As math review games go, this math review puzzle game is perfection. It combines solving math problems, drawing icons, and comparing those icons to a code page to reveal a mystery word. What more could you ask?
The best part, it is highly engaging for students. It is guaranteed to keep them content and ensure a proper review. Let’s talk…
PREPARATION
First, print the question pages. It might be a good idea to laminate them if you are able. You will also need to print an answer sheet for each student in your classroom. There is plenty of room for them to show their work and keep track of their drawings.
Next, you will need to decide where you will hang the question cards. I like to spread them out around the room with enough space between for students to work independently or teams to have their own space. Good news is that this game allows for either.
Decide if your students will be playing individually or in teams. Each individual/team should be assigned a question page with which to start. The order they complete the problems will not matter as long as they record the answer in the proper space on the answer sheet. (For example, question card 6 should be answered beside number 6 on the answer sheet).
You can choose to have each team work on the same color from the question pages OR you can assign each team a different color. If everyone works on the same color, your class can play this game up to 4 times!
PLAYING THE GAME
Each student should be provided with an answer sheet. The icon page should not be provided to the students until AFTER they solve all the problems and draw their icons.
Students will move from question card to question card answering their color’s questions and drawing the icon that corresponds with the correct answer.
The drawing element of this game is truly the best part. Students enjoy expressing their creativity and sharing their creations with one another. You will hear lots of laughs and collaboration on this one.
After students have answered all the questions and drawn the icons, they should bring their answer sheet to the teacher. This is when you provide them with an icon page.
The icon page will be used to find corresponding letters to reveal the spelling of a mystery word.
The winner of the game is the first person or team to successfully solve all the problems, draw their icons, show their work, and decode the icon page to reveal the mystery word.
When the first team finishes, while the others are still working, I send students back to their desks to color in their icons. It’s so fun to see their hard work.
Now, of course I have a FREE version for you. This version is editable and allows you to enter your own problems to fit your classroom’s unique needs. I have already noted where correct answers should be placed on each sheet so that it will correspond with the proper letters of the mystery word. Click here to join my email list and download the product.
If you are interested in ready to play Crack the Code review games, click here to visit my TPT store. I have several versions of the game that have the problems already included for you.
One more thing! I have another mystery word game that you can also read about and try for FREE by clicking here.
Please let me know if you play this with your class! I know they will love it like my students do. Talk to you soon!
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