These ready-to-go task card games for any classroom are great for all content areas and grade levels/ My favorite days are when students are working on activities that they can struggle through by themselves or in groups. I have time to figure out who is really stuck in their learning and give more one-on-one time. Using task cards for this type of check-in is my go-to. To make them more engaging for the students, I make sure to add a fun twist with some sort of game. These five task card games for any classroom are also low prep which is a win-win for us busy teachers.
Before the Task Cards
If you’re not quite yet to the point students are able to work with these task card games because students are still receiving information, such as reading, check out these games for reading engagement and comprehension. This post gives you 5 great ideas to make reading fun and engaging for any subject. (Seriously, you could use this in reading, math, history, or science.) These reading “games” include whole-class interactions and make students actually enjoy reading. The best part is these aid students in comprehending the text!
Why I LOVE Task Cards
One really important reason I love playing games for learning dates back to my student teaching years. (Was that seriously like 8 years ago? 😳) It has probably stuck with me because I loved seeing the joy of learning on one particular student’s face. She had been really struggling with the exponent rules up until this point. What helped her? Using a game to practice the skill! She was so excited that she finally had that “ah-ha” moment and she credited it to the game. She was able to put her guard down and just have fun. All students deserve moments like this. 🙌
Let’s get started with these task card games! Your students are going to have these “aha” moments while having fun in the classroom. These games are also low-pressure which is super nice because students can focus on learning and playing. All you need to have ready are your task cards! This means that these task card games are flexible enough to be used in all content areas; whether you’re teaching middle school math or reading skills in elementary!
Ready-to-Go Task Card Games
Task card game #1: Connect Four
This first game is best done when students are working on the task cards with a group. It’s a classic Connect Four. Assign each group a color using sticky notes. Depending on how many task cards are in the set, you are going to tell students to get their answers checked after X amount. After they get their answers checked, they get an opportunity to claim a space. Their goal is to get four spaces in a row diagonally, vertically, or horizontally. If you have a lot of groups, you could set up two boards for them to play on.
Task card game #2: Lottery Numbers
Project a set of numbers up on the board. As partners or groups get answers correct, they can choose a number to claim as theirs by putting their initials on it. At the end of class, use a random number generator to pick 2 or 3 winners.
Super simple and effective in motivating students to complete their task cards correctly! I found that the fewer numbers, the easier it is at the end of class to end up with a winner. Use the template above!
Task Card Game #3: Lucky Duck
The Lucky Duck game can be played with rubber ducks, plastic cups or even sticky notes. Students will be in groups and choose a team name. Write their names up on the board. After they get a set amount of task cards done (correctly!), they can choose a duck.
Here is the important thing…you need to write a number on the bottom of the ducks (or cups or sticky notes)! They will add that number to their team score. You want to have a variety of points available. The way they get “lucky” is if they choose the ducks with the high number of points. At the end of class, add up team points to determine a winner!
Task Card Game #4: Slide the Marker
Slide the marker! Students will be in groups, choose a team name, and then write their names up on the board. (Just like the last game!)On the bottom part of your whiteboard, near one end, write point values and separate them using lines. Like this:
Students will start at the opposite end and slide the mark down the marker tray. The point value they land on is added to their team’s score. You decide what gives students the opportunity to slide the marker down. I like to stick to teams completely 2-3 task cards correctly. At the end of class, add up team points to determine a winner!
Task card game #5: Game Board
A classic board game is always fun. Project a game board template on the board with a start and finish. Each team will have a sticky note to represent their team. Like before, you decide what gives students the opportunity to roll a die to move along the board. Whoever reaches the end first, wins.
Below is a sample game board I have used. It has some “fun” squares on it like move back or up. Find more here.
Not ready for task card games yet?
As I mentioned earlier, your students might not be in the task card “production” stage and are “receiving” info. You need to check out these games for reading engagement and comprehension. You’ll get 5 great ideas to make reading fun and engaging for any subject…reading, math, history, or science! Another useful resource is this checklist for teaching with text. It covers all the important components to review when using texts to teach. It’s a great accompaniment when planning and it’s a free download.
If you’re in need of some task cards, I have some prepped and ready to go in my Teachers Pay Teachers! Most of them are available in English and Spanish.
Task Card Game Recap
Task cards are so useful in any classroom for students to have independent or collaborative group practice. This allows me time to figure out who is struggling and/or check in on those needing more one-on-one time with me. Adding a fun twist with some sort of task card game makes it even more worthwhile because students are guaranteed to be more invested in their learning. I hope you can use one of these five games soon in your class. Let me know in the comments which task card game sounds like the most fun!
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