4th Grade Mathematics Jeopardy

I have used Jeopardy games with my 4^th Grade students before and they have proven to be engaging and fun.  Games like Jeopardy are an interactive way to review material in a fun way that will interest students.  I decided to create a Mathematics Jeopardy game to review addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  I purposefully incorporated each of my students’ names, our school, and topics that interest them into each question to keep the problems relevant and applicable to the real world. 

The questions are divided into those four categories with a fifth “Mystery” category that includes a mix of all operations.  The questions increase in increments of tens with the first, and easiest, question worth 10 points and the last, and hardest, question worth 50 points.  When I introduce this game to my students, all of the concepts will be review that they have previously been taught. 

All questions are based on the following three Common Core State Standards:

•  4.NBT.4. Fluently add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers using the standard algorithm.
• 4. NBT.5. Multiply a whole number of up to four digits by a one-digit whole number, and multiply two two-digit numbers, using strategies based on place value and the properties of operations. Illustrate and explain the calculation by using equations, rectangular arrays, and/or area models.
• 4.NBT.6. Find whole-number quotients and remainders with up to four-digit dividends and one-digit divisors, using strategies based on place value, the properties of operations, and/or the relationship between multiplication and division. Illustrate and explain the calculation by using equations, rectangular arrays, and/or area models.

This game will be played with the entire class and will be facilitated by myself.  The game is easy to navigate between the questions and the main choice board.  The layout is simple and easily understood by students.  To add to the Jeopardy and game atmosphere, I would play the Jeopardy music before the game starts and at the end of the game.  To play game, I would split my class into six groups of four students of varying abilities.  Heterogeneous groups work better for this game because students will be able to help each other and learn from each other when working out the problems. Each student would have an individual white board to work on the problems and use their strategies throughout the game.  Students would be encouraged to work together to solve the problems. They will need to collaborate and communicate with each other before giving an answer.

Jeopardy is a great way to provide differentiation in any content area. The questions include easier and more challenging problems.  The more difficult the problem, the more points it is worth.  Because students are working in groups, students can help each other within their groups.  English Learners and academically low students can work with a student at a higher academic level to see proficiency modeled on each problem.  The team that answers the question correctly can have a representative show their work and explain to the class how they solved it. This would not only help other students in the class who may not have understood, but it will also reinforce their own learning as they act as the teacher.

There is an opportunity to assess student learning within the game.  I can perform informal observations throughout the problems to monitor student progress. I would keep a record that would include each standard and would write down any students that need additional re-teaching or interventions under that specific standard.  The game does not include a Final Jeopardy question as many games do. Instead, I would give a question to the whole class to answer individually and use that to further assess each student’s comprehension. 

My Jeopardy game can be accessed and played here: jeopardylabs.com/play/4th-grade-mathematics-jeopardy