Top Revision Activities

Show me the answer!

Using mini-whiteboards, true/false cards, hand signals, different coloured cards etc. pupils

must show you the answer to a series of questions

Answer!

Good for revising definitions.

Create a Song

Ask the students to take the tune to a well-known song and re-write the lyrics to help

remember the key facts they need to remember for a topic. Great for homework

or as a collaborative task.

Quizzes

Rather than 20 dull questions on a knowledge test, turn it into a PowerPoint with supporting answer sheet

Include a picture round, sequencing tasks, which is the odd one out, linking words to definitions etc…

Use images and humour to boost engagement. Include a range of questions – basic ones to build confidence and really tough lateral thinking style tasks to challenge knowledge, skills and understanding.

Pictionary

e.g. Give students concepts/ideas/things to draw whilst others have to guess what they

are

Can divide group into teams to make it competitive

Alternative – short list of concepts/ideas and students have to draw in books or on mini-whiteboard and

then feedback their thinking/explanation.

Good to give a quick review of a topic, before revising in more depth.

A-Z

Ask the students to write out the alphabet and for each letter they must think of a

specific word related to a topic.

Give rewards for more precise / technical facts or vocabulary.

Pupil as Teacher

e.g. One (or more?) pupil is the teacher.

• They have to summarise the lesson (unit) and question the class on what was studied.

• Can give different groups different aspects of the topic.• Can be creative

Instructions for success

e.g. Write down the main learning points of a topic.

If you could only take this piece of paper into the exam. What would you write on it?

Splat

Put a range of words and numbers on the board relating the topic being revised

Ask two students to compete to be the first to “splat” the word when you read out the relevant definition

A good fast paced activity that goes well at the end or start of a lesson and uses competition to increase engagement

Easy to differentiate because you can reword the definition depending on which students are taking part.

Taboo

Students have to describe a key word without using that word (it is taboo!).

(could do it in teams, pairs, whole-class)

Story-Time

Re-tell today’s lesson/ learning as a story. Ensure you have a

beginning, a middle and an end.

Develop through genres i.e.

Fable

Sci-fi

Thriller etc.

BlockbustersSet up a Blockbusters style grid using appropriate key terms/names/places etc. from thelesson or unit

Can I have a‘P’ please Bob

No

http://www.teachers-direct.co.uk/resources/quiz-busters/subjects/ks2.aspx

Evaluation Tree

Ask students where they feel they are on the tree in relation to the lesson or topic.

Can be used repeatedly to articulate progress/problems.

Could print out on A3/A2 and get students to put post-it notes on with their name.

Could give to individuals and ask them to write on where each aspect of the topic would lie.

Good to use before planning whole class revision, as can use to create groups with different foci etc.

Carousel questions – works well with 6th form or K.S.4 students

• Split the class into 8 groups, and have 4 groups on each side of the classroom.

• Have the same questions for each half of the class – so you are only doing 4 different pieces of sugar paper times 2.

• Stick 2 exam questions onto sugar paper for each group, and put on their table.

• They have the time it takes for a music track to play – something chilled! – to complete the questions – show on media player so that they know how long they have left.

• When the music has finished the groups move on to the next question (or you can move the paper if you prefer.)

• Play another music track (or part of) - students add to/ correct the answer of their new question etc. or justify why it is the correct answer.

• Keep going until groups have seen 4 pieces of sugar paper, and therefore all questions.

• Give out the mark schemes for the questions. Group mark the question in front of them and feed back.

• CAN SCALE THIS DOWN IF YOU WANT.