Virginia SOL testing is just around the corner, and you are likely thinking about how to prepare your students for the big test.
This blog post is full of simple things you can make for your classroom and for students to take home that will help them review everything they have learned throughout the year.
However, as I stated in my recent math SOL test review games blog post, you should not have to spend a lot of time prepping for your SOL test review. The end of the school year is already busy enough!
So, this blog post is full of low-prep things you can make now and reuse every year before SOL testing. I’ve also provided pre-made items if you want a truly no-prep review before SOL testing. So, let’s dive into helpful tools and games you can make for your classroom towards the end of the school year.
Custom Google Site with SOL Review
Creating a custom Google Site with SOL testing review items takes little time. However, you can add new resources to it anytime, and it can be reused every year.
Some items that work well for SOL test prep site include:
- videos
- slideshows
- digital games
- digital flashcards
Some of my favorite things to include are Virginia Trekkers videos and access to digital task cards and escape rooms I have created.
Your Google Site can be shared with students to use during centers at school or at home.
If you’ve never created a Google Site, it is free and not hard to get started. Here is a video tutorial I made to show you how to create a custom Google Site. You can also find the video HERE.
Study Guides for At-Home Review
Speaking of at-home review, study guides are a great tool to help students continue studying for the SOL test at home.
Some things you may want to include on a study guide:
- important terms
- key people, places, and events
- important dates
- a summary of any other important information
- sample problems or examples
- step-by-step instructions
When sending home study guides to help students prepare for SOL testing, be sure to review the best ways to use them with the students. For example, sending home a list of games they can play with the study guide or suggested uses may be helpful.
Remember, study guides are not only helpful tools for students. Study guides also help parents know how to prepare their children for SOL testing. I often hear parents say they do not know how to help their children because they do not know the information. Sending home a study guide solves this problem.
No-prep study guides can be found for the following SOLs in my store.
- 3rd Grade Math
- 4th Grade Math
- 5th Grade Math
- 3rd Grade Science
- 4th Grade Science
- 5th Grade Science
- 3rd Grade Social Studies
- Virginia Studies
- U.S. History to 1865
Classroom Posters for Visual Aids
Before SOL testing, I like to make sure my students see review information everywhere they look. Hanging posters around the classroom, cafeteria, etc. is an easy way to keep your SOL review going all throughout the day.
Did you know you can easily create posters with the free version of Adobe Acrobat? It’s a simple and cheap way to make a professional-looking poster. If you laminate the posters, you can also reuse them from year to year.
If you’ve never created a poster in Adobe Acrobat, I’ve made a how-to video that shows exactly how it’s done. You can find that video in THIS BLOG POST.
SOL Test Review Jeopardy Games
I’ve never met an upper elementary student who doesn’t love reviewing with a Jeopardy game.
Many teachers refrain from using Jeopardy games before SOL testing because they don’t know how to create interactive games. However, once a template has been made, it is easy to reuse it repeatedly by applying new questions and answers.
If you’re unsure how to create an interactive Jeopardy game, check out THIS BLOG POST. In it, I show how to make a game that links the questions, answers, and category board. I also show how to create an editable scoreboard, even when playing in presentation mode.
I’ve also got you covered if you want to include Jeopardy games in your SOL test prep but don’t want to create your own. You can find Jeopardy games in my store to help students review for the following SOL tests.
- 3rd Grade Math
- 4th Grade Math
- 5th Grade Math
- 3rd Grade Science
- 4th Grade Science
- 5th Grade Science
- 3rd Grade Social Studies
- Virginia Studies
- U.S. History to 1865
SOL-Aligned Classroom Escape Rooms
Classroom escape rooms are another SOL test prep resource that takes a little more time upfront but can be reused from year to year.
Escape rooms are another review activity that all students love before SOL testing. Some of the pros of using escape rooms include:
- they get students up and moving
- they require students to use critical thinking skills
- you can integrate SOLs from across different subject areas
From creating a fun story that students will buy into to the types of puzzles that work, everything you need to know about creating the perfect classroom escape room for upper elementary students can be found in THIS BLOG POST.
Like with the Jeopardy games, you may want a grab-and-go escape room rather than creating your own. If that’s the case, I have classroom escape rooms for the following Virginia SOLs in my store.
Conclusion
SOL testing is a crazy time of year! Not only are students in testing mode, but you are also finalizing report cards, planning end-of-the-year activities, and prepping your classroom for the summer.
With everything going on, knowing how to get the most bang for your buck during SOL test prep can be difficult. As I’ve stated in a previous SOL review games blog post, do not spend tons of time preparing your test prep activities. Use low-prep activities that can be reused yearly to keep your stress levels low.
I hope this blog post has given you a few ideas for doing just that!
Have you heard of the Virginia Teacher Club®? The Virginia Teacher Club® is a one-of-a-kind program for upper elementary teachers in Virginia. Members receive instant access to a curriculum library of SOL-aligned math, science, social studies, and ELA resources. There are lesson plans, games, assessments, passages, digital activities, and more for EVERY SOL. By using the Virginia Teacher Club®, our members save hours of planning time every month and have access to high-quality, SOL-aligned resources that students love.
CLICK HERE to join the waitlist and be the first to know when the Virginia Teacher Club® reopens for new members.
