Baamboozle – Gamifying Grammar and Vocabulary Review

Set-ups

Step 1:

Teachers can register for an account at Baamboozle here with an email address. A free account is sufficient for this activity.

Step 2:

Click “+game” button (Image 1) and create questions. The language setting will usually be auto-filled based on the language in the game title and description. This platform supports all languages.

Note: With a free account, you can only add single-answer question types, as demonstrated in the screenshot.

Step 3:

Teachers can set different points for each question (Image 2).

Step 4:

Once the questions are created, teachers can find the activity under “my games” under the section “my library”.

Note: An example of a baamboozle activity can be found here.

 Procedure

Step 1: 

The teacher divides the class into three groups and introduces the rule: each group takes turns to pick a number on the screen and answer the questions accordingly (Image 3).

Step 2:

Only the classic mode is available for free accounts, but it’s sufficient for basic use.

The teacher can set the “Power-ups” and “themes”. In the “Power-ups” section, you can find bonuses such as “move to first place” or “double points,” as well as surprising ones like “no points” or “lose 50 points.” The options selected by the teacher here will be partially assigned to the squares of the grid during the following competition. 

The “themes” section (Image 3) determines the displayed images within the squares. If you don’t touch anything here, the default setting will display numbers. For example, if you select “sports,” the screen will show sports in the squares, as shown in the screenshot (Image 4). This feature can also be a vocabulary review tool, as teachers can choose specific themes if needed.

Click “Classic” at the bottom (Image 5) to start the game.

Note: The three modes are all available, but I would recommend the “Classic” mode. This mode offers more “Power-up” options, which can make the game more engaging and interesting.

Step 3:

Each group takes turns to pick a number and answer the questions.

The most exciting part is that students never know what they will find behind each square. They might receive “swap points” or “win more points” (Image 6). The game is full of uncertainties, and no one knows the winner until the end.

Students are always thrilled when the surprising “Power-up” image appears.

Step 4: 

The teacher announces the winning team (Image 7).

Caveats and Alternatives

Baamboozle activity can also be used during speaking practice. Students will be given a certain question/image by Baamboozle and are required to answer the question/describe the picture within a set time limit. The key feature is facilitating competition among groups, so teachers can adapt it to their own needs.

Additional Information

Just like other interesting and interactive gamified tools, Baamboozle requires a stable internet connection as well. However, it is more controllable since it doesn’t require students to use their own devices.

Additionally, it is suitable for warmer or cooler activities at the beginning or end of class. From personal experience, it doesn’t take up too much time and easily engages students.

ReadytoTELL has published another activity about using Baamboozle in the 2022 Collection. The activity can be found here.