As educational technology advances, interactive whiteboards are an increasingly common sight in classrooms. Also referred to as smart boards , It’s no wonder, then, that smart boards are used in about 50-70% of classrooms in developed countries around the world. It also helps that smart board games are a fun way to engage elementary students and teach the core curriculum through new activities.
Smart boards are extremely effective at attracting and engaging elementary students . By adding gamification into the learning experience, children are excited to learn and participate. In this article, we’ll examine the benefits of interactive board games and provide examples of some of the best game options for elementary students to play on a smart whiteboard.
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What are smart board games?
Smart board games are activities and contests that can be played on an interactive whiteboard that has touch capabilities . Many classrooms already feature interactive whiteboards that teachers use as visual tools (replacing the traditional classroom whiteboard or chalkboard). Because these types of digital boards can connect to your computer, classes can play interactive games with students on the smartboard in the classroom .
6 Smart board games that elementary students love
While there are thousands of interactive board games available, sometimes the best options are also classics. Here are 6 free games you can play that elementary students love:
Hangman
Hangman is a missing word game where kids guess letters in a word, phrase, or sentence. For every wrong guess, a new body part is added to the stick figure hangman’s noose. Hangman is useful for teaching vocabulary, deductive reasoning, and spelling.
Hangman is a game for students learning vocabularies
Hangman is a game for students learning vocabularies
Pictionary
This is a great group game that can include a lot of students simultaneously. Pictionary is a visual word guessing game that requires some art ability to play. Teachers can use Pictionary to enhance vocabulary and history lessons.
Pictionary ia a game for word guessing
Pictionary ia a game for word guessing
Memory
Memory is a relational game where students use their memory to find matches from among many hidden pictures. This game teaches concentration, brain function, and focus. It is also a visual recognition game that tests a person’s short-term memory. Memory has a wide application for teaching the core curriculum through visual learning.
Simon Says
Simon Says is a memory game that challenges children to follow a sequence and remember the pattern by repeating a pattern that builds. Every time the student successfully completes the pattern, the game builds on the pattern for the next student to try.
Simon Says is a remory game for kids
Simon Says is a remory game for kids
Kahoot
Kahoot is a game-based application that allows teachers to create multiple choice quizzes where students compete to answer quickly and accurately. This app is a great way to assess where the children are in understanding any subject.
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Story Sequence
Story Sequence tests and challenges students to place actions in the correct order of the story. Teachers can use Story Sequence to build comprehension, information organization, and problem-solving.
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Best resources for smart board games
The internet has a massive selection of interactive board games for students you can access through a simple Google search. For a more trusted source, check out these reputable sites for some of the fun games:
Teachers Pay Teachers
Lakeland Central School District Smart Board Game List
Education.com’s list of Educational Games for Kids
PBS Interactive Kids Lab
Create your own smart board games
Depending on your smart board software , you might be able to create your own game using their custom game template. In many cases, you can open the template and follow prompts to create your own games.
Creating your own games allows you to customize the learning topics you want to enforce through playing games. There are also many game templates that allow customization.
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How to choose a game for your students
When deciding which game to play with your students, you first need to evaluate which core topic or skill you would like to develop. Then, visit any of the sites listed above to search through a wide variety of smart board games for the children’s grades. You can also do your own research for the best game ideas. There are a ton of great options out there.
Once you’ve found a game that can work, explore your options for customizing the game (if allowed) to reflect the concepts you want to teach. Save any changes and open the game on your smart board.
Related: FVASEE: Interactive Whiteboarding for Distance and Hybrid Learning
A fun way to engage students while learning
Smart board activities in general are an excellent way to entertain and teach at the same time, and educational board games are a proven method to attract and engage elementary students. By customizing interactive board games to fit your curriculum and using the FVASEE board’s touchscreen technology for seamless, real-time gameplay, these educational games will reinforce teaching for better retention.
Learn more about using the FVASEE smartboard in your classroom by checking out a free demo or attending one of our upcoming webinars .
