Put a scientific spin on a classic board game. Gather several Scrabble board games and explain the rules of the game to the students. Tell students the only twist is that every word played must be related in some way to science. If students can play a word recently covered in a chapter, they could earn bonus points. Set the boards up around the room at tables with four chairs each. Group the students into pairs, and then ask each pair to find another pair of students to play. To add interest, create a bracket and make this game into an ongoing tournament.
Students love having the opportunity to get outdoors. Motivate students to study scientific vocabulary words with an outside scavenger hunt. Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a list of terms to search for. For example, students could look for a sedimentary rock or a living organism. If possible, the students should attach part of the object to the paper. If the object is an animal, they should record where it was found. The team that locates the most objects is declared the winner.
Students enjoy playing a fast-paced science vocabulary review game. Begin by writing the answers to about 25 test questions randomly on the board. Divide the class into two teams. Give each side a fly swatter. Select one person from each team to go first. Explain to students that they should walk to the front and wait to hear the question. Read a question aloud. The first player to slap the correct answer with the fly swatter wins a point for her team. If desired, give the team with the most points at the end a small reward, such as a small piece of candy or extra credit on an upcoming science test.
Students will enjoy being creative for this game. Break the class into small groups. Explain to students that they will use the computer to make a sing along power point. Give stipulations to ensure that the songs are educational. For example, tell students they must use visual cues and incorporate at least ten vocabulary words. Give students an incentive to work harder by telling them that you will have other teachers come by to choose the best song. The winners could receive a no homework pass or extra credit.