One of the most important things we do in my 5th grade science class is learn vocabulary and concept development. This can be overwhelming for many of our students, so I needed to find a way to engage them in practicing these concepts in a fun and meaningful way.
I have found that 5th grade science games in our classroom have been a huge hit! The kids love to play them, and they’re always begging me to play fun games when we are reviewing or practicing. When the kids are asking to play science games, you know it’s going to be a huge hit where lots of learning occurs.
Games are a great way to increase engagement and content retention, and the games that I play with my 5th graders are designed for science vocabulary building. I often play these interactive games in small groups, and they are great for diverse learning styles and skill levels as well. Additionally, I want to make sure I’m limiting the amount of independent work I do with my kids, so this is a great way to accomplish that!
BEFORE YOU PLAY
It is critical to spend some time, before playing games with our students, going over the expectations and procedures for game play. I wrote a blog post with my best management tips for setting your kids, and yourself, up for success before the science games begin. You’ll be so thankful later on once these guidelines are established and your students know what is expected of them. The biggest tip I can give you is to make sure your students know this is meant to be a friendly competition – not an all out battle.
Tips for Playing Science Games:
- Read the directions to the students and model how to play.
- Be prepared with game boards, dice/spinner, and game pieces for each player (paperclips, pencil top erasers, pieces from another game, etc.)
- Every student should solve every problem – not just the person who rolls. This helps keep all students engaged, and they can all practice problem solving skills.
- Create groups of 2-4 students. The lower number of students means the more focused students are while playing.
- Remind students that the focus is not playing the game but that’s just an added bonus! The focus should be on practicing science skills.
- Show students how to compare and discuss answers. Did you both get the same correct answer? If students get different answers, ask them to use textbooks, notes, anchor charts, etc. to help prove their answer.
- We love to tell each other “good work!” when a player gets an answer correct.
5TH GRADE SCIENCE GAMES: THE NATURE OF SCIENCE (GENERAL SCIENCE CONCEPTS)
Before we hop into the grade level Life, Earth, and Physical science standards in fifth grade, I spend time teaching my students about the Nature of Science. This includes scientific concepts like variables in experiments, measurement and measurement tools, and the scientific method. The 5th grade science games I’ve created help my students better understand these concepts so they can apply them throughout the year in our learning process.
My 5th grade science games bundle includes the following Nature of Science concepts:
- The Scientific Method & The Science of Nature
- Measuring Volume
- Measuring Mass
- Observations vs. Opinions
- Control Group and Experimental Group
- Experiments & Investigations
5TH GRADE SCIENCE GAMES: LIFE SCIENCE
The human body is such a fun unit to teach my 5th graders, but the amount of vocabulary they need to grasp and understand is a lot! When we’re playing games about the liver, bladder, skeleton, and other human anatomy concepts, the concepts stick better with my kids. As students play the game, they’re prompted to answer questions about the concept, such as What is the purpose of the stomach?, and all students playing that game need to have an answer ready. They’re learning about the human body in a fun way!
My 5th grade science games bundle includes the following Life Science concepts:
- Human Body Systems & Organs (including the skeletal system)
- Plant & Animal Adaptations
5TH GRADE SCIENCE GAMES: EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
When you ask 5th graders what their favorite science unit is in fifth grade, you’ll often hear space! I have to admit I love it, too. As we learn about galaxies, planets, stars, and the solar system overall, we have a lot of vocabulary and concepts to learn. The board games for science review allow my students to practice what they’ve learned with one another.
Students are answering questions such as What’s the difference between inner and outer planets? and having rich discussions about the answers. I have a lot of games to play for earth sciences as well. I love that my kids have to play the game in an interactive way because it helps them develop social emotional learning skills as well!
My 5th grade science games bundle includes the following Earth & Space Science concepts:
- The Solar System
- Weather Events
- Natural Disasters (including volcanic eruption)
- Rocks & Minerals
- The Water Cycle
- Renewable & Nonrenewable Resources (including natural resources and fossil fuels)
5TH GRADE SCIENCE GAMES: PHYSICAL SCIENCE
If you’ve taught Force & Motion, you know just how confusing some of the concepts can be. Students really need to interact with the material to truly understand these physical science concepts. When I’m working on Force & Motion concepts, I want my students to be able to understand things like force by explaining real-world concepts. That’s why in this game, my students are discussing things such as Give an example of a time when you’ve experienced unbalanced forces.
These types of prompts help my kids solidify their understanding, and often because of the partnerships and groups my kids play in, the learning is beneficial for everyone who is playing! I get so much joy out of watching the light bulbs in their heads go off as concepts begin to solidify.
My 5th grade science games bundle includes the following Physical Science concepts:
- States of Matter
- Physical & Chemical Changes
- Force & Motion (including gravitational forces)
- Conductors & Insulators
- Forms of Energy
- Will It Dissolve in Water?
Engaging science games and activities are great for helping students remember new terms and concepts. By making learning interactive and fun, we can turn science lessons into enjoyable experiences. These 5th grade specific games keep students interested, engaged, and help them understand science vocabulary better. The games are great for test prep, and they have definitely impacted my test scores for the better. I hope you’ll try using these fun vocabulary games, and other games, in your classroom this year. I have found they help students succeed in science and develop a love for learning, which is my ultimate goal in the classroom. They’re the perfect fit for my science classroom!
Would these games help you in your 5th grade science classroom? You can get them by clicking the picture below.
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