Title – “Deal or No Deal” Review Game

By – Kelley Stoneking

Primary Subject – Language Arts

Secondary Subjects – Any Subject

Grade Level – 9-12 (but can be adapted for any level)

Objective:

Given questions from the unit being studied, students will be able to answer and negotiate prizes.

Materials:

• Enough envelopes for the number of questions. Number each envelope.
  
• One index card for each question and one index card for the value of that question (don’t put the answers on these).
  
• 2 small poster boards labeled “DEAL” or “NO DEAL.”
  
• A large poster board on which the prizes are listed (or have them displayed on the overhead, the screen, the board… whatever).
  
• Hat
  
• Pieces of paper with students’ names

Preparation:

• Prepare the questions, put them on the index cards, and decide what “value” each question will be worth.
• Place the question and its value in an envelope.
  
• Create your prize list and collect your prizes – of course you want some that are worth a lot (like a free day to play on the computers) and some that are worth next-to-nothing (like a penny or a prize from a gumball machine). These prizes will be whatever is valuable to your individual class.
  
• Put all the students’ names on pieces of paper and put them in a hat.

Procedure:

• One student is chosen as the player.

• The rest of the class will serve as the “models.”

• The teacher plays the role of both Howie and the banker.

• Several envelopes are labeled with numbers. This number will vary according to the number of questions in the review and/or the number of students in the class. The envelopes contain a review question (on 3×5 card) and a corresponding “value” from the prize list below.
  
  Important
  
  : reserve some of the prizes so you’ll have things to offer as deals!

• The player chooses his/her envelope (this is the one that he/she HOPES the ultimate prize is in). The other students take a numbered envelope and stand at the front of the room, acting as the models. The game proceeds just like the TV game, but you may need to adjust for a class of more or less than 26 students. For example, on the TV show, 26 cases are available. The player first picks 6 cases, then 5, 4, 3, 2, and then 1, 1, 1, 1 until the game is over. If you only have a class of 15 students, however, you may want to pick 4, then 3, 2, and 1, 1, 1, 1 until the game is over.)

• Let’s pretend we have 30 students. The player picks 7 envelopes in a row. Each model reads the question and the player answers. If the answer is correct, the model then reveals the “value” for the question, which is deleted from the prize list (maybe it can be covered up so you can reuse the list). Repeat this procedure for the other 6 questions.

• At this point, the banker (you) offers the player a “deal” (one of the reserved prizes from the list below. For example (if the “big prize” hasn’t been wiped off the board yet), say: “I’ll offer the entire class a computer game day with the laptop lab” (one of my reserved prizes). “…Deal? …or no deal?” The player chooses “deal” or “no deal” with the poster board cards. Play continues in this way until the final envelope is revealed or the player answers incorrectly.

• Now this part gets a little tricky, so if you think of another way to do this, let me know!

• If the player answers incorrectly at any point, the “model” who asked the question gets the chance to answer correctly and become the player. If the “model” answers correctly, the old “player” sits down, and the new “player” (old “model”) takes his/her place. If the model answers incorrectly, though, another student’s name is chosen from the hat, and he/she gets the chance to answer and become the player. This continues until a new player is found. At that point, the “new” player gives his/her envelope to the model who originally asked the question. This way, you get to ask all your questions, and the class still gets some sort of prize.

• To end the game, either the student will answer the “deal” question correctly, or the student will answer the question in his/her case correctly. Either way, the whole class gets the prize. And I would reveal the case even if the student takes a deal, just like on the show.

• BUT — if the “million dollar” prize is the one left in the player’s envelope, the class can only earn it if they’ve answered 90% of the questions correct (or whatever criteria you choose). Otherwise, they get the value of the next-to-last question answered.

Prize ideas:

Adapt these to what your class likes and what you’re willing to give:
1. Exempt from test
   
2. Free Homework pass
   
3. 3 bonus points (you can get waaaay over a 100%!)
   
4. Movie day with popcorn and pop provided by teacher (see criteria in #7).
   
5. Computer game day (laptop lab)
   
6. Movie day – 1, 2 or 3-day prize depending on length of class periods; students’ choice of a G or PG (maybe PG-13 in high school) movie.
   
7. Free day to “play” at the track/football field
   
8. Teacher will dress silly – student suggestions welcome! : )
   
9. Sit in the teacher’s chair for 1 class period (only an individual student can win this)
   
10. 2 bonus points (good chance of more than 100%)
    
11. Bring CD/MP3 players to class (?).
    
12. 15 minutes free at end of class on Friday
    
13. BYO snacks – “Snacks” rule won’t count for one day (I don’t allow eating in my room)
    
14. Have class outside
    
15. A day to play board games
    
16. “Free” coupon from Wendy’s (McD’s, etc.)
    
17. Teacher will bring a snack of your choice
    
18. 10 minutes free at end of class on Friday
    
19. 3 pieces of candy
    
20. Teacher will bring in comic books to read
    
21. 1 bonus point (worth 4½ points on a 22-point test)
    
22. Praise (or a standing ovation) from everyone in the class
    
23. 5 minutes free at end of class on Friday
    
24. A 25-cent toy (gumball machines at Giant Eagle)
    
25. 2 pieces of candy
    
26. A smile from everyone in the class
    
27. A pen
    
28. Praise (“Good job,” “You’re so smart!” etc.) from the teacher
    
29. A pencil
    
30. A new folder
    
31. A pat on the back from the teacher
    
32. 1 piece of candy
    
33. A pencil-top eraser
    
34. A penny

Real World Usage:

You’ll be surprised how everyone starts to work together and think “the whole team,” not just themselves.

Adaptations/Alternative Ideas:

• Depending on the disability, the level of questioning, method of responding (giving answer, choosing “deal” or “no deal,” etc.), and prize list may have to be modified.
  
• 
  Use an “easy” button from Staples as the “deal” button. Don’t use anything for “no deal” (or just use a head shake).

• If you have available a projector that hooks to your computer, use that to display the prize list.

• For smaller class sizes (I teach learning support, so my numbers can be as small as 5), have all the “cases” displayed in the front of the room, and let the whole class act as the player. They will take turns answering and they will collaborate on whether to take the deal or not.

• Pretend the “banker” is calling you (Howie) on your cell phone.

E-Mail

Kelley Stoneking

!