When review feels fun:
- anxiety drops
- participation increases
- retention improves
- confidence builds
And confident students perform better --not because they memorized answers, but because they practiced skills repeatedly in meaningful ways.
Teacher Takeaway:
If your class groans when you say "review" you don't need new content -- you need a new format.
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