How to Create a Jeopardy Game for the Classroom
A handmade version of the Jeopardy game can be used again and again for different subject matters and academic abilities. Flexible and easy to use, the game is a fun way to review basics, reinforce recently learned material and see just what students are capable of by throwing in a few challenging items. Contestants rotate to the front of the room, but the student with the correct answer gets to stay for the next round. Play for points, classroom bucks or just for fun.
Instructions
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Write or print "100" in large numerals on one side of five, 8 1/2- by 11-inch pieces of colored paper or card stock. Repeat for "200," "300," "400" and "500" for a total of 25 pieces of paper.
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Select five subject matters to review, such as geography, literature, mathematics, grammar and science. Write the names in large letters on a piece of paper, one category per paper.
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Place each of the 30 pieces of paper into it's own clear page protector.
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Sort into piles, with each category grouped with one each of the numbers 100 through 500 and set aside.
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For each category, create five "answers" of varying degrees of difficulty. Write the answers on one side of a piece of paper, one answer per paper. Write all "answers" and "questions" on a master sheet for teacher reference during game play, one master sheet per category.
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Insert answers into the corresponding page protector, but facing the other way. When the 100 page protector for geography is flipped over, the 100 geography answer should be showing.
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Lay out the completed game on the desired surface, arranging the papers to look like a Jeopardy board. Use magnetic clips for whiteboards, or create a permanent board with small hooks to match the holes in the page protectors.
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Tips & Warnings
Category headings and answers can be changed as desired. Different answers can be slipped into and out of the page protectors while keeping in place the "100" through "500" cards. File the answer cards and corresponding master question and answer sheets in a file folder, with a note on the master sheet regarding the answers' subject matter, grade level and difficulty. Collect sets of game answers as you go, keep them organized and reuse them with a new class the following year.
Use matte page protectors to reduce glare.
For younger students especially, it may be too confusing to see "The name of our state" and have to reply, "What is Arizona?" Consider using standard questions and answers.
Come up with fun names for the categories such as "State the Facts" (U.S. states), "'Round the World" (world geography) and "Divide and Conquer" (math facts).
Get together with other teachers in the same grade to create sets of questions and rotate the entire game set among classrooms.
