Does your child have difficulty studying material and retaining vocabulary for certain subjects in school? Here's a fun and creative way to help your child memorize new vocabulary. Have your child create his very own custom Jeopardy game for the family! It's simple and will work for all subject areas. Your child can be the host, while you and the rest of the family can be the contestants. He will enjoy watching Mom and Dad struggle with fifth grade trivia while he becomes the expert!
What You Need:
- Posterboard, any color except white
- Index cards (lined 3 X 5)
- Double sided tape
- Marker
- Lined paper
What To Do:
- Have your child write the dollar amount $100 on the blank (unlined) side of five index cards with a marker, $200 on the unlined side of another five index cards, $300 on five more, $400 on another five cards, and finally $500 on the remaining five cards.
- Label the poster board at the top with five subject areas, such as Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science, Art, etc. or choose one subject and separate it into five categories. For example, Math: Algebra, Geometry, Fractions, Place Value, and Percents. You can choose to write the categories directly onto the poster board or onto five individual index cards, so you can reuse the poster board.
- Have your child determine which vocabulary or questions he is having most difficulty with and to what degree. The harder vocabulary and questions will be the higher dollar amounts and the less difficult will be the lower dollar amounts.
- Next, have your child write a vocabulary word or question on the back of each index card.
- Have your child place each card underneath the corresponding category, with the $100 card at the top and the $500 card at the bottom. Make sure they all fit before taping them!
- Now, he can put a small piece of double-sided tape on the question side of each card and stick it in place.
- Playing the Game: Once the game board is set up, play can begin. You will need at least three players; your child will be the host and two or more others will be the contestants.
- Create a score sheet by placing each contestants' name on the top line of a piece of lined paper. Draw vertical lines in between players' names. You may need to give players a sheet of lined paper and pencil to answer certain questions, especially math.
- Determine who will go first. The first player will choose a category and a dollar amount, for example “Fractions for $300". Your child will gently pull off card and ask the first player the question written on the back.
- If the player answers correctly, write the dollar amount earned under her name. If the player gives an incorrect answer, the host will reveal the correct answer and the player will receive $0 for the turn. Place the card aside.
- The players will continue taking turns until all cards have been removed from the game board.
- When the board is empty, your child can add the scores! The player with the highest score is the winner.
- Remind your child to keep the cards for review! You can even ask him the questions before a test to see if he remembers the answers.
Your child may choose to have a “cheat sheet” next to him if vocabulary has just been introduced or you may choose to look up the definitions or answers together. Either way you and your child will be learning while having fun together!
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