Gimkit has rapidly become a favorite tool for educators looking to bring energy and engagement into the classroom. This live learning game show platform transforms standard quizzes into exciting competitions. While many teachers are familiar with its classic mode, Gimkit offers a rich variety of game modes that can revolutionize how students review material and collaborate. By exploring these different options, you can keep learning fresh, exciting, and effective.
This article will guide you through five fun Gimkit game modes that you and your students need to try. We will explore how each one works, what makes it unique, and how it can benefit your classroom environment. From battling zombies to searching for impostors, these games offer something for every subject and learning style. Get ready to discover new ways to make learning an adventure.
1. Trust No One
Inspired by the popular social deduction game Among Us, Trust No One brings a layer of mystery and strategy to your review sessions. This mode is perfect for encouraging critical thinking, communication, and a bit of friendly deception. Students are no longer just answering questions; they are working to identify the impostors among them before it’s too late.
How It Works
At the start of the game, students are secretly assigned one of two roles: Crewmate or Impostor. The majority of students are Crewmates, and their goal is to earn a collective amount of money by answering questions correctly. A small number of students are designated as Impostors. The Impostors’ goal is to blend in with the Crewmates while secretly sabotaging their progress.
Players move around a virtual map and answer questions to earn power, which they can then use to complete tasks or call meetings. Crewmates use power to conduct investigations, while Impostors use it to disrupt the game. Periodically, players can call a meeting to discuss who they think the Impostors are. This is where the real fun begins. Students must plead their case, defend their actions, and vote on who to eject. If the Crewmates successfully vote out all the Impostors, they win. If the Impostors outnumber the Crewmates or complete their sabotage tasks, they win.
Why It’s Fun and Beneficial
Trust No One is incredibly engaging because it taps into students’ love for strategy and social interaction. It requires more than just content knowledge; it demands observation, persuasion, and teamwork. Students must listen carefully to what others say during meetings and analyze their behavior in the game. This process sharpens their communication and critical thinking skills. For educators, it’s a fantastic way to see how students apply their knowledge under pressure while working collaboratively toward a common goal.
2. The Floor is Lava
If you’re looking for a high-energy, fast-paced game that will have every student on the edge of their seat, The Floor is Lava is your answer. This mode transforms your classroom into a thrilling race for survival where knowledge is the only thing that can keep students from falling into the fiery depths below.
How It Works
In The Floor is Lava, every student is on their own. The objective is simple: be the last one standing. To survive, students must answer questions correctly. Each correct answer allows them to build up their platform and stay above the slowly rising lava. The longer the game goes on, the faster the lava rises, increasing the pressure and excitement.
Students can use the money they earn from correct answers to buy power-ups and gain an advantage over their classmates. These power-ups can provide shields, boost their elevation, or even send challenges to other players. However, every incorrect answer brings them closer to the lava. Once a player is submerged, they are out of the game. The game continues until only one student remains, crowned as the ultimate survivor.
Why It’s Fun and Beneficial
The competitive nature of The Floor is Lava is a huge draw for students. The sense of urgency created by the rising lava keeps them focused and motivated to answer questions quickly and accurately. It’s an excellent mode for individual review, as it holds each student accountable for their own learning. The game’s fast pace means you can get through a lot of content in a short amount of time, making it a perfect activity for a quick review before a test or at the end of a unit. The sheer excitement of trying to outlast everyone else makes learning feel less like a task and more like a game.
3. Humans vs. Zombies
Humans vs. Zombies is a team-based game mode that promotes collaboration and strategic thinking. In this thrilling scenario, students must work together to survive an impending zombie apocalypse. It’s a fantastic way to build classroom community and encourage students to support one another.
How It Works
The game divides the class into two teams: Humans and Zombies. The Humans’ goal is to survive for a set amount of time or reach a specific team goal by answering questions correctly. The Zombies’ objective is to “infect” all the Humans by tagging them.
