Educational games middle school social studies

Would you say he sounds pugnacious? This could be a formal review game in small groups, or an on-the-fly bell ringer or exit activity with a couple selected student in front of the class.

Designate each number of a die to a different task related to the concept you are covering. Then, challenge students to roll the dice. Have the other students guess the term. This is a super easy and interactive way to get them talking about concepts from all sorts of angles. This one is especially important in the high school setting as listening, talking, reading, and writing dominate the curriculum.

If we want students to understand new and often-abstract ideas and concepts, then we need to be cognizant of including spatial, visual, and tactile strategies. In a study where participants were asked to memorize a series of words dog, bike, lemon , those who were encouraged to visualize the words a dog riding a bike while eating a lemon could recall the words at a significantly higher rate.

Not only are learning deeper and retrieval easier, but the time to learn a new concept is shortened when visuals are included.

Talk about a win-win! Stash a pack of pipe cleaners or tiny tubs of playdough in your cupboards. Challenge students in pairs or small groups to create something three-dimensional that represents what they have learned.

For example, have students shape the one prized possession an Ellis Island immigrant may have packed in their suitcase. Or, an object that represents a right from the Bill of Rights. Endless possibilities! A popular example of this shaping technique involves arranging gummies bears to learn different forms of governments. Find ways to color code reoccurring things through a whole unit or even the whole course, either through your use of colored paper or through students marking text with certain colors.

Or, have students read an extended passage, color-coding for different things, like statistical evidence and quotes, or push and pull factors. Or my favorite, copy the same worksheet in different colors, requiring students to get up and find a new partner with a different color for every step. Stash a basket in your classroom with a random assortment of inanimate objects: a basketball, paper clip, lip gloss, sticky notes pad, measuring cup, whatever! The Edvocate. Top Menu. Building Relationships with Families.

Tenure: Everything You Need to Know. Spread the love. Be sure to visit the lesson resources link for some outstanding lessons Edsitement — The link brings you to the lesson plan page, be sure to explore other amazing areas in the site. Tags byod Edtech edtechchat elearning online learning Social Studies Technology. Matthew Lynch. Related articles More from author. EdTech News Uncategorized. What cyber charter schools are and why their growth should worry us December 22, By Matthew Lynch.

Parental Involvement. How to Prevent the Winter Slide December 13, What Are the Benefits of Learning Analytics? August 27, The games are fun, and cover a lot of topics which might be missed in class. Repetition in these games will teach a thorough knowledge of world and U. These are for kids but anyone wanting to brush up on their geography would find them useful.

Social studies games teach and reinforce facts about history, geography and culture. They educate students while entertaining them and encouraging retention of subject matter. What would be more perfect than teaching a middle school student with online games? Many games produced by Impressions Games have a strong social studies message which is put forth in a fun way. Even the Sims 2 and 3 can be used to produce history relevant learning experiences. One can design historic style buildings, or recreate nearly exact replicas of historic sites.

These games alone cannot provide an adequate social studies education, but they are an excellent break from real academics. Instructors could assign students reports on the time periods featured in their games, to enrich both the educational and gaming experience. Term Papers are a great way for kids to learn the topic plus writing skills.

This educational MMO takes kids age on a knowledge quest through language arts, math, science, and social studies. Looking for a way to improve outcomes in a way that kids will enjoy? This site takes K students on a time-traveling adventure to meet some of the most influential mathematicians in history. Explore interactive STEM and literacy-building topics on this site that features a cool and captivating design and quirky trivia!

Embark on an international mission to find one of the most notorious super sleuths. This very cool site offers interactive visual arts education for students in grades to promote creative thinking in the next generation.

Based on Common Core State Standards, this online game teaches phonics including the letter sounds for all consonants, short vowels, and long vowels. Kids will also practice spelling consonant-vowel-consonant CVC words.

Dive into a coral reef or be a star climber on this great site that features a wide assortment of games that can be filtered by grade level for kids preK Do you have a gamer in your class? This site helps kids ages learn how to design their very own video games through game-based quests and courses! What are some nutritious snacks or three common allergies?

Kids in grades K-5 can learn about a range of health topics from body parts to staying fit with these interactive games. This deceptively simple game is actually a lot of fun. Kids and teachers! Kids love the regular Minecraft video game, but this education-focused version takes learning to the next level. With lessons, STEM curriculum, and project-based challenges, this immersive digital environment promotes creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

Moose Math engages kids in a mathematical adventure and teaches counting, addition, subtraction, sorting, geometry, and more. Head out On the Trail With Captain John Smith, explore Ancient Greece with Zeus the Mighty, or just take a quiz about sharks on this robust site filled with great games and activities for young learners.