Best Practices

Following these Best Practices will ensure that you have maximized the opportunity for students to develop strong connections with the content you want them to learn.

Step 1: Make the cards.

1. Divide the class into groups of 4 or 5 and give each group a handout, as seen in the image, that displays the terms and the meanings.
2. Give each group blank note cards, glue, and scissors.
3. Have students cut out the terms and meanings and glue them each on separate cards. In preparation, complete a set in advance to show the students how you expect the finished set of cards to look.

Note: Be sure the students use the same side of each card to glue on and do not mark in any way the back sides of the cards. If a card on it’s backside has any type of marking, wrinkle, or fold, the players could use that as a cheat in finding pairs.

Step 2: Get comfortable with the card set.

1. Have groups read the cards to each other.
2. Shuffle up the set and have students as a group pair meanings with terms.
3. Shuffle up the set and have groups compete. Which group can pair meanings with terms first?

Note: the alternatives at this point are vast. You could place terms in a pile and have group members select a term and make up a sentence using that term. Groups could earn points for proper use of the word in a sentence.

Step 3: Concentration game rules.

1. Each player has a turn.
2. Player must turn over one card at a time, two cards total and read each card out loud to the group.
3. If a pair is made, collect the pair, and take another turn.
4. If a pair is not made, turn each card back over.

Note: It is very important to have the kids follow the rule of reading each card, ideally out loud.