Spelling Sprint
After teams have quickly chosen a name and color and a captain has been assigned, the teacher dictates to one (or more) player from each team a word to spell.
At “1, 2, 3 Go!” each player runs from their desks to the whiteboard to try to spell the word correctly.
The first 1-2 attempts (warm-up) do not count but are for everyone to understand the game. The teacher shares the rules both for the victory and for the right behavior (if not followed after warnings, teams can get suspended or points can be subtracted. Cheering the opponent in the end by shaking hands or giving high-fives are expected after the game - as in sports. Cheering your team is encouraged and the teacher continuously cheers all teams).
Points & Statistics: The team that reaches x points wins (x depends on the time allotted for the game). Whoever spells the word correctly gets 2 points.
If wrong, they can ask two of their teammates to run over for help and if correct after the 3rd attempt they get 1 point.
Whoever gets the correct spelling first, their team takes 1 extra point (if simultaneously with another team - equal points).
If the student level is advanced, the teacher can decide to keep team or individual statistics on the board for number of mistakes or time taken to spell correctly and find the smallest time for each round to find the MVP.
Mistakes: The teacher writes down the mistakes on the board and after 5 mistakes (s)he erases and then randomly asks them again to the team that got it wrong. If correct, the team now gets 3 points.
Time-outs: When a team asks for a time-out they can revise mistakes and re-strategize. Each captain leads the process.
Rounds: y number of rounds with progressive difficulty. Total points to win the game get divided among the rounds.
Mixed Leagues: The teacher can give more difficult words to the team with the stronger players or ask two words to one team instead of one or have more people from one team spell different words correctly at the same time.
Cool Down: Short discussion for either mistakes, homework or behavior.
Variations: Could be conducted as NASCAR where students pretend to drive when running or as a relay race and one goes after the other once they get the spelling right.
Geography Hiking
The class is divided into four destinations: East, West, South, and North.
Depending on the geology of the country (water, mountains, fields etc.), when teams move from one destination to the other they have to act out that they are physically hiking (e.g. raising their hands to catch the rope and lifting knees as if they are rock climbing or rowing, or swimming, or crawling etc. ). Once they reach a specific destination, they write the answer on a piece of paper.
E.g.
N: Which countries border with the US at the North?
S: Name 5 capital cities in South states
W: Name 5 big rivers in the West
E: Name 5 bordering states in the East
Different rounds for increasing difficulty. If misbehavior after notice, the penalty can be close the eyes of the team players when they are moving from destination to destination. Each team can have one time-out (like a water break) if desired.
The team that gets the most correct answers within the allotted time wins.
Math Basketball
Two teams of five players start from the center of the class. Two players are chosen for the jump-ball. Whoever answers a multiplication question right earns and passes the ball.
Each player of the team with possession have the right to do one dribble once they get the ball from a teammate. They can dribble (actual or imaginary ball) if they answer an arithmetics question right. Once they answer the question right they can dribble once. There is man-to-man defence full court and if one player of a team does not answer correctly the defending player has the opportunity to answer and if correct they stole the ball.
They have x amount of time (teacher decides) to answer the questions in full court otherwise the beeper goes off and the opponents get the ball. The teacher can bring in players from the bench at any time.
When they reach the basket (garbage cans or any other creation or target) and are ready to shoot the teacher asks a more difficult question. The team can ask for a 2-point (easier) or a 3-point (more difficult) question. Now they can work as a team and pass around for their teammates to contribute. They need to be able to have a correct answer within 24 seconds to get their points. If they give the correct answer, the student that holds the ball shoots and if they score they get an extra one point.
The team that gets more points in the allotted time wins. There are 4 rounds in the game with an option of 1 time-out per team per round.
The players at the bench can help when the team is trying to score and should cheer their teammates. If the team is not behaving well they get fouls and a player of the other team automatically goes for free throws (two questions for one point each plus one point if the player scores at least one free throw).
