Summary: Word Chums is a user friendly, funner version of Words with Friends. Though adults like word chums, it is also very kid friendly. If you have a correct word it is highlighted in green before you make the play, which makes trying words and experimenting easy. You can also get definitions for words you play and/or on the board. You can do team play. You get an avatar and coins collected during game play can be used to outfit your avatar, or by "boosts" like hints. It's very fun.
Cost: free version and an in expensive ad-free version. You need to play it on an ipad or iphone.
Potential use idea(s): If you have a set of classroom room ipads you could do team games. If you have one ipad it could be part of a station rotation.
Summary: This is a beautifully constructed Bingo game.
Cost: $12-$15. (I posted the Amazon link, but I originally bought it at Willow Bookstore in Acton, MA - I'm sure they would appreciate your business :-)).
Potential use idea(s): I used Bird Bingo with my after school club, Animals and Planet (part of Jane Goodall's roots and shoots). You could use it with any age group. There are seven bingo cards so it might be something you do as a rotation activity with a larger class. It's a nice way to learn about birds from all over the world and kids worked nicely together and like learning about the birds while playing bingo.
Possible age range/grade: 3rd-12th independendently. Younger students if teacher directed.
SET and other Card Games
Link: http:www.setgame.com/set
Summary: The SET card game is played by finding common attributes of symbols in displayed cards, looking for SETS.
Cost
Potential use idea(s): Because of this course I just checked the website online and see that they have a "Teachers Corner" link. It gives ideas for using a variety of the card games in the classroom. Note that the website is a little clunky - when you click on Teacher's corner and pick something from the drop down menu the page does change, but you need to scroll down past the banner at the top to see the content below. Check out this page: http:www.setgame.com/learn-to-play
Click here for Games for Digital Literacy links.
Additional Resources for Games and Articles about Integrating Games
Digital Compass related links:
https://www.commonsense.org/education/webinars is good to watch before using Digital Compass:
Digital Compass (middle) https://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/digital-compass (individual role playing game with badges)
Digital Passport (elementary) https://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/digital-passport
Digital Bytes- (high school) https://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/digital-bytes (less game like)
Digital Compass Lesson Plan:
https://educators.brainpop.com/lesson-plan/digital-citizenship-lesson-plan-digital-compass/
SMART Goals - Scholastic.com
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top-teaching/2016/01/setting-almost-smart-goals-my-students
http://www.prometheanplanet.com/en-us/Resources/Item/58855/who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire#.V5e_TGSAOko
http://www.prometheanplanet.com/en-us/Resources/Item/309336/jeopardy-game-template#.V5e_f2SAOko
Lesson Ideas for Brain Pop Movie on SMART Goals (K-3 movie): https://educators.brainpop.com/bp-topic/setting-goals/
Lesson Plan on BrainPop Educators for using BrainPops Bird Song Hero:
https://educators.brainpop.com/lesson-plan/observational-skills-spectrogram-lesson-plan-bird-song-hero-game/
Ideas for games and gamification in World Language: https://www.powtoon.com/online-presentation/bJOscenR1JU/?mode=movie#/
Free spanish lessons on BrainPop: https://esl.brainpop.com/free_lessons/
Game for 21st century skills and this Open Badges project:
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/video-game-model-unit-andrew-miller
http://www.digitalme.co.uk/.
Students can create games: : https://scratch.mit.edu/
Review of Other Content Games:
Word Chums
Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/word-chums-free-board-game/id517840944?mt=8
Summary: Word Chums is a user friendly, funner version of Words with Friends. Though adults like word chums, it is also very kid friendly. If you have a correct word it is highlighted in green before you make the play, which makes trying words and experimenting easy. You can also get definitions for words you play and/or on the board. You can do team play. You get an avatar and coins collected during game play can be used to outfit your avatar, or by "boosts" like hints. It's very fun.
Cost: free version and an in expensive ad-free version. You need to play it on an ipad or iphone.
Potential use idea(s): If you have a set of classroom room ipads you could do team games. If you have one ipad it could be part of a station rotation.
Possible age range/grade: all ages.
Zoombinis!
Link: https://external-wiki.terc.edu/display/Zoombinis/Zoombinis+for+Educators
Description: Students help the zoombini characters travel through different lands by using critical thinking and computational skills
Cost: $4.99 for one license - school licenses available
Use: Reinforce math skills; use as a learning station
Grades: Elementary
Freerice and Freekibble - quiz and donations
http://freerice.com/category - Choose from a variety of curriculum area categories. Answer questions and donate bowls of rice through the United Nations World Food Programme
Review of other Content Area Board Games
Bird Bingo
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Bird-Bingo-Christine-Berrie/dp/185669917X
Summary: This is a beautifully constructed Bingo game.
Cost: $12-$15. (I posted the Amazon link, but I originally bought it at Willow Bookstore in Acton, MA - I'm sure they would appreciate your business :-)).
Potential use idea(s): I used Bird Bingo with my after school club, Animals and Planet (part of Jane Goodall's roots and shoots). You could use it with any age group. There are seven bingo cards so it might be something you do as a rotation activity with a larger class. It's a nice way to learn about birds from all over the world and kids worked nicely together and like learning about the birds while playing bingo.
Possible age range/grade: 3rd-12th independendently. Younger students if teacher directed.
SET and other Card Games
Link: http:www.setgame.com/set
Summary: The SET card game is played by finding common attributes of symbols in displayed cards, looking for SETS.
Cost
Potential use idea(s): Because of this course I just checked the website online and see that they have a "Teachers Corner" link. It gives ideas for using a variety of the card games in the classroom. Note that the website is a little clunky - when you click on Teacher's corner and pick something from the drop down menu the page does change, but you need to scroll down past the banner at the top to see the content below. Check out this page: http:www.setgame.com/learn-to-play
Possible age range/grade: All ages.
Other game and gamification guides: