A relay game for Space & the Solar System

by Johanna Carrie

Relay games are good for consolidation of new knowledge as well as listening to others. Pairs ( individuals if you can think of enough questions ) are dealt cards which have an answer and a question on each. The player chosen to start asks the question on their card. The person with the answer , gives the answer and asks their question. This continues round the class until all the questions have been asked. This can be timed, the challenge being to do it quicker next day; or half the class can try to listen well enough to be quicker than the others. It usually takes only about five minutes at the end of a lesson.

Relay cards on some topics are available commercially. It is a strategy used in Maths in some schools. I first came across it during an ASE meeting at Aberdeen some years ago at a presentation by Steve Marshall.

The questions on Space below are only a suggestion. Teachers can customise them when they make their cards, so that they match the experience of the class.

Sample card: note pictures are optional.

I have the sun.

Who has a man made home, for life in space?

Sample question sequence: