Quizlet has become a great teaching tool that I have used for the past few years. I wrote this post a little while ago about easily adding images to Quizlet sets. For younger students, I have found a fun and easy way to use Quizlet flashcards plus a bingo tool for fun and effective review for all topics and subjects. This will even work for middle and high school students.

Create!

First, use this free site from osric.com to create bingo sheets for your students. You can create whichever size you’d like: 5×5, 4×4 or even larger ones. Make sure you type in all the words from your specific list. You can even have a random free space. Notice that this will work directly on your iPad. No need for a computer (unless you don't have a wireless printer).

Create and print off the cards. Laminate if you plan on using them for the long term.

I typically have students share bingo cards in groups of two, but you may choose for them to have one each. In the language classroom, I find that it is good to have students work in pairs to reinforce learning and pronunciation.

Where Quizlet comes in

Since Quizlet has a “shuffle” order when using the flashcard feature, you won’t ever have to worry about the order of words being called. When you’re ready to play, project your device to a large screen, open Quizlet and find your set that you want to play with. Go to the flashcard option and make sure you’re in the shuffle mode. I train students to look up when I play a certain sound effect off my phone. This way, they won’t miss any words.

Even with multiple classes, it is still random who wins first. Students need to have a good knowledge of the vocabulary of course. I would begin playing once I feel the large majority of the students know the words very well. If they are not that familar with the terms yet, you can flip the cards over to uncover the bingo words.

Of course this will work even if you don’t have images on your sets. Translations or definitions will work just as well. The more words you have in your set, the better. I did one with only 25 words, and students were getting Bingos a bit too quickly and easily. Anything over 35 would be perfect.

As in regular bingo, you can play a few variations instead of just a line of 5 in a row. When you feel too many have won already, you can still continue the game by using “X”s or “crosses” to make it a bit more challenging. Then, if you still have time, do a full blackout.

You’ll need plenty of bingo chips and perhaps some prizes. I give out small paper cards in my class that students earn for a monthly prize draw.

Comments? Let us know if this worked out for you!