It’s time to ditch the boring math review packets and add a little friendly competition to your class with Review Bowl math games. These interactive math games transform test prep into something students actually look forward to. I scheduled one Review Bowl day before every test, and my students loved knowing what to expect. In fact, I loved these math games so much that I created them for each grade level I taught – 4th, 5th, and 6th.
What Are Review Bowl Math Games?
Review Bowls are PowerPoint game shows that play like Jeopardy® and cover a variety of math skills. They’re a fun, collaborative way to review content before an end-of-unit test or prepare for state testing.
What You’ll Need:
- Computer with PowerPoint
- Way to display your screen (TV, projector, or SmartBoard)
- Whiteboard and marker for each student
How to Use Review Bowl Math Games in Your Classroom
My favorite way to use these math games is whole class with students split into teams. (Instructions below!)
Teachers have also used them successfully in:
- Small group rotations as a center activity
- Distance or remote learning (via screen sharing during video calls)
How to Play Review Bowl Math Games Whole Class
Quick Setup:
- Split students into teams (table groups work great)
- Set up “hot seats” at the front – one chair per team
- Give every student a whiteboard and marker
How Each Round Works:
- One student per team sits in a hot seat
- ALL students solve the problem on their whiteboards (even those not in hot seats)
- Hot seat students raise hands to “buzz in” with their answer and must show their work
- Correct answer = full points for that team
- If all hot seat students miss it, table teams can answer together for half points
- Rotate hot seat students after each question
The winning team chooses the next category and point value.
Why everyone solves every problem: This keeps all students engaged throughout the game and gives you backup answers if hot seat students struggle. I give teams about 30-60 seconds to work through problems before taking answers.
Final Challenge:
All teams can wager up to 500 points – even if they don’t have them yet! Teams work quietly together to solve the problem and submit their answers privately to you. After everyone answers, reveal the correct answer and calculate final scores.
Bonus incentive: The winning team earns one bonus point on their math test. This small reward creates just enough motivation without too much pressure.
- For the final challenge, all teams may play. They can wager up to 500 points – even if they don’t have the points. As a team, students decide how much they want to wager, and I record it on the board.
- A final challenge question and answer are included in the game. The teams work quietly together to solve the problem and give their answer to me privately. After everyone answers, I reveal the correct answer and calculate the final scores.
- As an optional added benefit to being on the ball, the team that wins Review Bowl earns one bonus point on their math test.
Common Questions About Review Bowl Math Games
How long does a Review Bowl game take? Plan for 30-45 minutes, depending on your class size and pacing.
Do students need to stay in the hot seat the whole game? No! Students rotate after each question so everyone gets a turn in the spotlight.
What if my students have different ability levels? The team structure naturally supports differentiation. Students can help each other during the table team rounds, and having everyone work on every problem means struggling students get practice on every skill.
What Other Teachers Think About Review Bowl Math Games
Area & Perimeter Game Show | 4th Grade This quiz game was such a fun and engaging review activity for our test. The students were paying attention, working, and genuinely reviewing the content. Thank you for creating such an easy to implement lesson! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mrs. R.
Multiplying & Dividing Fractions Game Show | 5th Grade My kids LOVED playing this game after we worked on fractions for so long. It kept them entertained, and they loved the review of the material. Such a great way to practice working in groups! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tracy L.
Functions & Inequalities Game Show | 6th Grade This is a great end of unit review. I use it every year. Students are very engaged and demonstrate learning from the unit. The review helps them on the test. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Andrea G.
Try Review Bowl Math Games for Free
If you want to give these math games a try with your students, I have three complete Review Bowl game shows available for free. These activities are only available for free on my website and are paid resources in my store!
Transform Boring Math Reviews into Exciting Game Shows
Bring the excitement of a game show to your math class with a game show for grades 4-6. Engage students, encourage teamwork, and make learning an unforgettable experience!
Looking for more ways to make math review engaging? Check out these posts:
- 5 Engaging Math Review Games for Elementary Students
- 5 Powerful Benefits of Reviewing for a Math Quiz (That Actually Work!)
- 3 Brilliant Ways to Get Your Students Interested in Math
