Vocab Relay Race

Vocab Relay Race

Review games are always a good time! My classes play this one from time to time, especially when students are either lacking confidence in what they have learned or thinking they haven't learned much.

I'm sure other people have done something like this, but I definitely want to keep this one in mind since students enjoy it every time. As one student mentioned today, "Quiet intensity, quiet intensity, Magister!"

Vocab Relay Race Game Rules

• Point of the Game: earn the most points
• Earning points
• 2 points = having a Latin word written on your opponent's side of the board without an accompanying English equivalent or drawing
• 1 point = answering a Latin word on your side of the board with an English equivalent or drawing
• 10 minutes of time
• Split the class into two groups
• When students have their turn, they run up to the board and choose one action:
• Write a Latin word on their opponent's side of the board
• Write an English equivalent to a Latin word on their side of the board, if one is there
• Draw an image to a Latin word on their side of the board, if one is there
• Correct an English equivalent or image
• After they take an action, they hand off the marker to the person next in line
• Words they write on the board had to have been used in class, to have been part of an activity, or to have come up at least once
• No word may repeat within one team's side of the board
• Students may help each other out, point out words to answer or images to draw, and support each other throughout the time
• After ten minutes, tally points and announce the winner
• I have found circling Latin words without English equivalents and drawing an "X" through Latin words with an English equivalents to be the easiest way to tabulate points

These pictures are from today, the first is the end result of the game and the second shows the tabulation of points. This was from my Latin 1s who have had about a month under their belt.

This activity fascinates me. I can see the language that has stayed with them. Some of these words I spent a decent amount of time using TPR, telling picture stories with circling and asking questions, doing action sequences, or providing input in other ways. Some of the words were mentioned once or twice in passing. This has been what I have used for the last couple years when I am needing a change up when reviewing for a test.

What do you think? Do you have any suggestions or changes? If you try it in your class, let me know your thoughts or your students' thoughts!