Humans answer questions to earn power-ups, shields, and other resources to help them fend off the zombies. They can use these items to protect themselves or heal their teammates. Zombies, on the other hand, don’t answer questions. Instead, they try to tag the Humans. If a Human is tagged by a Zombie, they also become a Zombie and must switch sides. The game dynamic shifts constantly as the Zombie team grows, increasing the pressure on the remaining Humans. The Humans win if at least one of them survives until the end. The Zombies win if they successfully convert every Human.
Why It’s Fun and Beneficial
Humans vs. Zombies excels at fostering teamwork. Humans quickly learn that they cannot survive alone. They must communicate, share resources, and develop strategies to protect their entire team. This mode encourages stronger students to help those who may be struggling, as the success of the team depends on everyone contributing. The narrative of surviving a zombie outbreak is also highly engaging and adds a level of thematic fun that students love. It’s an excellent choice for building a positive and collaborative classroom culture.
4. Capture the Flag
A digital twist on a classic outdoor game, Capture the Flag in Gimkit brings team competition to a new level. This mode is all about strategy, speed, and a deep understanding of the subject matter. It’s a team-based game that requires both offensive and defensive thinking.
How It Works
Students are split into two teams, each with their own base and a flag. The objective is to capture the opposing team’s flag and bring it back to their own base. To do this, students must answer questions to earn energy. This energy is used to move around the game map, purchase upgrades, and tag opponents.
When a player from one team enters the other team’s territory, they are vulnerable to being tagged. If tagged, they are sent back to their own base. Players can purchase power-ups that help them move faster, tag opponents from a distance, or set traps. The first team to successfully capture the enemy flag a set number of times wins the game.
Why It’s Fun and Beneficial
Capture the Flag is a strategic masterpiece. Teams must decide how to allocate their resources. Should they focus on a strong defense to protect their own flag? Or should they mount an all-out offensive to capture the enemy’s flag? This requires planning, communication, and coordination. The game encourages students to think critically about their actions and how they contribute to the team’s overall goal. It’s a dynamic and engaging way to review material while also developing valuable skills in strategy and teamwork.
5. Snowy Survival
Snowy Survival is a unique mode that shifts the focus from competition to pure survival against the elements. It’s a cooperative game where students must work together to gather resources and endure a harsh, snowy wilderness. This mode is perfect for emphasizing collaboration and resource management.
How It Works
In Snowy Survival, the entire class works together as a single team. The goal is to survive for a certain number of days in a snowy landscape. To do this, students must answer questions correctly to earn resources like wood for fire, food for energy, and materials to build a shelter.
The game presents various challenges and events that the team must overcome. A blizzard might roll in, depleting their wood supply faster. A pack of wolves might appear, requiring the team to build up their defenses. Students must communicate and decide as a group how to best use their collected resources. If they fail to maintain their fire or run out of food, the team’s collective health will drop. The game is won if the team successfully survives for the designated number of days.
Why It’s Fun and Beneficial
Snowy Survival is an excellent tool for building a strong sense of classroom community. Since everyone is on the same team, the competitive aspect is removed, and the focus shifts entirely to cooperation. Students must communicate effectively to make decisions that benefit the entire group. This mode teaches valuable lessons about resource management, long-term planning, and the importance of working together toward a shared objective. It’s a refreshing change of pace from more competitive games and can be a powerful team-building activity.
Conclusion
Gimkit offers much more than a standard quiz tool. Its diverse range of game modes provides educators with a powerful toolkit for creating engaging, memorable, and effective learning experiences. Whether you want to foster teamwork with Humans vs. Zombies, encourage strategic thinking with Capture the Flag, or create a high-stakes competition with The Floor is Lava, there is a Gimkit mode to fit your needs.
By incorporating these fun and dynamic games into your teaching, you can transform review sessions from a chore into an anticipated event. We encourage you to step outside the classic mode and explore these alternatives. You may be surprised at how a little bit of mystery, strategy, or survival can reignite your students’ passion for learning.
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