I want to share with you my favorite back to school game. However, before I share the game, I need to give a little background…
My husband and I went on a cruise where there was a game showed called The Quest. We had no clue what we were getting into, but everyone told us we had to go. I’ll spare you all the details, but let me just say it was SO MUCH FUN! Even though it was definitely an adult show, my teacher brain was thinking of ways to adapt the premise to the classroom as a back to school game. Fast forward a few months later and…
I’ll start the directions with a warning to teachers. If you want a calm and quiet back to school game, this isn’t it. This is a fast paced game that can be quite competitive and silly at times.
My students sit in clusters of four, so their table is students’ team for the game. When a quest is given, ONE person from the team brings an item to me or performs an action for me to observe. I don’t require my students to take turns bringing me the items. Instead, I let the dynamic of the group naturally unfold. I do require everyone to participate at least once.
The object of the back to school game is for groups to earn as many points as possible in 20 rounds, or less if you want. When a quest is given, the first group to bring me the item earns three points, the second table earns two points, and any other table that meets the quest earns one point. There will be rounds where some groups don’t earn any points, and that’s okay. I love the fact that any group can earn a point in any round. This prevents teams from giving up. I don’t display the scores either, because it’s way too hard for me to keep up with as students are playing.
Since this is such an energetic game, it’s essential to have strict rules. My rules are no running, no shoving to get to the teacher first, and no yelling. I make groups lose points for breaking the rules. I walk around constantly, so I’m not giving an advantage to one group of students.
There is nothing to prep or print out for the back to school game. I just display these slides on my project, and I’m ready to go. An example of something students may have to bring to me would be an airplane. I won’t specify what type of airplane, so students could make a paper airplane.
To keep things interesting, I may also ask students to do something for me, such as a split. I tried to come up with a lot of random things, so all students could have fun and participate. I have students do things such as push-ups and the chicken dance.
Some of the slides are pretty silly. For instance, in one quest one student must put on someone else’s left shoe and in other students have to play ring-around-the-roses.
The final and most challenging round is the Cookie Challenge. In this challenge, students place a cookie on the bridge of their nose and try to eat the cookie without touching it with their fingers. Once every member accomplishes their task, they get the point(s).
Students could let some of the rounds drag on for too long, so I try to set a time limit for each round. When time is up, I say, “This quest is” and students respond with “over”. At that point, a group can no longer earn a point for that round.
There really isn’t an academic purpose to this back to school game. Instead, it’s a unique twist to common ice breakers and is a great way to build classroom community. It’s also useful for bringing those reserved students out of their shell. I’ve added a link to the game here for FREE, so be sure to grab it! You can find a large collection of back to school ideas here.
Ellen says
Love the idea, but the link didn’t work☹️Thanks!
Ashleigh says
Did you get an error message or something? It worked on my computer, so I’m trying to figure out what to fix.
Debbie Breuninger says
I went to the website and it worked! Thanks, Ashleigh! Are you going to make an editable version?
Ashleigh says
Oh wonderful! I can make a blank editable template.
Debbie Breuninger says
I found that it’s editable in Slides, so no worries!
Debbie Breuninger says
Ashleigh, disregard my message about opening the game in Slides 🙁 Thanks for working on an editable version
Susan says
Hi there! Looks like fun. However, the link didn’t work for me either. No error message- just didn’t come up! I tried to go on your website as well (top left hand corner), and that didn’t even work! Please reset the link, if possible! Thank you.
Ashleigh says
Can you try the link again?
SUSAN says
i WENT TO YOUR WEBSITE AND IT WORKED! THANKS SO MUCH!
KARYN says
Link is not working for me either.
Ashleigh says
How about now? I think I fixed it.
Lori says
I can not get this to work either. I have tried the link you sent and it is a blank white page. What website? I thought I was on your website. Is there another? I think this game looks great as well and would love to use it.
Ashleigh says
I posted it on TpT too. That link definitely works! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Classroom-Quest-3908688
Lori says
Hi Ashleigh!
So happy to “meet” you! This Quest game sounds like so much fun! I tried to download, but was unable . I just received a blank “white” screen.
Thanks,
Lori
Ashleigh says
Hi there! How about this? https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p87Z8yY6nk5u5ckK_rZHZleMtHEs9qaY/view?usp=sharing
Marilyn says
The link to the game doesn’t work. It is a blank page. This happens with other links also every once in a while.
http://frame.bloglovin.com/?post=6423464337&blog=3713013&frame_type=none
Blank page
Marilyn says
The link that I copied just took me back to your blog. In by browser it is blank.
Ashleigh says
Can you try it again?
Ashleigh says
I have no idea what is going on. I think it’s working now.
Gina says
I can’t get it either. It just goes to a blank screen. I have an Apple laptop if that makes any difference.
Ashleigh says
It should be working now.
Heather says
This sounds really fun. I can’t wait to try it. Will you resend the link?
Ashleigh says
Can you try it again?
Gina says
I got it! Thanks!
Anne Broderius says
Hi Ashley – the link to the game isn’t working. It’s such a great idea and I am hoping to use it.
Thank you for sharing!
Anne
Ashleigh says
I think it’s working now.
Beth says
This looks great! I keep getting an error message when I attempt to open.
Ashleigh says
It should be working now.
