Featured Sites Week of: Sep 20, 2026 - Game-Based Learning Resources
Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive
Puzzel - Daan Weustenraad
Grades
2 to 12
tag(s): game based learning (329), logic (177), puzzles (176), study aid (177)
In the Classroom
Have students complete a teacher-created crossword or word search using current vocabulary. After finishing, students can explain the meaning of 3-5 words they found and use them in original sentences. Set up rotating stations with different puzzles (crossword, quiz, matching). Each station reviews a different concept from the unit. Students can work in small groups to solve each activity and track their progress. After a lesson, students can create puzzles that connect the topic to real-world applications or other subjects. For example, a reading puzzle could include examples of figurative language from songs or other media.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Padlet Arcade - Padlet
Grades
K to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (353), crosswords (22), flash cards (45), game based learning (329), matching (9), puzzles (176), quiz (58), sequencing (22), study aid (177), Teacher Utilities (224), worksheets (70)
In the Classroom
Students can design their own learning games using a unit topic, such as vocabulary, historical events, or science concepts, and share them with classmates. Before a quiz or unit test, create a review activity in which students match questions and answers, sort ideas into categories, or identify correct concepts. After reading a story or chapter, have students complete a sequencing activity created in Arcade.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Artsology - Artsology
Grades
K to 8tag(s): art history (110), artists (106), cultures (299), egypt (60), game based learning (329), musical instruments (63), optical illusions (13), puzzles (176), rhythm (22)
In the Classroom
Have students play one of the painting matching or identification games on the site. After completing the activity, students choose one artwork and write a short description explaining what they notice about the colors, subject, and mood of the piece. Use the virtual instrument activities to introduce different musical instruments. Students can explore a musical instrument on the website and create a concise fact card explaining how to play it, its sound, and its common uses. After exploring the site's famous paintings, ask students to create their own artwork inspired by one of the artists they discovered. Students can explain which elements they borrowed from the original artist, such as color choices, patterns, or style.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Two Truths & AI Game - Common Sense Education
Grades
K to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (353), digital literacy (39), game based learning (329)
In the Classroom
Share this game during the Hour of AI. Begin class with a "Two Truths and a Lie" icebreaker using everyday facts, then introduce the AI version from the website. Have students guess which statements might have been created by AI to start a discussion about how machines mimic human communication. Guide students to research examples of AI-generated content, such as news articles, art, or social media posts. In small groups, they can analyze clues that reveal when something might not be human-made and share their reasoning with the class. Challenge older students to write their own "Two Truths and an AI" statements using a classroom AI tool or generator such as Claude, reviewed here or ChatGPT, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Skillsville - Twin Cities PBS
Grades
K to 3tag(s): collaboration (141), communities (37), game based learning (329), problem solving (287), social and emotional learning (209)
In the Classroom
After exploring Skillsville, have students list the places they noticed (e.g., fire station, market, post office) and discuss why each one is important in a real community. Have students choose a Skillsville character and act out the job in short skits to demonstrate how that character helps others. Students can categorize the goods and services found in Skillsville and compare them with those in their own town, explaining why each is needed.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Games and Challenges - Genially
Grades
K to 12tag(s): collaboration (141), digital escapes (29), game based learning (329), study aid (177), Teacher Utilities (224)
In the Classroom
Customize a Genially escape room (like Education Escape Room or Mystery Breakout) with questions and puzzles that review key concepts from your current unit--perfect as a fun pre-test or review session. Divide students into small groups and assign each group a different puzzle or task within the escape game. This activity encourages teamwork, communication, and shared problem-solving as they work toward a common goal. Challenge students to create their digital escape rooms using Genially's templates. They must design puzzles, write clues, and embed subject content, transforming them from game players into game designers. Use a breakout template to reinforce vocabulary. Each "lock" can be opened only by correctly defining or using academic terms in context, making it ideal for ELA, science, or history.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Mirror Room Escape - CrazyGames
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): critical thinking (193), digital escapes (29), game based learning (329), logic (177), problem solving (287), puzzles (176), STEM (380)
In the Classroom
