Submitted by Carole Drury, Wiscasset, Maine

Idea posted January 8, 2002

  1. Make up as many questions pertaining to whatever you've been teaching as you'd like, and write them on large index cards. (I use questions about instrument families, note naming, note values, composers, etc.)
  2. Divide the class into two teams. Have each team sit in a line.
  3. Draw a baseball diamond on the chalkboard.
  4. Start with one team, and ask the first person in the line the question. If they answer it correctly, they get a "home run" and a point for their team. If they do not answer it correctly on the first try, the other team has a chance to "catch the ball" and get that player "out."

To get that original player "out," ask the first person on the other team the same question. If they get it correct, then it's an "out" for the other team. If they do not answer correctly, the original person from the first team gets to use a "life line" and ask a teammate for assistance. If they get it correct with the help of a friend, they will go to third base. (I draw a stick figure on third base on my baseball diamond on the board.)

If they still don't answer correctly with the help of a friend, it goes to the next person in line on the other team to try to "catch the ball" again for an "out." If they don't answer correctly, it goes back to the original team and another "life line" friend is selected to help. If they are correct this time, they go to second base.

I usually use a five or six run limit before the questions go to the opposite team, otherwise sometimes only one team gets questions (if they are really smart!). Also, once a team gets three outs, the questions go over to the opposite team.

This is a fun way to see what knowledge the students are retaining from your lessons. I haven't played it yet this year, but I played it last year with 2nd-5th and they still remember it and ask for it often.