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Blooms Taxonomy Game

……Get Them Thinking!

© Susan Richmond – this game is for the use of HSD and there employees. Any other use must be approved by Susan Richmond at richmons@hsd.k12.or.us

THE BLOOMS GAME

BLOOM POSTER

The Blooms Game consists of different levels of questions

in the Blooms Taxonomy. There are many revisions of the

Blooms Taxonomy of Higher Level Thinking questions. You

can use any of those versions to play this game.

Before you play you need to understand the six

different levels of Blooms questions. Your students

will learn the levels as they play the game.

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BLOOMS VERBS

As an example, the third level of Blooms (above) is

applying. Each Blooms level has clarifying verbs. You can’t

rely just on the verbs to understand what level of thinking

you are asking your students to respond to.

To write, recognize or include Blooms questions in this

game (beyond those provided) practice recognizing

question types in all content areas.

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6 CREATING I am asking my students to put information together in a different way by

combining elements in a new pattern or proposing a different solution.

5 EVALUATING I am asking my students to present and defend an opinion or make a

judgment based on a set of criteria.

4 ANALYZING I am asking my students to examine and break apart information into

parts by looking at motives, causes and relationships.

3 APPLYING I am asking my students to solve problems for new situations by

applying learned knowledge, facts or rules in a different way.

2 UNDERSTANDING I am asking my students to show me understanding by organizing,

comparing, giving descriptions and stating a main idea.

1 REMEMBERING I am asking my students to remember previously learned material by

recalling facts, terms, concepts or answers.

AT WHAT LEVEL AM I ASKING MY STUDENTS TO THINK?

Use this chart to set a Criteria

for answering questions!

4From Critical Thinking & Formative Assessments by Betsy Moore and Todd Stanley

If you are comfortable with selecting questions for the Blooms game

(or using those provided)…. You are ready to play!

Blooms Poster

Question Cards – Expository and Fiction

Group the Question Cards by their Blooms Level.

Divide your class into teams of 5 to 6 students.

Give each team a name ( Team 1, Team 2, etc..)

Give each team member a number (if there are 4 members

then number students within the team 1 – 4, etc..).

Give each team different colored squares (you can cut up

colored construction paper)…. Each team has one color

that is different than the other teams.

Write each team name on the board. By each team name

write the team color (Team 1 = Red, Team 2 = Blue, etc..).

Give each team a Team Card and assign one member

to be the recorder.

DICE

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TEAM 1

TEAM 2

TEAM 3

TEAM 4

TEAM 5

TEAM 6

Write the Team names and

colors on the board.

Display your

Blooms Points

Chart…..DICE

CREATE COLORED MARKERS

FOR EACH TEAM.

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Call on a team to answer

a Blooms question (be sure

you call on a different team for each

question until all teams have been

called…)!

Allow the team you called

on to select what level of

question they’d like to

answer.

Draw a question from

the level they chose.

Roll one die (or use a spinner,

draw sticks, etc..) If the number is

five – then team member five will

be the spokesman for that team.

inform the entire class to

listen as you read the

question (show on

overhead also). If the team you

called on answers incorrectly it goes to

the next team in line.

Give the entire class 3-5

minutes for team

discussion to answer

the question.

1 2 3

4 5

You have your questions selected and

grouped by level.

Options: You can choose questions from

any source. The Guiding Comprehension

questions in HM, math story problem

questions, content questions, etc…. Just be

sure to review their levels before the game.

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The student whose

number was rolled must

answer the question for

the team following the

Criteria Guidelines.

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7If the answer is correct

and follows the criteria

guidelines, that student

will hand you a team-

colored square.

Tape or attach the

colored square to the

Blooms Chart next to

the level of question. If

it was an evaluation

question – the team

earned 6 points.

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Keep playing at least

until every team has

had an opportunity to

choose and answer a

question.

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Teams will count their

points and record them

on the Team Score

Card.

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THE TEAM SCORE CARD( a mini-version of the Blooms Chart….)

TEAM 1

TEAM 2

TEAM 3

TEAM 4

TEAM 5

TEAM 6

Each Members name should

be on the score card.

Have the Team Card “Keeper”

total the points.

Teacher Records

Totals on the Team

Chart……

43

46

52

35

27

60

10

12

5

8

15

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GAME VARIATIONS

BLOOM POSTER

Some variations to the Blooms Game may include:

1. Have students analyze which level each question is

before playing the game.

2. After each question is answered, have students earn an

extra point(s) by stating which literary element the

question best represents (personification,

characterization, etc….)

Other: Some teachers have Blooms questions in their

hand as students walk to lunch, recess and do

quick call outs “What level of question is this…?”

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