Have students work in small groups to solve the game together, discussing strategies and sharing discoveries. Afterward, they can reflect on their problem-solving process and teamwork skills. After playing the game, students can write escape room-inspired short stories that incorporate suspense, clues, and logical problem-solving elements to engage their readers. Students can analyze the types of puzzles in the game and then create logic-based challenges using math concepts (ex., number patterns, geometry puzzles) for classmates to solve. Using Google Forms, reviewed here or Genially, reviewed here, students can design their own digital escape rooms with interactive puzzles based on a subject they are studying, such as historical events, science facts, or literary themes.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Teach Your Monster - The Usborne Foundation
Grades
K to 2tag(s): game based learning (329), literacy (122), phonics (54)
In the Classroom
Assign each student a notebook where they write down new words they encounter in the game. They could also make a digital notebook using WriteReader reviewed here. Create a small reading corner or station where partners can practice blending sounds and decoding words. Pair students and have them take turns reading words or sentences aloud that they learn through the game.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
K20 Game-Based Learning - University of Oklahoma K20 Center
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): bias (34), business (51), careers (184), data (212), evolution (85), financial literacy (92), functions (58), game based learning (329), media literacy (133), organizational skills (91), psychology (60), statistics (126), weather (171)
In the Classroom
Learn more about how to use the K20 game portal by viewing instructional videos provided on the K20 playlist found here. Include financial literacy games in your classroom to engage students in discussing finances, statistics, and decision-making using real-life scenarios. Ask students to compare and contrast their decisions as they play the games, share discussions on Gravity, reviewed here, and encourage students to provide feedback to peers on the consequences and benefits of their game decisions. Ask your tech-savvy students to create tutorials for each game using a screen recording tool such as Free Online Screen Recorder, reviewed here, then share the recordings on your class website for students to use at home and school.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
iThrive Sim- Digital Simulation Games - ithrive games
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): collaboration (141), flipped learning (9), game based learning (329), Online Learning (35), simulations (46), social and emotional learning (209)
In the Classroom
Teachers can find links to individual games, downloadable curricula for various video games, lesson plans, and teaching resources. These game simulations are designed to build skills in decision-making, understanding bias, compromise, advocacy, and collaboration among students. The games support face-to-face interaction and can also be adapted to the needs of online and hybrid learning environments.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Blooket - Blooket LLC
Grades
1 to 12tag(s): assessment (141), Formative Assessment (48), game based learning (329), gamification (88), quizzes (82), study aid (177), vocabulary (261), vocabulary development (111), worksheets (70)
In the Classroom
Discover and use Blooket's many engaging games as a resource for practicing and reviewing information within any area of content. Use the score results to provide feedback for guiding further lessons. Some games are more fast-paced than others; use this to your advantage by sharing different versions for different groups of students. Use Blooket to differentiate instruction by adjusting the difficulty of question sets based on student abilities. Introduce new content using Blooket as a pre-assessment before starting any new unit. Use Blooket as an ice-breaker or get-to-know-you activity at the start of the school year or at the beginning of a new semester to build comradery within your classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Educandy - Educandy
Grades
K to 5tag(s): assessment (141), DAT device agnostic tool (133), game based learning (329), preK (338), quizzes (82), study aid (177), vocabulary (261)
In the Classroom
Use Educandy to create games and practice activities to reinforce vocabulary for any subject. Embed your activities into your website or learning platform for students to use at home. Turn the quiz creation around and ask students to create a list of vocabulary terms and definitions to use within the games. Introduce new vocabulary using Educandy to assess student knowledge at the start of any new unit. Extend student learning after vocabulary practice by having them create infographics, posters, social media posts, or guides with tools found at Canva Edu, reviewed here, using the new vocabulary and your topic of study.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Gimkit - Josh Feinsilber
Grades
K to 12tag(s): assessment (141), collaboration (141), game based learning (329), gamification (88), polls and surveys (44), quizzes (82)
In the Classroom
Use Gimkit as a formative assessment tool for all subjects. Create pretests and allow students to opt out of some introductory assignments and choose other options like research projects or multimedia presentations. If you want to share a quiz as a class, project a quiz onto your interactive whiteboard and discuss question options together. Use the data collected from student quizzes to guide instruction both individually and for whole groups. Don't forget to take advantage of already created quizzes found on the site and available to import from Quizlet! For the live game student limit, try having Gimkit at a "center" or "station" that students rotate through over a week.Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be shared by URL
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Close comment form