Study skills give students the keys they need to successfully prepare for tests and complete assignments. Those skills don't always come naturally for students. Games that focus on specific study skills give the kids an interactive way to practice. After mastering the games, kids can apply those skills to their homework and study time.
Students need to learn how to avoid distractions and choose a study spot that allows concentration. To demonstrate this skill, give the kids a chance to do a task both with and without distractions. Have the kids write a paragraph on a topic or read a passage and then answer questions about it. The first time, make lots of noise. Turn on a classroom TV, interrupt them with talking, tap your fingers, chew gum loudly and pace the room. Ask the kids how it felt to concentrate on the assignment with all of the distractions. Do the activity again without the distractions. Have the kids compare how it felt to concentrate with the distractions versus without them.
Prioritizing tasks is a study skill kids need in order to complete assignments. Create a list of tasks and activities. Include both study-related tasks and personal activities. Give specifics so the kids have enough information. A sample list might include study for a test one week away, complete a math worksheet due tomorrow, hang out with your friend, eat a snack, pack supplies for an art project, write a book report due in two days and complete an extra credit assignment. Ask the kids to rank the items to show importance and the order they would complete them. Compare the responses and discuss the reasoning behind the rankings.
Organization is a key skill for studying successfully. Use organization as the focus of a study game for kids. In this game, use the idea of writing down assignments and tasks to prioritize and stay organized. Create a list of actions for the kids to do, such as clap five times, hop on one foot or shake hands with a neighbor. For younger kids, stick with five tasks. For older kids, list 10. Say the actions out loud. The kids then have to do the tasks from memory. Next, do the activity again, this time giving the kids a chance to write down the actions as you say them. Discuss whether or not it was easier to remember the tasks with the list.
This study skills game is a review activity for all of the study skills you taught the students. Start with a question about a study skill. An example is, "What is the memory aid that uses the first letter of a list of words to come up with a new word?" The answer is acronym. Write the question on one card. Write the answer on another card. On the other side of the answer card, write a new question about study skills. Write the answer to that question on a third card. Write a new question on the other side of the third card. Continue until you have enough cards for every student. One student starts by reading a question. The person with the answer card stands up and says the answer. She then reads the question on the other side of her card. The person with the answer to that question stands up. Continue until all cards are read.
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