Before the start of your lesson arrange the tables in your classroom into a circular formation using 5 or 6 groups of tables - each group should accommodate 4 or 5 students. On each group of tables set out a different activity to help students revise the topic they have just completed. For example a crossword, an exam question to answer, matching cards exercise, fill in the gaps sheet and a multiple choice quiz. Number each of the groups of tables and then put corresponding numbers into a hat. Students on entering the classroom should pick out a number to determine which table they sit at. Once all the students are sitting at one of the tables they can have 5 minutes to complete the activity. After 5 minutes instruct students to move clockwise around the carousel to the next group of tables and allow them another 5 minutes to complete the task there. Continue to move students around until they have completed the activities for all of the tables.
Revision Category
Pub Quiz (without the pub)
Create a quiz with several rounds and organise the class into teams. Each team will need their own buzzer noise. Write questions which will help revise topics previously studied. Display questions as a slideshow and include a picture round, true or false round, multi-choice round, spot the deliberate mistake round and a quick fire buzzer round. Warn your class a week in advance about the quiz so that they can revise. Make it into a competition with a prize for the highest scoring team. A fun way to revise.
Tags: buzzer, quiz, slide show
Who wants to be a millionaire?
Ask for a volunteer or randomly select a student to act as the contestant. You will need a bank of questions which become increasingly more difficult as the game progresses. Questions should be multi-choice and can be projected on a slideshow. The aim is to make it through the 10 questions without making a mistake. Decide how many points each question carries. The contestant can use their 3 lifelines - ask the audience, 50/50 and ‘phone’ a friend. For ask the audience use mini whiteboards and ask the class to show their answers. For 50/50 remove two incorrect answers and for phone a friend the contestant can choose a class mate to advise them on the answer. A bit of fun to help students revise.
Mastermind
Set up a Mastermind competition based on the format of the TV programme. There are two rounds, round one students answer questions on their specialist subject for one minute. Round two is general questions from the topic. Different students can have different specialist subjects and compete in a group of four to decide the winner. Involve other class members by getting them to write the questions and answers. Give students advance warning so that they can revise their specialist subject and the topic in general.
Tags: Mastermind, specialist subject
Krammers!
Buy 4 or 5 ‘Krammers’ (available from pinkporcupine.com) and create revision topics. Write key terms (headings, people, issues etc) one per card and number the cards. Divide the class into small revision groups and give each group one of the Krammers key rings. You pick out random numbers and students must turn to the corresponding card. They then have 2 minutes to discuss the term on that card and note down the key points within their group. The groups can then feedback to the rest of the class who can update their revision notes on that topic. Different groups can be given different numbers to cover more topics.
Tags: key points, krammers, Revision
Pictionary
Once a topic has been completed, create a number of cards with key facts, figures, quotes, people etc on them relating to the topic. Divide the class up into teams. Each team member takes it in turns to pick a card out of a hat and must produce a visual representation of what is on the card. Allow 30 seconds for drawing the image on the whiteboard NO talking, miming, writing words etc is allowed. Team members guess what the image is, if they fail to identify it the opposing team(s) have a chance to steal the point.
Tags: pictionary, team game, visual image
Produce a Revision Booklet
Divide up the class into small groups and allocate a topic to each group. Provide the group with plain A4 paper and pens (colours used must be suitable to be photocopied). Allow 2 sides of A4 per group and explain to them their task is to summarise the key points only using headings and notes in a clear and appealing way. Encourage the use of illustrations (drawings, clip art, graphs, tables and diagrams) to make their pages eyecatching. The page must not be overcrowded. Collate each group’s pages and photocopy all of them to form a revision booklet on the topic. Each student receives a copy of the finished booklet.
Top Trumps
Use the same formula as the classic card game of Top Trumps. Create cards according to the topic you are revising, for example it may be to compare/contrast different theorists. Create one card per theorist and include a number of categories, for example contributions to society, number of theories developed, strengths of theories, weakenesses of theories, credibility, success etc and then allocate a point score for each of the categories eg ranging from 1 (not good) upto 20(really good). You could include a picture of the theorist. Students can then play a game of top trumps and discuss whether or not they agree with the ratings for each category.
Tags: rating of theories, Top Trumps
Revision keyring
Produce a set of revision cards. Use different coloured cards for different topics. Jazz them up using different coloured pens for the key points. Punch a hole in the corner of each card and use a plain keyring (available to bulk buy on the internet) to fasten them all together. This keyring can then be attached to the inside of your ring binder file to keep your notes safe until needed.
Tags: keyring, revision cards