Sometimes, it seems like the only way to review in a way that is fun for kids is by using computer games like Kahoot, GimKit and Blooket, among others.  Those are certainly fun for most kids, and I have created my share of them and enjoyed them too.  I have found lately though, that the same kids always win, others just don't enjoy them very much, and some kids even know "the hacks" and run away with the score every time.  Also, since they have become so popular over the last few years, they don't have the wow-appeal they once did.  So, I have been searching for a new way to review that gets the middle school kids away from their computer screens and out of their seats too. And I found it! It was actually a primary teacher (@itsmssimpson) who inspired me to try this, and not only do I love it, but my students do too! It's not just the littles that like to get up and move during the school day.  And when kids are learning and reviewing your material while having fun, it's a win-win!  

 I got a set of yoga mats from Amazon.  I ordered a pack of ten, in assorted colors for $90.00.  I wrote on both sides of each mat, so I really got 20 total for use in class. I have heard that they can be purchased at Five Below stores, but I was looking for solid colors and thought this was a decent deal.  I decided to use a variety of designs on the mats.  On some, I drew straight lines every five or six inches across.  For others, I traced a square and created hopscotch-looking designs.  For others, I traced different sized circles all over the mats.  And for a few others, I wrote words 100% randomly in all directions all over the mat.  I used a giant black Sharpie pen for most, and on the very dark blue and purple mats, I used a white Sharpie paint pen.  I tried not to worry about being super accurate with measurements because random is sometimes more fun anyway, and I knew students were going to be walking all over the mats all year too. I also ordered a set of ten foam dice from Amazon (Matty's Toy Shop).  Sometimes I use those, other days I don't.  I keep finding new way to use these fun mats!

         I highly recommend taking the time to explain how the mats are to be handled, taken out and returned at the beginning of the year.  I store my mats in a big wooden basket on a shelf in the back of my room. Each mat came with a black strap for carrying, and I have shown the students how to wrap it around a mat after use.  So far, so good!

         What I do when it is time for review is put the students into groups of three or four and have them go to the "mat basket" to get a mat.  One they unroll their mat; they know to listen for directions regarding what kind of review game we will be using that day.  A few of my mats have just prefixes or suffixes in each space.  Students who get those mats need to think of a certain number of words with the prefix or suffix in it, depending on the number on the dice, and see if they can come up with the meaning of the affix.

Here are the different ways I use the mats, but the possibilities are endless:)

Musical Mat:  Students begin by standing at a spot along the outside of the mat.  All desks are moved aside whenever we do mat activities.  I will play a song for a few seconds (choose one they like or a classic "oldie" that they should know😉!).  When you stop the music, students need to "hop on" to a space on the mat.  Whichever word they land on, they need to either define it, and/or use it in a sentence or provide an example.  You can do the checking, or the students can check each other's answers.  If students cannot do so, they can be eliminated and sit down, or you can keep them in play after a fellow student helps them with the response.  This version of the review can continue until only one student remains, or you can just set the timer and review for a specific number of minutes, allowing every student to remain a player. It's important that wrong answers are learning opportunities.

Hopscotch:  Although only a few of my mats are decorated specifically as hopscotch mats, we can review this way regardless of the mat design.  Students roll a die or dice and hop that many spaces. Where they land, they need to define the term and/or use it in a sentence.  I also have a set of small rocks for the traditional hopscotch.  When the rocks are used, students need to make sure they place the rock on each space, define that term, pick up the rock, then hop over the rest of the mat until it is their turn again. If a student does not know an answer, they can ask me or a classmate.  In this game, students can be eliminated or simply remain in the review until the allotted time is up. That's completely up to you!

Roll the car: I have a small collection of Matchbox cars.  Marbles are great for this too. On Roll the Car days, students take turns standing at the top of the mat and push their car from the start.  Wherever the car lands, that word or literary device needs to be defined and/or an example provided.  To "win" this version of the review, a student needs to be the first to "complete a certain number of laps" around the mat. 

Roll the dice: All of the space on all of the mats are numbered so the dice work with each one.  Students simply take turns rolling the dice, advancing that many spaces, then defining the term they land one.  Decide how many turns each student gets, or use a timer and review until time is up. Wrong answers could mean miss a turn or an opportunity to "look it up."

            Have fun, and make sure to let me know if you try it and what you and your class think of it!

Teach on, Friends! The world needs you! 

Stacy