Are you smarter than a 4th Grader?

We have all seen or heard about the game show Are you smarter than a fifth grader? I have taken this idea and changed it for my own purposes. When I created this for a grad school project, I was placed into a fictional 4th grade classroom but this could apply to any level.

Game #1:

I met with a 3rd grade teacher to find out her expectations for 3rd grade. What should her students know by the time they leave her classroom? I ask her to help me make up a test for my students using the expectations. During the first two weeks of school, some where in there, I will give my students the test Are you smarter than a 3rd grader? This is a type of placement test to let me know where my students are at. It is not graded and it is designed to help them learn proper test taking skills in my classroom. We will also use it to talk about our end of the year challenge!

I have been searching for creative ways to get the parents involved in what the students are learning. Being a mom of boys, everything is a competition and there is nothing more that they love to do than competing against mom and dad for something. That is when inspiration struck!

Game #2: 

At the beginning of the year, I will send home information about our end of the year challenge. It will let parents know the date I have chosen for this event and the fact that we need volunteers. This will allow parents to take time off to spend time with us. I will send out reminders as the event approaches.

It will be 5 parents vs. 5 students. I will ask one of our administrators to serve as a host and we will have a panel of judges comprised of parents and students to decided if answers are acceptable or to pick a winner if there is a tie. Questions will be based off of 4th grade standards (I will make sure) and will be written by the students. I will help and make a few questions of my own. Who will win? Who learned more in 4th grade? My son's are begging to play this game.

The goal of this to review the materials we have covered, ensure mastery, and give the students a reason for why they are learning all of this stuff. At the end of the year, they will have a chance to prove they are smarter than their parents. What could be better!? It also is a time for the students to show their parents how much they have learned. It is once last chance to solidify into their memories the things they will need to know as they head into fifth grade.

It will be a chance to celebrate their growth and to laugh. Wanna come play?