Langevin Blog

I love … game shows in the classroom. If you have a group of 11 or more, Hollywood Squares is a unique and highly interactive way to review course content. The game board is built by your participants, and plays like tic-tac-toe. The questions can be related to any course content, so the game is very universal.

And the name “Hollywood Squares” can be changed to reflect your city, company, etc.

A. Create the Game

1. Decide on how many complete games you want to play based on the number of participants and the amount of content to cover.
2. Create at least 10 questions for each complete game.
3. Group your questions into games based on specific areas of course content when playing multiple games.
4. Create one index card per question containing the following (you may want to laminate these cards for durability): the questions and the correct answer.
5. Document the questions and answers in your lesson plan.
6. Create 9 two-sided letter cards (8½ x 11card stock works well): side 1 = X, side = O (you may want to laminate these cards for durability).
7. Bring the following additional supplies to class: blank card stock, markers, and 3 chairs.

B. Prepare the Game

1. Ask for 9 volunteers to become your celebrities.
2. Give each volunteer a blank sheet of card stock.
3. Ask each of your nine volunteers to write the name of the celebrity they wish to represent on his or her card.
4. Divide the remaining participants into the following two groups: X Group and Group
5. Ask the 9 celebrity volunteers to the front of the room and arrange them as follows: 3 standing, 3 sitting directly in front of them on chairs, 3 sitting directly in front of the chairs on the floor. Note: This arrangement will create the game board for tic-tac-toe.
6. Ask each volunteer to hold up his or her name card in front of the letter card.

C. The Rules

1. The game plays like tic-tac-toe. To win you need 3 Xs or 3 Os horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
2. Each team will have a chance to choose a celebrity.
3. The Game Host will read a question.
4. The chosen celebrity will answer the question. (They may answer correctly or bluff).
5. The team can agree or disagree with celebrity’s answer.
6. If the team is correct they will be awarded that square.
7. If the team is incorrect the other team will be awarded the square, unless it gives them the win. In that case, they will have to earn the win with a new question.
8. The first team with a straight line wins the game.

D. Play the Game

1. Ask Team X to select a celebrity.
2. Read a question to the celebrity.
3. Ask Team X whether they agree or disagree with the answer provided by the celebrity.
   • IF the celebrity is correct and Team X agrees THEN the celebrity holds the X card in front of his or her name.
   • IF the celebrity is correct and Team X disagrees THEN the celebrity holds the O card in front of his or her name. (Exception: if this gives Team O the win the celebrity will continue to hold up his or her name card)
   • IF the celebrity is not correct and Team X disagrees THEN the celebrity holds the X card in front of his or her name.
   • IF the celebrity is not correct and Team X agrees THEN the celebrity holds the O card in front of his or name. (Exception: if this gives Team O the win the celebrity will continue to hold up his or her name card)
4. Repeat Steps 1-3 for Team O.
5. Continue to repeat Steps 1-4 until one team has completed a line or until all 9 squares display a letter.

If you enjoy this review format, have a look at Game Shows in Training – Jeopardy!.

If you’d like to know how to use a specific game show in the classroom, add your request as a comment to any of the “Game Shows in Training” blogs.

Jim

Tags: Games in Training, learners, techniques

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