Looking for a great idea for a party? Treat guests to their own rendition of the hit game show “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader.” Test your knowledge, or lack of it, of elementary school facts. Just like the hit game show, adults won’t believe how much they’ve forgotten since elementary school. You’re sure to make the “honor roll” when you throw this A+ party for your friends.
Create the atmosphere
Make a classroom environment:
Create a blackboard (or use a real one) at the front of the room to serve as a game board (print up to six topics on the board: 1st grade math, 3rd grade social studies, 5th grade earth science, etc. , and make up several easy questions for each.)
Decorate a “teacher’s desk” in the chalkboard font (Place the following on the desk…an apple, a stack of books, a pencil holder full of sharpened pencils, a globe, a pencil sharpener, a candy jar, etc. )
Set up two student desks in front of the board…one for the student helper and one for the contestant.
Decorate for 8 year olds
Tie red helium balloons to bright red apples and place them around the party room.
Hang elementary school poster cutouts on the walls (found at teacher supply stores)
Stack shoeboxes at the entrance of the party to serve as “cubicles” for the guest to store their belongings.
Hang a large map on the wall.
Place an American flag in the corner of the room.
Use old lunch boxes as centerpieces
Print guest names on wooden rulers and use as placeholders on tables.
Play the game
Before the party, find two or three elementary school students to serve as student helpers. Make sure they know how the game works. Let them know that they will be asked to answer elementary school questions. (Plan to play the game at the beginning of the party, so the youngsters can sneak out early.) Also choose a friend (if not yourself) to play the role of game show host or teacher. Make sure the host is familiar with the game setting.
Explain the rules of the game and ask if anyone thinks they are “smarter than a fifth grader.” Choose a willing and fun-loving contestant and make them laugh. After the first contestant finishes, or graduates, choose someone else and play another round.
make it more fun
Create fake money (customized with details about the party) to reward the winning contestants. Record the game show music on TV and play it during the party. Serve bagged lunches: Pack each guest a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a bag of chips, and a small dessert in a paper lunch bag. Fold the lids and print the names of the guests on the bags with a magic marker. Put the lunch bags in the middle of the food table and surround them with lots of snacks. Stock coolers with juice boxes and milk cartons, and of course, have a second cooler stocked with beer and bottled water.
For a fun twist, ask guests to come to the party dressed as elementary school kids or teachers. Set up a backdrop for elementary school “picture day” and take digital photos of guests. Print the photos and send them home in manila envelopes.
Ask guests to bring a picture of themselves from grade school (if they can find one) and play “guess the grade kid” during the party.
For gifts to take home, order personalized notepads and pencils. Pack them in zipper bags or small school supply boxes along with glue sticks, fruit cups, large lollipops, and Twinkies.