Game On: 10 Interactive Classroom Games to Boost Student Engagement

​Teaching is one of the most fulfilling jobs that you can have, but it's not always a walk in the park. Keeping students engaged and focused throughout the school day is a challenge that every teacher faces. It is particularly true given how the world has evolved, and millennials and Generation Z students now dominate the classrooms. This phenomenon means that traditional methods of teaching are no longer as effective as they used to be in the past decades. As a result, it's important to make learning more fun and engaging, and what better way to do that than through games? In this article, we'll be taking a look at ten interactive classroom games that will help you improve student engagement.

1. Kahoot: This is an enjoyable game that allows teachers to create quizzes, surveys, and discussions for their students. It's an excellent tool for gamifying the learning experience and making the classroom more interactive. Students answer questions in real-time, and the game keeps a scoreboard of who is leading the game.

2. Quizizz: Similar to Kahoot, Quizizz is a game that allows students to practice and learn through quizzes and questions. But it's an excellent option for remote learning as students can play at their own pace and from anywhere, not just in the classroom. 

3. Escape Room, Quests & Mysteries: You might know about escape rooms where people are trapped in a room and are required to solve puzzles and riddles to escape. You can set up a mini escape room in your classroom and make students complete puzzles that are related to the lesson they're studying. Mysteries are also a fun way to require students to complete work in order to solve a 'whodunnit' or an interesting case. I have lots of easy prep mystery resources available for math and literacy in my shop. 

4. Heads Up: Heads Up is a fun game where students have to guess the word that appears on the screen while someone else is describing it. It's great for visual learners, and it helps students to build their vocabulary skills.

5. Jeopardy: You've probably heard of Jeopardy, and it's a fantastic game to play in the classroom. Students can test their knowledge while learning new information and engaging in friendly competition with their peers.

6. Pictionary: Pictionary is a drawing game that's perfect for promoting creativity and teamwork. Students can draw while others try to guess it, and it's perfect for practicing vocabulary.

7. Hangman: Hangman is a classic game that can be adapted to any lesson that you're teaching. You can use specific vocabulary words or concepts that you want your students to learn, and it can be a fun challenge for them to guess the right answers.

8. Charades: Similar to Heads Up, Charades is a game where students have to act out a word or phrase while others try to guess it. It's a great way to promote teamwork, and it can be adapted to any kind of lesson.

9. Scrabble: Scrabble is a popular word game that can help students to improve their spelling and vocabulary. You can set up a version of the game that's focused on specific words or concepts that you're teaching.

10. Trivial Pursuit: Trivial pursuit is a fun game that challenges students to show off their general knowledge. It's an excellent way to promote competition and engage students in a friendly debate.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, interactive classroom games can help you improve student engagement and make learning fun. Incorporating games like Kahoot, Quizizz, escape rooms, and Pictionary into your lessons can be a great way to engage students and promote teamwork. Scrabble, Scrabble Pursuit, and Jeopardy can help students improve their vocabulary and general knowledge, and it's all done in a fun environment. These games are meant to enhance the learning environment, so don't be afraid to take risks and try different games to find what works for you. Remember, just have fun!