Saturday, September 21, 2013

Spark Student Motivation: SWAT

Happy Saturday! 
Let's SPARK some motivation!
A game I like to use for review is...

 To play SWAT, all you need are some flyswatters and a page of answers for some questions.
**These are GIANT flyswatters I found at Dollar Tree. 
 
SWAT is played with two students. They come to the board (chalkboard, dry erase board, projector screen, Promethean board, wall, anything that has answer written or projected on) armed with their flyswatters. The teacher calls out a problem and the first student to SWAT the answer is the winner!
This SWAT board is to review vocabulary: you could use synonyms, antonyms, analogies, fill in the blank.
We usually play in the dark so the screen shows up better. I just typed  up a few vocabulary words and projected it on my board.
A FEW SECONDS=LOTS OF EXCITEMENT!!
This SWAT board is to review multiplication facts.
You can tell the student on the left was the first one to recall 9x7 because their flyswatter is on the bottom.
This fun game can be used for a review, intro to a new topic, quick formative assessment, five minute filler, so many ways! Your students will LOVE this game and it cost $2 (flyswatters) and a few seconds of prep time! It's so funny to watch them play because they get so excited and stressed about swatting the answer first! :)
  
I hope you had a wonderful week! Please link up any lessons, ideas, tips, tricks, incentives, ANYTHING you do or plan to do to get your students motivated or excited!
Don't forget to grab my button and link back to this post!
Check out all the wonderful ideas from my friends who link up and don't forget to leave some love by commenting....we LOVE comments!

13 comments:

  1. Love it! I need to go to the dollar store today for some reading buddies and am going to look for some swatters. One of my projects this weekend is to finally get those door hangers you sent me printed and laminated for this year's students. Thank you! I think you should have a spark "teacher" motivation day...I would love to see what suggestions people have for motivating others on their team.

    Jessica
    Literacy Spark

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  2. That looks like so much fun! The problem is that even considering how much I love my bunch this year, I am not sure I am ready to give them giant flyswatters:). But I will go get some giant flyswatters for when the time comes that I am ready, because it is a great idea!

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  3. That's a really neat idea! I'll have to try that one.
    I really love that number line you have above the screen in one of those pics. Polka dots, great colors! Is that something you made or purchased?

    Ali
    Teaching Powered by Caffeine

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  4. I love this activity! You're right, I can think of a lot of different ways to use it. We have a social studies test coming up. I may start there.

    Thank you!

    Mary
    Fit to be Fourth
    Follow me on Bloglovin

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  5. Hmmm...and to think that there were more uses to the fly swatter I've been using all week to swat at the flies that have moved into my room. :)

    Jennifer
    Mrs. Laffin's Laughings

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  6. Such a fun game. I haven't played it in quite a few years...I may need to break out some new fly swatters and try this again.

    Hunter's Teaching Tales
    Find me on Facebook

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  7. What a great idea!! I will be on the lookout for flyswatters the next time I'm out!

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  8. Very cool game. Do you have to be careful with the pairs of students (because of competition?
    I really like that this can be played with so many different lessons too

    thanks
    matt
    Digital: Divide & Conquer

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  9. GENIUS! I am going to wait until the rain dies down and go to the Dollar Tree. I definitely need some fly swatters in my room to play SWAT! I can think of a billion ways I could use this in my room. XO
    Alison
    Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'

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  10. I love SWAT! Although, I haven't played it on the smart board. This is great! Then, I wouldn't have to rewrite the words over and over. Just this past summer when I had a huge fly in my room, I reached in my closet for one of those fly swatters and thought, "Boy, I haven't played that in awhile." The students do get so excited!!
    ~Holly
    Fourth Grade Flipper

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  11. So much fun!! Years back I found hand shaped fly swatters, so I will have to put them to good use!

    Smiles,
    Sarah

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