Reviewing is a necessity this time of year, but let’s face it – it can be a little boring. If you’re tired of using the same old assignments you’ve used in the past, choice boards are a great alternative. Choice boards help keep end of the year review engaging, exciting, and allow some freedom for students, too.
Why You Should Use Choice Boards
The most obvious reason to use choice boards is student choice. Student choice encourages engagement and accountability. We all want a say in what we’re learning and doing, and choice boards give that to our students.
Choice boards also allow you to review several topics or concepts at a time. You can focus on topics students are typically tested over without wearing students out from worksheets and practice tests.
Additionally, you can use choice boards to assess students’ knowledge. You can create a rubric for choice boards or allow them to be more open-ended. Either way, you can take what students have demonstrated during the activities and determine what skills you need to include in your end of the year review and what skills students are solid on.
Choice boards also keep things interesting. Oftentimes, end of the year review can be boring for both teachers and students. With choice boards, we can give a few options but also allow students to offer their own ideas. I have had students present some ideas that I would never have thought of, and they turn out really great!
Lastly, choice boards let students flex their skills a little bit. Because they get to choose how they demonstrate their skill, you might see some of your students’ best work all year. And they get to brag a little – which middle schoolers always love!
Choice Boards for End of the Year Science Review
If you’re ready to use choice boards for end of the year review, check out my done-for-you science choice boards! Each of the choice boards below come with nine activities already created for students. They are also low-prep. All you’ll need to do is print them and then walk students through the activities. Then, watch as they show what they know!
Changes in States of Matter: Allow students to explore their mastery of matter with 9 different options or edit the board to include some original ideas!
Thermal Energy and Heat Transfer: On this choice board, students will have the option to engage in some hands-on activities, like creating a comic strip, a graphic organizer, or even a video to show off their skills.
Interactions of Light Waves: Students will showcase their knowledge of color, refraction, and more in various ways, including presenting a light show, creating social media posts, or getting artistic and creating a poster.
Forces of Motion: To review forces of motion, students will have 9 options, including creating a skit, making a brochure, or recording a podcast episode.
Atoms and the Atomic Theory: Complete an end of the year review of atoms, atomic structure, and more with choice board activities like creating a podcast, creating a timeline, and making a collage.
You can check out all of my middle school science choice boards here!
You can also grab the FREE Science Choice Board Freebie to help with your own end of the year review.
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