There are dozens of educational game-show like websites out there that you can utilize to bring gamification strategies to you classroom. It is a great way to engage students with the content, review concepts, and do quick formative checks.
The ones shared below are all free or have free versions. None of them will ask for student data, just student names in order to play the game. Some might ask them to create an account, but that is not a requirement to play the games. Check out the pros and cons to help you decide which one is best for you and your classroom.
Games in the Classroom
Kahoot (kahoot.com)
The grandaddy of the game show review games! Questions are displayed on a projector and students respond on their own devices.
Pros: Shared experience, millions of games you can use, students are familiar with it
Cons: Many of the features/question types, etc... in kahoot require you to upgrade your account.
Unique Features: Ghostmode, nickname generator
Quizlet Live
Instead of students answering individual questions on their individual devices, Quizlet puts students in groups. All possible answers are divided amongst the devices of all students participating. Think of three students with 12 possible answers … they’re divided up with four on each devices, so the answer may or may not be on your device. Teams race to get all answers correct in a row to win.
Pros: Teamwork and communication, can review with traditional flashcard sets, a new game everytime
Cons: you need at least 6 students to play
Unique Features: True team play, Built-in movement (move around from partner to partner)
Gimkit (gimkit.com)
Simulates a game-show that requires learners to compete against one another or in teams. Answer a question correctly, you get coins that you can buy utilities to improve your score.
Pros: Can search different question sets and edit them.
Cons: Free version only allows you to play the featured games with more than 5 players. Repeats questions over and over again
Quizizz (Quizizz.com)
Questions and answer choices are displayed on student devices.
Pros: Student-paced, teachers can display student progress dashboard to see how many questions are being answered incorrectly.
Cons: When everyone is answering different questions at different times, you lose some of the excitement. Can't stop and talk about an individual question that students are struggling with until the game is over.
Unique Features: Memes, Homework mode, power-ups, add audio, images, and math equations (has a "math" button w/ math symbols.
Quizalize (quizalize.com)
Quizalize is another quiz-based website. Teachers can create quizzes with multiple- or two-choice question sets or single-word responses.
Pros: Nice, real-time visualization of results- can hide student-identifiers and share results
Cons: No open-ended response; only get 5 activities for 3 classes in the free version
99 Math
Like Kahoot! for math. 99math is a free tool that turns math into a social gaming experience. The content is already generated, teachers just have to choose the topic they want to practice and no time is spent on preparation. Setting up the game and playing with students takes only 5 minutes from the lesson!
Baamboozle
Baamboozle is a fun game to play with your class as a bell ringer, check in, or review lesson. Play from a single device on a projector, smart board or in an online lesson. No student accounts are needed. It's simple to set up. The free version of Baamboozle allows you to make your own games to play with your class.
Blooket (blooket.com)
Blooket can be a fun option for content review--- if it is in MC format. You can search question sets or use your own. You can put students into randomized groups and play in class, or set the games for practice or homework.
Pros: Quirky games up the engagement.
Cons: limited to MC questions, cannot copy/duplicate questions sets and adapt them in the free version.
Factile
Factile lets you create or play jeopardy-style quiz games for your classroom. The free version allows you to create up to 3 games and play any of the pre-created games. The Pro version ($5/month) gives you access to premium features like adding images, videos and equations plus the ability to create unlimited games.
let students “crowdsource” the flashcards they’ll use to study. Create the list of terms, Invite students to collaborate, Collect student images and example sentences, Vote for the best ones, Create a Quizlet flashcard set with what students created.
Wordwall
With Wordwall you can make custom activities like quizzes, match ups, word games and more for your classroom. Wordwall activities can also be printed out directly or downloaded as a PDF file. The printables can be used along with the interactive or as stand-alone activities. With the free version you can create up to 5 activities.
Flippity is like the game making jackpot. You can easily create BINGO, quiz shows, flashcards, scavenger hunts, leaderboards and more. All for FREE!
Flippity (Flippity.net)
Playing a game and need to know which individual or team "buzzed" in first?
Check out Crowd Buzzer! Online tool that students enter code for their team and/or individuals. Displays a buzzer on student device and on teacher device displays who buzzed in first in a hierarchy. This one is great for team or individual play.
Or check out JustBuzzIn. Teacher create a room and give students the link. Students type in name and have a buzzer on their screen. Teachers have list of players and buzzer board on their screen. This one is great for individual play.
Poll Everywhere
Straightforward student-response tool engages kids with minimal setup. Can create many different types of polls as well as formative assessment tools.
Pros: Many different types of polls available (love the competition poll, can also have students click on an image)
Cons: Anonymity means no tracking of student responses; have to reset activity to use again. Only can have 25 people participate at once in free version.
ClassTools
With ClassTools.net you can create free educational games for the classroom. Check out the fun options like the arcade game generator, Pacman quiz generator, or QR treasure hunt generator! I also love the different templates you can use for diagrams, codemaker, image reveal)
