60-Second Strategy: Quick Sorts

In this formative assessment game, table groups compete against each other to categorize key terms and concepts from the previous night’s assignment.

On many days, in Jess Quiggle’s social studies class at Fairview High School, in Fairview, PA, high school students walk in to find envelopes on their tables. After settling in, Quiggle gives them the go signal, and they dump the contents out. Quickly they begin to sort little pieces of paper, often onto a graphic organizer that Quiggle has provided each table. Each card has a concept or vocabulary term related to the previous night’s homework topic. Table groups are tasked with categorizing all their cards as fast as possible—and they hardly notice the game is actually helping their teacher with formative assessment.

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