Games have been designed to teach students phonics, language arts, foreign language, science, social studies and other subject matter as well as to prepare them for tests. But games can also teach more than subject matter and test-taking skills. Playing games or solving puzzles as classroom activities can also teach children good sportsmanship, teamwork, and how to strategize -- among other skills. Some games, such as the classroom favorite of Bean Bag Toss, even help students develop motor skills.

Board Games, Card Games, Electronic Games, and Puzzles

Complete board games, card games, and puzzles with activity guides are available to put to work in classrooms. They can be used in combination with other modes of learning to reinforce concepts, test student knowledge, and even as class rewards because they encourage engagement in ways that students find fun. These games and puzzles can also give teachers a break from lesson planning or serve as a good last minute activity for a substitute teacher to administer.

Dice, Sand Timers, and Other Game Items

Sometimes adding just an element of a game can add fun to the classroom. For example, dice can be used to demonstrate probability or a sand timer used for basic multiplication problem completion drills encourages motivation. Other items, such as the GeoSafari Talking Microscope by Educational Insights, encourage students to take a closer look at the world around them or otherwise actively engage with the subject matter at hand.