Here are my top 10 formative assessments as games that focus more on fun and less on assessing

Recently, I was asked to present to the entire school about using formative assessments as games that do not count for a grade. I use grade-less formative assessments all the time and I prefer to do them as games, especially if it gets everyone moving. Here are my top 10 formative assessments as games that focus more on fun and less on assessing.

Here is a list of over 35 formative assessments that are more games oriented than grade oriented. The google doc contains links that explain the games.

10. Picasso of Plates: I first got this activity from Cynthia Hitz. You can read about it HERE and from Mis Clases Locas. It is also in several teacher’s guides from Fluency Matters like Bianca Nieves. Here is the game: give each student a paper plate and a marker. The teacher describes a scene in the target language one step at a time. Each student puts the plate on top of their head and draws what the teacher describes. Here is one from the novel Tumba. It is very exciting when they get to look at their drawings at the end. Some even like to display them in the classroom.

9. Volleyball: This is a class favorite! Divide the class into two teams. Using a blown up plastic beach volleyball, the class has a rally back and forth. The team that wins the rally get a question in the target language. They get a point if thy answer correctly. You can see the rest of the rules HERE.

8. Marker Partner Game: This one is also from Cynthia Hitz. You can read about it from her HERE and from Mis Clases Locas. You can play this anyway that you’d like. If the sentence is false, they grab the marker. If it is true, they do nothing. Or change it up!

7. Gimkit/Quizlet Live/Kahoot: I am grouping all of these together and they are in order of preference. 1) Gimkit 2) Quizlet Live 3) Kahoot. These are my go tos and always well liked. Most of the time, my students want to keep playing and playing.

6. Draw, Write, Pass Telephone Game: This one is from Martina Bex. You can read about it HERE. Tip: make sure that students are always passing the paper to the same person in one big circle and that the folding is being done correctly.

5. Numbered Heads Together: This one is from Kristy Placido. You can read out it HERE. This is a great game and a great way for the teacher to see where their students are at. It also keeps the students engaged and on their toes as they do not know which number you will call.

4. Trashket Ball/Grudge Ball: This one is from Martina Bex You can read about it HERE.

3. The Unfair Game: This one is also from Martina. You can read about it HERE.

2. Running Dictation/Running Crossword: This originally came from Jason Fritz. You can read about it HERE. You can read about running crossword HERE.

1. Pass It Up! : You can read about Pass It Up! HERE. Here is a video clip of my class playing it: