Class time is precious, especially in middle and highschool classrooms, where teachers only have about 40-50 minutes to engage with students. Finding ways to ensure class is productive, lively, and fun can be a challenge-but games can be a fantastic way to do that! Below are the top 10 classroom games to play with students that reinforce lessons, ensure they stay focused, and most importantly, have fun!

1. OnlineGames

Online games such as Kahoot, Blooket, and Gimkit are highly customizable, making them ideal for any subject or grade level. Whether you’re reviewing math formulas, history facts, or literary themes, these platforms can adapt to your classroom’s needs. These games require you to sign up, however they are free! Once you have signed up and logged in, you can create

your own questions, or find an already premade one, and allow your students to play! One of the best parts about these games is that the actual game aspect can be altered depending on your class. There is an “Among-Us” theme, or fishing theme, and many more! Search up

these sites and explore to find out if they are a good option for your class!

2. Attack Your Ship

Attack-your-ship requires a set of pre-made questions. I usually put these questions on a slide show deck for the class to refer to throughout the period. Separate your class into four groups, one person from each group will come up to the board and draw a ship or boat. The teacher will then take turns asking each group a question. Buzzers can be used as well, but

it isn’t necessary. If the question is answered correctly, then that team gets to put an X on one of the other teams’ ships. Whichever team gets up to five X’s, is eliminated, and that team will be dispersed by the teacher to the other groups. This will continue until one group remains! This is a great way to encourage friendly competition within your class, while also being able to review important class content. This is also an opportunity for students to express their creativity as they draw their ships!

3. Casino

For this game, the class is divided into groups again. Each group will be given an imaginary amount of money decided by the teacher. The teacher will then put on the board a fact that is either true,

or false. I usually use a Slide deck for

the students to refer to. Each group

will then be allowed to “bet” however

much money they would like on

whether that Fact is true, or false.

The teacher will then reveal the

answer. At the end of the game. The

team with the most money wins.

Depending on how trustworthy the

class is, the students may be in

charge of keeping score of how much

money they have, or the teacher can keep track; discretion is ultimately up to the teacher. I usually have a “Final-Fact” at the end of the game, where students can either win all their money or lose all their money. This is a great opportunity to choose a fact related to the students or the community of the school. For example, I chose a fact about the original name of the town where my school resides, which was originally a Native American name. Or the year the town was founded, etc,.

4. Grudge Ball

This game requires just a bin and a ball—any bin and any ball will do! The class is divided into groups (usually three, depending on class size). Review questions are

displayed on the board, often using a slide deck that students can refer to. The teacher asks each group a question, and if they answer

correctly, they earn a point.

Here’s where the game gets interesting: groups can choose to take a risk and double their points by attempting to throw the ball into a basket (usually about three feet away). But there's a catch! If they miss, they lose all their points for that round. If they succeed, they have options: they can either keep both points, take two points away from another team, or split the points—keeping one for themselves and giving one to another team.

At the end of the game, the team with the most points wins. This game fosters friendly competition while encouraging teamwork. It also

teaches students the value of decision-making, as they weigh the risk and reward of "betting" their points.

5. Cup Game

The cup game is more one on one, but there are ways to get the whole class involved. I usually begin this game with two

students in front of the room placed on either

side of a stool or desk, with a cup on top. Both

students will have their hands behind their back, and the teacher will sit in the back of the classroom with the students to ensure students are paying attention. The teacher will then read aloud the review question. The students will then race to grab the cup to answer the question. If they answer the question correctly, they get to stay at the front of the room, while the other student has to sit down. Then another student will take their place, and they will play again. This will continue until each student has

gone and one student remains. This student will be deemed the winner. Try to get a sturdy cup, and some students can be rough with it. This game again encourages a healthy level of competition, while also allowing students to review essential material. I’ve found that this game gets even the most reluctant students to join, as it is as much about quickness as it is about knowledge.

6. Family Feud

This game is much like its famed T.V. show counterpart. The students are put into two groups, and must provide the most popular answers to a set of questions. I usually use a google slides presentation, with a colored box covering the top five answers. Then when the students answer

the question, I reveal the answers. Allowing students to reveal the answers allows an opportunity for kinesthetic learners to get involved as well.

7. Hot Seat

This game is kind of like headbands, but with the smart board instead. The teacher will put a term on the board, and have a student sit in a chair in front of the room facing away from the board and towards the class.

The class will then have to offer their peer clues to

guess the term on the board. This game is perfect for

practicing vocabulary or studying literary characters

as well. This can be individualized for students who

are struggling with certain concepts or who may need

more of a challenge by placing them in front of a

specific term choice. It also allows for collaboration,

as the class must work together to help their peers.

Not only does this allow for students to learn terms

by having it explained in a different way by their peers, but it also allows for students to explain new terminology, further allowing them to understand the term themselves.

8. Trivia Pong

This game was inspired by a college friend and me, who wanted to turn classic party games into something educational! By adapting popular drinking games (minus the drinks), you

can use them to help students practice new concepts in a fun and interactive way. For example, red Solo cups are filled with pieces of paper containing review questions instead of liquids. Games like Beer Pong, Stack Cup, and others can be modified to make learning more engaging.These games promote collaboration, allowing students to work together in teams to

answer questions and strategize. They're also great for kinesthetic learners who benefit from physical movement as part of their learning process. Plus, they provide a fun way to build real-life skills, like teamwork, communication, and critical thinking, that will serve students well in college and beyond.

9. Pictionary

Many textbooks and packets already include visuals for visual learners. However, Pictionary allows for visual and kinesthetic learners to practice their new found knowledge in a more interactive way! Students can be separated into groups, or play together as a class. One student will draw the designated term on the board, while others guess what it is.

10. Puzzles

Puzzles are a great exercise for the mind, whether it be a physical puzzle, a word search, or a crossword. These puzzles are customizable for classrooms as well. Using physical puzzles that visually represent newly learned concepts,

or having the clues be definitions for the word searches and crosswords, these puzzles allow students to practice these new found concepts in a fun way, while also exercising their brain.

Importance of FUN!

William Glasser, an American psychologist and educational philosopher, emphasized that for students to be productive and ready to learn, their basic needs must be met. Known as Glasser’s Choice Theory, these needs include Survival, Love and Belonging, Power/Competence, Freedom, and—importantly—Fun. Fun is crucial to a student’s success, as it not only helps them engage more fully in their learning but also improves retention. By incorporating fun into the classroom, these games can help students feel more motivated, connected, and empowered, making them better scholars in the process.