Have you ever watched Jeopardy?
I do love watching, even though I rarely know any of the answers. (Unless they have a musical theatre category, then I usually get them all!)
Who Wants to be a Millionaire is another fun trivia show to watch. Once in a while, I'll know an answer, but I could never get past the first level without Google!
My students have always loved these Brain Quest sets for the same reason. Sometimes they know the answer, but even if they don't, they enjoy them, and learn from them! (Each link is an Amazon affiliate.)
What do these all have in common? After you've watched the shows, or read the Brain Quest sets, you end up knowing more than before!
This is pretty much the reasoning behind a study strategy known as Retrieval Practice. Retrieval practice includes "practice tests" as a method of seeing what a student can remember, or retrieve from his memory. This strategy helps them know what they still need to study. Check out this link if you want to know more about this strategy: Learn How to Study Using Retrieval Practice. Here's another link about Retrieval Practice and other valued learning strategies. Four Research-Based Strategies Every Teacher Should Be Learning
Remembering what was questioned on game shows or trivia cards isn't quite the same as studying what was already taught, but seriously: if you try to think of an answer, then hear the answer, you are more likely to remember it, aren't you?
Since there is so much knowledge out there that the children just absorb when they're exposed to it, why not expose them to more knowledge?
I've created some Boom Learning digital task cards that are perfect for learning from trying to figure out an answer! Here are a couple:
Canada, USA, or Both? is perfect for July, since Canada Day and Independence Day (USA) are celebrated at the beginning of the month. If you don't teach summer school, That's ok. Learning about these 2 North American countries any time of year is fun!
Landforms Boom Bundle is a great supplement to any work on Geography. I like to expose the children to this before I actually start working on landforms. Since the children can use the Boom Learning Digital Task Cards over and over, they love to challenge themselves to get more correct each time! They become familiar with the vocabulary as well as the different geographic features of each landform as they practice. Plus, the teacher can easily go into the records to see how well they are getting to know their landforms!
Calendar General Knowledge Facts: Boom Learning I have one of these for each month of the year, based on fun calendar days and trivia. These aren't easy, and have questions about plenty of things the children haven't learned, but with each time through the Boom Learning decks, they'll know more and more!
July Calendar Trivia: Boom Learning This is your chance to try out these monthly trivia Boom Learning decks: the July deck is free! (And you don't have to wait until July to try it! Children love to do their birthday month, and the months of their friends' birthdays, too.) Or, honestly, they love any month, since children enjoy learning this way!
Here are a few more sets of Boom cards that are "self-learning:"
Plus, here's a "Dollar Deal" vocabulary builder:
Not familiar with Boom Learning digital task cards? Here's more information:
What are your ideas for fun ways to help them keep learning?
