How Learning Games will be a Game Changer
Are your lessons feeling a bit... stale? We've all been there. Maybe you're using a tried and true method that just doesn't seem to be snagging attention the same way it used to. Or maybe you've been leaning on no-prep worksheets a bit too heavily. No shame, we have all found ourselves here at one point or another! The problem with this though, is that when lessons feel boring or repetitive, kids check out. And we all know that when students are checked out in the classroom, it can be hard to make progress. I know you've seen this unfold before, right? So what's a primary teacher to do?
Learning games will be a total game-changer for you if you have found yourself in this place. Using games as a learning activity is my secret weapon for snagging, and keeping, student attention easily. Games have come to my rescue when teaching new topics, working on community building, and practicing tricky skills. No matter how you slice it, learning games are the ultimate classroom hero! The best thing about using learning games in the classroom though is their versatility! I use them all day long in different ways to ensure student engagement stays high and my classroom is a fun place to be.
How to Use Learning Games in the Classroom
So how do we use learning games to our advantage? So glad you asked! Luckily, there are a variety of ways we can make learning games work well for us. Here are 5 ways to use learning games with your primary students.
1. Use Learning Games to Introduce New Topics
We've all had that moment when we are teaching students about a new topic and we get that "deer in a headlights" stare looking back at us. You know how it goes, you're delivering a lesson to your whole class, walking through the steps, making your anchor chart, and waiting for those lightbulbs to go off. Except... they don't. It has happened to the best of us!
My favorite remedy for this is to use a fun learning game to further explain and illustrate this topic to young students. For example, when we begin learning about Singular and Plural Nouns, I start with a whole group introduction. I define the terms and create an anchor chart with my students. But the real magic happens when students get their shot at identifying each type of noun in action.
We do this by playing a simple sorting game as a group. I have categories for each type of noun along with noun cards. Students will pull a card, read the word, and decide which category it belongs in. I use a pocket chart for this so that everyone can see all of the cards and both categories. Usually, I will begin this game and then call on students to come up and take their turn. Kiddos always perk up as we play this game as they watch their friends each take turns. It's an excellent way to illustrate this topic and help students get practice! Speaking of practice... this game gets a second life in centers after we've had some group learning time too!
2. Use Games to Build Community
I love using learning games that serve two purposes. While they might help teach or practice a new skill, it's even better if they involve my whole group and allow for some community-building time too. In first grade, students need opportunities to listen carefully and work together to solve a problem. These skills are essential for future success and help make things run more smoothly in the classroom.
One of my favorite learning games to facilitate these skills is called "I Have, Who Has". This simple game can be used for just about any skill under the sun. I love it because it's easy to explain, can be used at a moment's notice, and involves the whole group at once. We all know how hard it can be to find learning games that include everyone! Not to mention, it helps facilitate deeper focus and attention among my group as they perk up and carefully listen as each student reads their card.
For example, this Telling Time Game has students work with analog and digital clocks as they read each card. Each child gets a card that says something like, "I have...." with a time to read. They say this aloud and then continue to read the next portion that says something like "Who has...." with another time to read. Students listen carefully to see if the card they hold is the one being asked for. This continues until all of the cards are accounted for! I love this activity and my students really do too! This is a great learning game that also helps us work on listening skills and working together. You can find more I Have, Who Has games in my TPT Store.
3. Use Learning Games for Center Activities
Center time is everyone's favorite in the first-grade classroom! And who could blame them? Hands-on learning is so much fun! Center time is an excellent opportunity to pull out those partner and small group games as well. I like to focus on learning games that my students already know the rules for when it comes to center activities. This allows for more independence, and ensures I can stay focused with my small group as they are learning and playing together!
One of my favorite types of learning games for center time is Memory. Everyone knows how to play this and if they don't it's quick and easy to explain. Memory is also great since it can be used for many different skills and topics as well. We use it for math skills such as counting with tens frames and place value frequently. These skills need lots of practice for mastery, so a fun game of Memory is a great way to do so!
4. Use Games for Solo Learning
While games typically are thought of for groups of children, don't forget that games can be played solo as well! There are tons of great options out there that are perfect for your fast-finishers, or when you want to have some quiet, independent work time in your day. For example, this game of CVC Word Family Tic-Tac-Toe is a great partner activity, but also works for independent learning as well! When played solo, students will play for "blackout" instead of three in a row.
To play, they will use a paperclip or plastic spinner, identify the word family they spun, and find a word that belongs in that family on their board. Then they use a game marker or mini eraser to cover that spot in the board. They keep spinning and covering until their board is full! This hands-on learning game is nice and quiet, making it the perfect engaging activity for students who finish an assignment early. I like to laminate these game boards and keep them in an area that's easy to access for students who need a game to play while their classmates finish up. Check out the other Tic-Tac-Toe games in my TPT store.
5. Use Learning Games to Boost Engagement
I don't know about you, but sometimes by the end of the day, my kiddos are ready for the day to be done. They had a full day of learning, so they might be tired or simply ready for a break. This usually happens towards the afternoon portion of our day and it can be hard to maintain any kind of engagement. Instead of fighting this, I have learned to adapt our day to work with this. I do so by planning on using a fun learning game like BINGO during this time to get them excited and interested in participating!
BINGO games like this one for targeting vowel teams are always a student favorite. We typically play as a whole group, but this also works well for small groups as well. This resource includes 2 versions, one with pictures and one without. This means that as students grow in understanding, I can provide an additional challenge to them, or differentiate by skill level in small groups. BINGO always saves the day when my kids are a bit restless and tired! We just pass out the cards, and I am the caller. Everyone goes from drowsy to engaged in a flash!
Make Learning Games Work for Your Class
So where could you squeeze in some learning games to boost class engagement? Is your center time feeling a bit boring? Try adding a new game to the mix! Or maybe you'd like to try using games like word sorts or BINGO in your small groups. This is a surefire way to help students grasp new concepts! Or maybe you want to focus on whole group games for community building and teamwork opportunities. This is a great choice as well.
No matter what you decide, there's no denying the power of learning games in the classroom! I have certainly found this to be true with my own students. For more game inspiration, be sure to check out all of the options in my TPT store. I think once you start being intentional to include more games, you'll be hooked on their power for learning too!
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