Sometimes it can feel like we’re doing the same review games over and over. I can’t even hear the words “Running Dictation” without wanting to run for the hills.

(Although if you’ve never tried a running dictation in your class, check out the rules here because students love it and it’s great practice.)

But if you’re like me and need some more obscure or unique review games for your classes, check out the ones below.

1. Pre-Recorded Sentence Dictation

Put students in groups of 2-3. Give each group either a mini-whiteboard or a blank piece of paper. If they’re using a blank piece of paper, it should be numbered based on how many sentences you’ll be giving the students. If students are using mini-whiteboards, they can just erase and start over for each new sentence.

Before class, make an audio recording of sentences that you want the students to write. Record the sentences like this, “Number 1, Was it raining when Jane came home?” “Number 2, Ben was doing a puzzle when his mom arrived. Number 3…”

Then make a PowerPoint with the answers, so that the students can immediately check whether they’re right or wrong.

Now, when you get to class, play a sentence for the students, tell them to write it down, and time them! You can either put a timer from YouTube on the board, or you can just count down or watch the clock in the back of the room. When time is up, they must put their writing utensils down.

Groups who correctly finish their sentences before time is up get a point. Make sure to show the correct answer on the board, so everyone has a chance to see what the answer should have been.

Repeat for all of the sentences you’ve recorded.

This game is excellent listening practice, but its also good grammar and vocabulary practice.

2. Around the World (Fun Version)

If you’re above a certain age, then I guarantee you played this in elementary school. The original game is a low-prep review game in which students compete against each other to move around the classroom. The student who circles the whole class is the winner.

But this isn’t the best way to play the game!

The best way to play involves a PowerPoint slide, a buzzer/bell, and whole-class participation. Read all about the best way to play Around the World here.

3. Grammar Casino (Make Worksheets More Exciting)

If you’ve ever taught a very boring review class filled with lots of necessary but not exciting book work or worksheets, then you should definitely know about Grammar Casino.

It’s a low-prep way to turn any review page into a fun, fast-paced review game. The rules might seem complicated at first, but after you’ve done one round, I guarantee your students will be clamoring for more.

Check out the rules for no-prep Grammar Casino here.

I hope these games can make your review classes more exciting, and I hope they can provide some inspiration for the teacher who is stuck in a review rut.

If you need more fun games, check out these sentence structure games.