Math Scramble is the perfect, engaging math puzzle review game for all ages of students. My students literally beg to play this one, and it’s the perfect game for getting everyone involved and working together.
GAME PREPARATION
You will need two main things to play Math Scramble in your classroom:
- a set of 25 questions for students to solve
- a set of words to unscramble that is different for each team
The 25 Questions
The questions you choose need to be divided into the following groups:
- 3 questions for the 3-letter word
- 4 questions for the 4-letter word
- 5 questions for the 5-letter word
- 6 questions for the 6-letter word
- 7 questions for the 7-letter word
This makes a total of 25 questions. Students will work on one group of questions at a time, so I like to set the game up so that the questions get more difficult as they move through the groups of questions. For example, the 3 questions in the first group would be the easiest questions and the last group with the 7 questions would be the most difficult.
Regardless of how many groups you choose to have for this game, each group can answer the same questions. The words they are unscrambling will be different, which adds the perfect amount of variation.
The Words to Unscramble
The words to unscramble give this puzzle review game its flair! The number of words you will need for this game depends on how many groups you choose to have. Each group will need 5 words to unscramble: a 3-letter word, 4-letter word, 5-letter word, 6-letter word, and 7-letter word.
Each team should have different words to unscramble.
I like to choose a theme and base the words off of that. It helps the kids know the direction they are heading when they are trying to unscramble.
After you choose your words, you will need to write (or print) one letter for each word onto little pieces of paper. I make my pieces of paper about the size of a playing card.
The best way to do this is to choose a color that represents each team and either write the letters in that color or use colored paper.
I like to write the letter on one side of the paper and the group number on the other side. For example, if my 3-letter word is CAT, I would use 3 pieces of paper and write a letter per piece. Then, on the other side, I would put a 3 to signal that this is the 3-letter word.
Finally, I separate each word group into its own pile so I can easily grab it when the students are ready.
PLAYING THE GAME
The object of the game is to be the first team to unscramble all 5 words by answering questions correctly and getting letters.
For each group of questions, students receive the number of letters for that word as the number of questions they answer correctly. For example, if they are working on the group of 5 questions for the 5-letter word and they only answer 3 questions correctly, I hand them 3 random letters for that word. If they are able to unscramble the word without the other 2 letters, they can do that. If they would like to keep working and try for the other 2 questions, they may do that as well. This is where the theme words help. It gives them something to go on.
The first team to get all 5 words correctly on the board is the winner! However, I encourage teams to keep working even after another team has “finished”. Their words may be incorrect.
I also add the element that all team members must have work to show for the problems that were solved. This keeps the load of the whole team from falling on one or two students while the others sit and watch. It’s also a great way for students to collaborate with their peers.
Try the FREE version of this Puzzle Review Game
I would love to have your feedback on this game. I know my students love it, but I’m always looking to improve. My free version of this game provides the words to unscramble (enough for 4 teams to have 5 different words each). You can get the free download by signing up for my e-mail list here.
If you would prefer a pre-made version that includes all the questions, letter cards, answer keys, and student answer sheets, I got you covered. Click here to purchase that version.
Also, one last thing, if you love the game and would like to see a specific math concept covered, please let me know. I’ll be happy to make it.
Well, there you have it. The perfect engaging, exciting, excellent, exceptional (okay, all the “e” words)… but seriously! You are going to love this game — almost as much as your students! I can’t wait.
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