KABOOM! is a game I developed while taking a summer workshop, Reading Games, at Youngstown State University in 1996. It was designed to allow students practice with identifying the four types of sentences: interrogative, declarative, imperative, and exclamatory. It can be utilized with the entire class divided into several teams or with a small of group of students each working as an individual player.

Materials:

An empty Pringle's container with a lid, colored paper, marking pens, glue or tape, scissors, clear contact paper or laminating materials

Construction:

1. Clean the Pringle's container and set aside.
2. I use a word processing program to print all the pieces; however, markers work nicely also.
   • On one 8 1/2" by 11" sheet of colored paper print the title KABOOM!!!, centering it.
   • Glue or tape this paper to the Pringle's container.
   • Cut the colored paper into strips that will fit inside the container.
   • On each strip print a sentence. Make an equal variety of declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences.
   • On four to five strips, print the word KABOOM!!!
   • Laminate the strips or cover them with clear contact paper for durability.
   • Shuffle all the strips and place them in the container.
3. KABOOM!!! is now ready to play.

To Play:

1. Divide your class into teams of four to five students.
2. Have one member of the first team select a strip at random from the container and read it to his/her group.
3. The team is permitted a minimum amount of time (I allow about 15 seconds) for discussion regarding the type of sentence written on the strip.
4. At the end of time, the team must identify the type of sentence written on its strip.
5. If correct, the team keeps the strip. If not correct, the strip is returned to the container.
6. Here's the kicker: If a team slects a KABOOM!!! strip, it must return all its strips to the container and forfeit its turn.
7. Play continues for a specified amount of time.
8. At the end of time, the winner is the team with the most strips in its possession.
9. Award a small prize or bonus points on the next English test to the winners.

Variations:

I have used this same format for practicing other skills:

• Synonyms and antonyms, named OH NO!!!
• Similes and metaphors, named OUCH!!!
• Contractions, named BANG!!!
• End punctuation, named GOTCHA!!!
• Sentences vs. sentence fragments, named ZAP!!!

My students have even gotten in the act by designing their own skill review games. This is an extremely versatile practice structure. Use your imagination and enjoy!