10 ELA Games for Review Days (That Aren’t Kahoot)

Let’s be honest: Kahoot is fun… the first few times. But once the novelty wears off (and your Wi-Fi drops mid-question), it’s time to freshen up your review game—literally. Whether you’re preparing for a quiz, wrapping up a novel study, or filling a weird schedule day, these ELA review games bring the energy without the tech troubles.

Here are 10 engaging and easy-to-implement ELA games your students will actually enjoy—and remember.


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Trashketball

A forever favorite. Split the class into teams. Ask a review question (literary terms, grammar, vocab, etc.). If the team gets it right, they get to shoot a paper ball into the trash can (or box) for extra points.

Why it works: Combines movement, competition, and content review in a way that’s always a hit.


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Sentence Surgery

Provide messy, incorrect, or scrambled sentences and have students “operate” on them. They cut, rearrange, or rewrite to fix grammar, punctuation, or structure.

Why it works: Builds editing and revision skills in a tactile, puzzle-like way.


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Literary Scavenger Hunt

Hide clues around the room related to literary terms, characters, or themes. Each clue leads to the next, with students solving riddles or tasks along the way.

Why it works: Encourages movement, teamwork, and critical thinking with just a bit of prep.


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Character Court

Put a character on trial! Assign students roles—judge, jury, prosecution, defense, witnesses—and use evidence from your class novel to argue a case. Was the character guilty of betrayal? Bad leadership? Poor choices?

Why it works: Encourages persuasive writing, text evidence, and public speaking in a fun, role-play format.


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Literary Jenga

Label each block in a Jenga tower with a task or question: define this term, give an example of irony, quote a character, etc. Students pull blocks, answer, and stack without toppling the tower.

Why it works: Tactile and high-pressure in the best way—perfect for small groups.


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Word Sneak (ELA Edition)

Inspired by The Tonight Show game. Give students vocabulary words they must sneak into a class discussion or partner conversation without making it obvious. Others try to guess the words.

Why it works: Boosts vocabulary recall and encourages students to think about usage and context.


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Theme Throwdown

Hand out brief story summaries or excerpts. In teams, students identify the central theme and support it with text evidence. Add bonus points for naming how the author develops the theme.

Why it works: Builds theme-identification skills and pushes students to back up their thinking with proof.


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Figurative Language Face-Off

Split the class into teams. Read sentences with different types of figurative language—simile, metaphor, personification, etc. Teams race to identify the correct type and explain it.

Why it works: Reinforces key figurative language types in a fast, competitive format.


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Grammar Circuit

Set up grammar challenge stations around the room—commas, verb tense, homophones, sentence structure, etc. Students rotate through stations in teams or pairs, completing tasks and checking answers as they go.

Why it works: Active and skill-focused, it makes grammar feel more like a challenge course than a worksheet.


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Vocabulary Bingo

Create Bingo cards with your unit’s vocabulary words. Instead of calling out the words, give definitions, synonyms, or use the words in a sentence. Students have to figure out the match and mark it.

Why it works: It’s classic Bingo with a twist—and a great way to reinforce word knowledge.


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Wrap-Up Tip:

These games are more than just fillers—they’re interactive, brain-boosting review tools. Mix them into your weekly plans, use them as test prep, or keep them on hand for sub days, early finishers, or “fun Fridays.”

And remember, review doesn’t have to mean tech. Sometimes, all you need is a ball of paper, a stack of sticky notes, or a pack of Bingo cards.


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What’s your go-to ELA game that isn’t Kahoot?

Share in the comments or tag me on social media @ThePottieSpot—I’d love to see your creative classroom in action!

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