When it’s time for a test review, do your students groan or cheer? In elementary classrooms, these words sometimes bring anxiety, but it doesn’t have to be that way! With the right tools, they can become something your students like to do. One of the best ways to keep students engaged while reviewing essential math concepts is through games for review in the classroom.
Games are fun and make students more engaged in their learning. They can be simple and powerful ways for students to practice what they are learning. Are you looking for a fun game to help your students practice addition and subtraction within 20? All you need is a dice for each student with the math worksheet and a pencil. They will love playing this game while they are building their math fact fluency. Put your name and email address in the boxes, and you will have it in your inbox to use in your classroom today.
Here are three of my favorite games for review in the classroom—Spinning Wheels, Build a… Activities, and Behind the Door. These classroom games for test review are specifically designed to target key math skills from addition and subtraction within 20, double digit addition and subtraction with and without regrouping, and three digit addition and subtraction with and without regrouping. They work wonderfully for first, second, and third grade students.
Let’s look at each game to see how they can bring fun and meaningful practice to your test review!
Games for Review in the Classroom: Spinning Wheels
Spinning Wheels is one of the most engaging games for test review because it combines the excitement of chance with focused math practice. Students spin a digital wheel (all set up in PowerPoint—no fancy tech needed!) and solve the equation it lands on. Versions include:
- Single-digit addition within 20
- Single-digit subtraction within 20
- Double-digit addition with and without regrouping
- Double-digit subtraction with and without regrouping
- Three-digit addition with and without regrouping
- Three-digit subtraction with and without regrouping
Students can record their answers on a whiteboard or a recording sheet which makes this activity super flexible.
Why it works
Every student gets to solve each problem and not just the one who spins the wheel. This is a huge win because it ensures all students are thinking and engaged. You can keep the pacing just right by asking students to give a quiet thumbs-up when they’ve solved the equation and then decide on the correct answer as a group. It’s a great way to hold students accountable!
Spinning Wheels is perfect if you’re looking for fun test review games that can easily be used for small group instruction or a whole class math activity.
Games for Test Review: Build a… Activities
Need a test review game for elementary students that lets students build something by answering equations? The Build a… series does just that! In this interactive game, students solve equations to make a themed object such as a turkey in November, a snowman in January, or a gingerbread house in December.
After answering a math question, a new part is added to the object. You can project the PowerPoint game and build the image step-by-step as the class works together to solve each equation.
Here are the topics covered in these activities.
- Addition and subtraction within 20
- Double-digit addition and subtraction (with and without regrouping)
- Three-digit addition and subtraction (with and without regrouping)
Themes currently available:
- Build a Love Bug
- Build a Turkey
- Build a Christmas Tree
- Build a Gingerbread House
- Build a Haunted House
- Build a Snowman
Why it works
This format taps into curiosity. Students love watching the object come to life, and the visual progress adds excitement to solving each equation. Whether you’re prepping for a math assessment or spiraling back to previous concepts, Build a… Activities are perfect games for review that feel more like play than work.
Games for Test Review: Behind the Door
There’s something irresistible about a mystery, and Behind the Door games use that interest to keep students engaged in math review. In this PowerPoint game, students choose a colored door, click to open it, and reveal the equation they’ll solve.
Just like the other games, it covers a range of skills.
- Addition and subtraction within 20
- Double-digit addition and subtraction with and without regrouping
- Three-digit addition and subtraction with and without regrouping
You can play it with your whole class or with a small group of children. Students record their answers on whiteboards or recording sheets.
Why it works
This game adds an element of choice and surprise. Students enjoy taking turns choosing the door, but every student solves the equation behind each door. This means your fastest finishers are still practicing, and your students who need more time get to work at their own pace without pressure. Behind the Door is one of those games for review in the classroom that’s so simple to implement but has a huge impact on engagement and participation.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Test Review
Using PowerPoint games for test review is not about clicking through slides. It’s about creating an environment where students are excited to show what they know. Here are a few teacher-tested tips.
- All students answer each question. This is key! Whether it’s on whiteboards or recording sheets, make sure everyone solves each problem. Use the thumbs-up trick to give all students time and reduce blurting.
- Use whiteboards to save paper. These games are perfect for dry-erase boards. Students stay engaged, and cleanup is a breeze.
- Incorporate small groups. If you have students who need extra support, these test review games for elementary students are perfect for intervention groups. You can walk them through the activity at a slower pace while still having fun.
- Keep it fresh by switching games. Rotate between Spinning Wheels, Build a…, and Behind the Door to keep things exciting. Each format feels different even though the math skills are the same.
Why Use Games?
Here’s what makes these fun test review games so powerful.
- Students are engaged from start to finish.
- You can easily differentiate to meet the needs of all of your students.
- They build confidence and reinforce critical math skills.
- You’re not relying on worksheets or packets.
- They work with the whole class or small groups.
- They promote equal participation and support a variety of learning speeds.
And let’s be honest, test review games for elementary students don’t have to be complicated to be effective. With just a projector, these PowerPoint games, and whiteboards or recording sheets, you can turn your classroom into an exciting adventure!
As you prepare your students for tests or assessments, remember that the best games for review do more than check boxes. They build skills, confidence, and a love of learning. Whether your students are building snowmen, spinning wheels, or choosing mystery doors, they’re doing meaningful work that feels like fun.
So next time you need games for test review, give these PowerPoint games a try! Your students will be engaged, your instruction will be efficient, and you just might hear a cheer the next time you say, “Time for review!”
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