Graffiti Challenge

Ok, team! The countdown to Winter Break is down to single-digits! Wahoo!!! After today, there are seven school days left -- and several of those are exam days!  So let’s do one last review game -- one that requires VERY LITTLE PREP!!! (almost none)

Here is our last Review Strategy for December...

Higher Order Review: Graffiti Challenge

Prep:

1. Use it before an assessment or project to review key concepts, words, or HOT questions.
2. What you need:
1. Key concepts (1 for each poster)
2. Chart paper
3. Markers
4. Timer (you decide the interval) http://www.online-stopwatch.com/classroom-timers/

  3.  Write each of the chosen key concepts or HOT questions in the middle of the poster and spread the posters around the room.

Play:

4. Put students into groups, each one with a poster.

1. Hint: Keep groups small (no more than 3-4 a group) and let the kids name their groups if they want.
2. Give students the markers or let them choose (you can have them next to the posters).
3. Describe to them the process and the intervals. They are to write as many words, phrases, sentences, or draw pictures that relate to the concept or HOT questions within the allotted time interval.
4. Hint: Don’t make it a long time interval. 3-5 minutes max.
5. You call SWITCH and they rotate to the next poster.
6. Follow this procedure until students return to their original poster.
7. Collect the posters and display them; or have the students choose where to display them.
8. As a class, go through the posters. Correct any mistakes if necessary and add any important information where necessary. This can also be student-led.
9. As you go through the posters, ask additional higher-order thinking questions!

Pro tips:

• Explain the rules, expectations, and concept of the game prior to beginning it.
• Have the students lead the discussion at the end.
• Have the students tally up points at the end.
• Keep a strict and consistent time interval. It creates a sense of urgency.
• Give each team their own color to help you keep track of who said what on the chart paper.

Benefits of Graffiti Challenge Game:

• Because the kids will love it! Especially having a choice between writing a word, phrase, sentence, and drawing.
• It forces the students to pull from their own knowledge and collaborate with each other.
• It gives the students an opportunity to move about the room while you still maintain control.

Watch Out For:

Students get a little “crazy” because they don’t know what to do. That can be solved by thoroughly and explicitly discussing your rules, expectations, and the reasons for the review game. It can also be solved by maintaining a consistent time interval during the rotations.

All you need is a little chart paper, some markers, and some open-ended questions! Can you use it? Will it help your kids review content? And ... can you make it these last few days before Winter Break? I’m a little antsy myself.

As always, email me and let me know how it goes!

-Tracy

True False Fix

When was the last time you gave a True/False activity? Most of us have moved away from  these. They give kids a 50/50 shot at guessing. They actually take time to craft carefully --- and if we don’t take time, they end up being ridiculously easy for kids to answer. That makes them low level.

But recently, we have found a new life for true/false statements! *Full disclosure! We still have to spend some time on them so they aren’t  super easy!

But the amount of thinking that goes into True/False/Fix might be worth it. You tell me what you think...

Higher Order Review: True, False, Fix

Prep:

1. What you need:
1. 10-20 statements that are cut out and that are true and false. (Pro tip: use different colors and Ziploc bags to keep each group’s stacks from getting mixed with another’s)
2. Timer (try http://www.online-stopwatch.com/classroom-timers/)
3. Blank paper (1 per group)
4. Writing utensils
2. Choose several statements that are higher order and true and false about the materials you are reviewing. (not “right there” statements)
1. These need to be separated into separate slips (cut outs) of paper so they can be moved around.
2.  Choose 10-20 statements, depending on the length of your class and your students.
3. Divide the students into pairs and separate throughout the room.
4. Allow them to create their own team names
5. Describe the expectations, rules, and processes of the review game.

Play:

6. Phase 1: Set a timer and begin! If the statement is correct, they move it to the left side. If the statement is incorrect, they move it to the right side.
1. They must have done this before moving onto the next step.
2. 10 minutes is enough time for them to read through it and separate.
7. Phase 2: Set a timer and have the students correct the false statements.
8. Phase 3: Go over the false statements with the class – this can be done by group, individually, or whole class. Don’t forget! Have the students correct the false statements.
9. 8.      Phase 4: Have the students write their own! 2 true and 2 false statements, share with a neighboring group, and teach their classmates!

Pro tips:

• Keep students on a timer and monitor the room.
• Explain the goal and expectations ahead of time.
• Work with the students in their groups.
• Allow them to use lesson materials, but remind them of the time limit.
• Idea: You can have the students earn points for correcting the false statements.

Benefits of True, False, Fix

• You can review larger topics and single quotes.
• The students can practice quickly correcting mistakes and form the correct answers.
• The students can write their own true-false statements and have a different group sort and correct, teaching the others.

Watch out for:

• Students might not understand your rules and expectations, so make sure they know this in advance!
• What if they don’t write a corrected phrase? Walk through it with them! It’s super beneficial to do one as a whole class so they see it! (MODEL IT)
• They could get off-task…monitor them and interact with them during the game!

What do you think? Can your students try True/False/Fix? Will they review what you want them to review? Will it help? As always, I love to hear about it! Email me at newmantr@pcsb.org

-Tracy