Double Jeopardy

Here we are at the last real class day before a day or two of review and then the final for the first semester.

Of course, given the grand and wonderful nature of arriving at so prestigious an event, I noticed as I took attendance during my first block, that most of my first block class had decided to observe this occasion through taking a holiday.

As I was now down by nearly a third in students, I decided that spending the last day on reading that last short story might not be the best use of my time. As such, while Channel One finished its Week In Rap broadcast, I designed a rather simple Jeopardy-style game, found at here. 

For the first block, which is a CP level class, I divided them into two teams, which selected a representative to buzz in to respond once a question had been read. I drew a large bulls-eye on the board, and had them race up to place their hand on the center to respond.

This was a mistake.

After a block of good natured racing towards the white board at top speed, colliding with it, and taking out anything that might have been on or around it, and shaking the wall of the classroom on the other side, I designed a new method.

Two opposing desks with a circle drawn on a piece of paper, with students seated, hands in laps, waiting to buzz in.

This worked fine for second block, the only casualty being a false nail broken against the desk.

We shall see how it goes for fourth.

Updates to follow...

FOURTH UPDATE:

Well, I have to say, I don't know that I've seen these kids this engaged through most of the year. For much of it, I've fought outside influences, poor choices of both parents and students, a lack of prime instructional time, and the usual hampering effect of inexperience. Today, they were arguing finer points of literary terms, referencing examples and counter-examples as they moved through the game, and generally engaging with the material.

We will wait and see how they do on the final, but if they can muster up the kind of enthusiasm I saw today, the kind of passion about the material that they had when competing with each other, they will do just fine!