A vesion of the flyswatter game that I remember reading about is Get in the Box (I am still looking for the post where I read this). It is a fun take on the traditional flyswatter game so many of us play to review vocabulary. What makes this version different you ask? This version of the game depends on team points and adds more movement. Also, this game is a no-fail way to keep students engaged.
What You Will Need
- Twenty – forty questions/vocabulary words
- Printed answers to the questions
- Tape or tacks to hang answers on the wall
- Two different colored fly swatters (I like these cute pastel colors)
- Space big enough to play (a cleared out classroom or outdoors)
- Painters tape (or any colored tape to put on the floor)
How to Set Up
- Create a set of questions for what you want to practice or review. Depending on the number of students in your class and how many times you want them to play will determine the number. If you have 20 students and you want them to answer 2 questions each, you would create 40 questions.
- Put the answers to your questions on signs large enough to see around the room. I print mine on copier paper in large font. Using bright colored paper (I like this) will help students differentiate the answer sheets from the wall decor (for those of you with well-decorated walls!).
- Hang the answers on the walls around the classroom in no particular order. Make sure they are not in order of your questions.
- Clear the room so there are pathways to the answers. Clear the middle of the room and tape off a large rectangle big enough for two people to stand in it. This is where the two competitors will start the round.
- Split the class into two teams. Place one person from each team in the rectangle. Give each player a flyswatter. Pose a question. The first to swat the correct answer wins a point for their team.
Some Tips
I use a game stamp sheet every time I play a game in the classroom. The winning team gets a stamp or a sticker. At the end of the term, I add up the stamps and award 1 point for each. These points do not change a student’s grade and it adds a little excitement to atmosphere.
The game can get loud so do warn your neighbors. And if you are on a top floor, tell the folks below you too!
When to Play
- End of unit review
- Final exam review
- Ending a class period
- After learning new vocabulary terms
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