14 History Class Review Games
Playing history games can make learning about past events, important people, and old societies fun and interactive. These games help students get interested in history, think more deeply, and work well with others. Remember, the way these games are played can be changed by teachers to fit different grades. The games we talk about here are just starting points without strict rules, so teachers can adjust them as needed. Let’s look at some history games and see what you need and how to play them to help students remember and understand historical information better.
1. Timeline Challenge
Materials Needed:
- Cards with significant historical events, figures, or inventions
- A large space to lay out a timeline
How to Play:
Students work individually or in teams to place cards on a timeline in the correct chronological order. This game helps students understand historical sequencing and the context of events and figures within broader historical narratives.
2. Historical Figure Hot Seat
Materials Needed:
- List of historical figures studied in class
- Questions related to the lives, achievements, and impacts of these figures
How to Play:
One student sits in the “hot seat” and assumes the role of a historical figure. The rest of the class asks questions, and the student in the hot seat must answer as they believe the historical figure would. This game encourages deep engagement with historical characters and their contributions.
3. Artifact Guessing Game
Materials Needed:
- Images or replicas of historical artifacts
- Descriptions or facts about each artifact
How to Play:
Students are shown images or replicas of artifacts and must guess their use, origin, and significance in history. This game helps students understand material culture and the insights artifacts provide into daily life, technology, and values of past societies.
4. History Jeopardy
Materials Needed:
- A classroom Jeopardy game template with categories related to different historical periods, events, or themes
- Questions for each category
How to Play:
Students choose questions from categories, with each question having a point value. Correct answers earn points, and the student or team with the most points at the end wins. This format is excellent for reviewing a wide range of historical content.
5. Historical Debate
Materials Needed:
- Topics for debate related to historical events, decisions, or figures
- Research materials or notes from class
How to Play:
Students are divided into teams to argue different sides of historical debates, such as the merits of a political decision or the impact of a particular figure. This game fosters critical thinking and helps students understand multiple perspectives on historical issues.
6. Who Am I?
Materials Needed:
- Cards with names of historical figures or descriptions of historical roles (e.g., “medieval knight,” “Roman senator”)
How to Play:
A card is taped to the back of each student, who then asks yes/no questions to guess their historical identity. This game encourages students to think about the characteristics, time periods, and significance of various historical figures and roles.
7. Map Race
Materials Needed:
- Blank maps
- Lists of geographical or historical features to be marked on the map
How to Play:
Students race to accurately label or mark certain features on a blank map, such as countries, cities, battle sites, or trade routes relevant to the historical period studied. This game reinforces geographical knowledge and its significance in historical context.
8. Historical Pictionary
Materials Needed:
- Whiteboard and markers or paper and pencils
- Cards with historical terms, events, or figures
How to Play:
Players draw representations of the historical terms, events, or figures on the cards, while their teammates try to guess what they are drawing. This game encourages creative thinking and helps solidify understanding of historical concepts.
9. Pass the Parcel: Historical Edition
Materials Needed:
- A parcel wrapped in several layers, with historical questions between each layer
Music to play during the game
How to Play:
Students pass the parcel while music plays. When the music stops, the student holding the parcel unwraps a layer and must answer the historical question found inside. This game adds excitement and a competitive element to history review.
10. Civilization Building
Materials Needed:
- Cards or descriptions of different aspects of civilizations (e.g., government types, architectural styles, key inventions)
How to Play:
Students work in teams to “build” a civilization by selecting cards that represent different aspects of societal development. This game helps students understand the complexity of civilizations and the factors contributing to their rise and fall.
11. History Bingo
Materials Needed:
- Bingo cards with historical terms, events, or figures
- Markers or chips
- A list of definitions, descriptions, or clues related to the Bingo squares
How to Play:
Similar to traditional Bingo, but with historical content on the cards. The teacher reads out definitions, descriptions, or clues, and students mark their cards accordingly. The first student to get a row, column, or diagonal and shout “Bingo!” wins.
12. Source Analysis Challenge
Materials Needed:
- Primary and secondary source excerpts
- Questions or prompts related to the sources
How to Play:
Students analyze excerpts of primary and secondary sources and answer questions or complete tasks based on their analysis. This game enhances critical reading skills and understanding of historical evidence and perspectives.
13. Trivia Tournament
Materials Needed:
- A list of trivia questions covering various historical topics
- Buzzers or bells for teams to signal their answers
How to Play:
Teams compete in a trivia tournament, answering questions on a wide range of historical topics. Points are awarded for correct answers, and the team with the most points at the end wins. This game is great for a comprehensive review and encourages teamwork.
14. Historical Monologues
Materials Needed:
- Prompts for historical monologues based on events, figures, or perspectives
How to Play:
Students prepare and perform monologues from the perspective of historical figures or as eyewitnesses to historical events. This activity fosters empathy and a deeper understanding of historical experiences.
These classroom review games can turn learning about history into an exciting adventure. They help students remember more and really get the hang of what happened long ago and who was involved. Teachers can add these games to their history lessons to make the class more lively and fun.