Jane says
Love this! What do you do if, for instance, no one at the table is an oldest child? Also, what do you expect for slides like Abraham Lincoln, two socks with homes, and a bubble.
Thank you!!
Ashleigh says
Hi there! There will be some rounds where some tables don’t earn a point. I like for students to get creative. For Abraham Lincoln, students could show me a penny. Technically, all socks have a hole in them, so any two socks would work. For the bubble, students could chew gum and blow a bubble, or shake their water bottle, or something else creative.
Julie says
This sounds so fun and I can’t wait to try it. Thank you for sharing! I am wondering if you put any of the items out for the students? I am a library/computer teacher so the students wouldn’t have access to say a lunch box for the apple or water bottles. Maybe I would have to change these slides out for something to with items in the library. Just curious. Thank you for your reply!
Ashleigh says
I don’t set anything out. I let students get up and go look for things though, which makes it a little more fun. Your students could look for books with a piece of fruit or something like that!
Janine says
Looks great but I couldn’t get the link to work
Ashleigh says
Thank you! It should be working now.
KARYN says
The link is not working for me either.
Ashleigh says
Can you try it again?
KARYN says
It worked! Thank you so much!
Jennifer Whipple says
Hi Ashleigh. Yeah, if we click the link (my computer is an apple), the page is just totally blank. No error message is displayed.
Ashleigh says
How about now?
paula hamer says
Thank you! I can’t wait to do this with my new kiddos! What was the time limit you used?
Ashleigh says
I just vary it from round to round. It’s nothing specific.
J Ellsworth says
Thank you for sharing!
Laura says
Link not working for me. It goes to a blank page.
Ashleigh says
What about this one? https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p87Z8yY6nk5u5ckK_rZHZleMtHEs9qaY/view?usp=sharing
Patricia says
Ashleigh,
I seem to be having the same problem, the link doesn’t work. It is just a blank page. I can’t wait to play it with my class.
Ashleigh says
How about this link? https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p87Z8yY6nk5u5ckK_rZHZleMtHEs9qaY/view?usp=sharing
Patricia says
I ended up going to Teacher Pay Teachers and found it and was able to print. Thank you so much. Can’t wait to do this with my students!!!
Ashleigh says
Yes, I gave up on a Google Doc link, and just loaded it to TpT instead. I’m glad you found it!
Debbie Hardwick says
I’m sorry you’re having so much trouble with the link. It won’t work for me, either, and I’ve tried multiple times. Hate to bother you!
Ashleigh says
How about this link? https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p87Z8yY6nk5u5ckK_rZHZleMtHEs9qaY/view?usp=sharing
Susan says
HI THERE!
Susan, again. How would I make this game “editable”? I read to save it in slides, but I am not sure what this is. Thank you again! I can’t wait to use this!
Nancy says
What age is this geared for?
Ashleigh says
I’d say 3rd and up!
Kathy says
I would love to try this with my class. I, too, am not having any luck in getting the link to work. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Kathy
Ashleigh says
How about this one? https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p87Z8yY6nk5u5ckK_rZHZleMtHEs9qaY/view?usp=sharing
Donna says
My screen goes blank when I click on the link:(
Ashleigh says
How about this link? https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p87Z8yY6nk5u5ckK_rZHZleMtHEs9qaY/view?usp=sharing
Heather says
Ooooh do you have an editable version? I LOVE THIS!!! So fun and creative!
Candace says
I cannot wait to try this on day one.
Julie Lobb says
Love your game!! Thanks so much for sharing it. The possibilities for slides is endless! Did you just play this at the beginning of the year or did you play it througout the year. I’m thinking this could be a reward for good behavior.
Ashleigh says
I plan to make new versions to use throughout the year…maybe a Christmas edition!
Jan says
I think Bloglovin might be the problem! When I went to your blog through Chrome instead of Bloglovin, the link worked. Hope that helps! The game is FANTASTIC. I think it might even be fun at the end of the year, too! Thanks so much for making it and sharing.
Jan
Laughter and Consistency
Lori says
The link to the game worked! Thank you!
Catalina Wright says
Hi there! I love this game idea! However, the link just takes me to a blank page! 🙁 Thanks for your help!
Ashleigh says
Here you go! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Classroom-Quest-3908688
sharon says
I tried and could not get it to work.
Ashleigh says
This should definitely work! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Classroom-Quest-3908688
Sammie says
Any ideas for doing this at the College Level? I teach pre-service teachers and don’t want it to be as raunchy as the “adults” Quest game…but perhaps a little more than the elementary version? Thoughts?
Tracey Braye says
Can anyone help me on how to download it into google slides? The link opens but I am only able to save it as a document and want it in Google slides so I can edit this. I am planning on using this as an icebreaker with my faculty on the first day back. Thank you.
Genia Martin says
Hey..I have been on vacation and just read this and love the idea…I can’t get the link to work to get to the game???
Ashleigh says
I added it to TpT as a freebie here. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Classroom-Quest-3908688
lori ambrose says
Do you mind making this editable?
Ashleigh says
I would, but none of the fonts will transfer correctly.
Traci Schutt says
Did you give a prize? I hate to ask that, but curious!
Ashleigh says
I don’t. By the end, we’re usually laughing too much to even think of it.