Teach17

Sometimes you need something quick that gets a GCSE class thinking without printing worksheets, preparing resources or opening another presentation. These 17 games can be used across almost any subject and most can be started in seconds.

1. Back to the Board

One pupil stands or sits with their back to the board. Write a key word, person, place, idea or topic behind them. The rest of the class gives clues until they guess it. Nobody is allowed to say the answer itself.

2. Just a Minute

Give a pupil a topic and challenge them to speak about it accurately for one minute. If they pause for too long, repeat themselves or make a mistake, another pupil can challenge and take over.

3. Beat the Teacher

Put the class against you. Ask a question and give your own answer. Sometimes be right and sometimes deliberately get it wrong. The class earns the point if they can correctly challenge you and explain why.

4. The Forbidden Word

Choose a key word. One pupil has to get the class to guess it without using the word itself or a few obvious words connected with it.

5. Three Clues

Choose an answer and give three clues, one at a time. A correct answer after the first clue scores three points, after the second scores two and after the third scores one.

6. What’s the Question?

Give pupils an answer rather than a question. They have to come up with a question that could produce that answer. There may be several possible correct questions.

7. Two Truths and a Lie

Give three statements about a topic. Two are true and one is false. Pupils have to spot the lie and explain what is wrong with it.

8. The Connection Game

Put three words, ideas, people or events on the board. Pupils have to explain what connects them. Make the connections harder as the game continues.

9. Twenty Questions

Think of something connected with the topic. Pupils can ask up to 20 questions, but you can only answer yes or no.

10. Risk It

Split the class into teams. Before hearing the question, each team chooses whether to play for one, two or three points. The more points they risk, the harder the question. A wrong answer loses the points.

11. Class vs Teacher

Set a target number of questions. The class gets a point for every correct answer. You get a point whenever they cannot answer. Keep a running score on the board.

12. Agree or Disagree

Give pupils a statement. They decide whether they agree or disagree and must justify their decision. Where appropriate, allow pupils to change their mind if somebody else gives a convincing argument.

13. Category Chain

Choose a category. Move around the room with each pupil giving a different example. Repeating an answer, giving an incorrect answer or taking too long breaks the chain. Then see if the class can beat its previous score.

14. Spot the Mistake

Give pupils an incorrect answer, explanation, method or argument. They have to find the mistake, explain why it is wrong and improve it.

15. Retrieval Noughts and Crosses

Draw a noughts-and-crosses grid on the board. Divide the class into two teams. A team can only place its symbol after answering a question correctly.

16. Hot Seat

One pupil sits in the hot seat. Ask them as many questions as possible about a topic in 60 seconds. They score one point for every correct answer. Another pupil then tries to beat their score.

17. The Impossible Question

Finish with one challenging question that pupils are unlikely to answer immediately. Give them time to think, discuss and suggest ideas. Reveal clues gradually until the class can build the answer together.

The best no-prep games are simple enough that pupils quickly learn the rules. Once they know them, you can say “Back to the Board”, “Risk It” or “Three Clues” and start immediately. They work well for starters, retrieval practice, revision, lesson transitions or simply bringing a tired class back to life.