Battle of
the boxes
Battle of the Boxes is a high-energy, gameshow-style interactive board where teams compete to deliver rapid-fire persuasive pitches. Students select a mystery box, reveal a prompt, and race against a 45-second clock to convince the classroom judges of their argument.
Prep level
Minimal Prep!
🖥️ How to play!
-
Divide & Appoint: Split the class into teams (up to 6) and select a few students to act as the "Judges Panel".
-
Set the Turn: Click a team's name at the top of the screen to highlight them as the active team.
-
Pick a Box: A team representative taps a mystery box on the board to reveal their debate prompt (watch out for random bonus points!).
-
Start the Clock: Hit "Start Clock" and the team must pitch their argument before the 45-second buzzer sounds.
-
Lock in the Score: The student judges decide on a score (0-5). Move the digital sliders to match their verdict, click "Lock In," and let the game tally the points!
💡Teacher tips!
-
Force teams to argue for the prompt they select, even if they completely disagree with it! It’s a great way to stretch their persuasive skills.
-
Swap out the student judges every 10 minutes to keep everyone engaged and actively listening for persuasive devices.
-
Provide some butchers paper for students to note down ideas and structure their arguments as they wait for their opponents to share their ideas.
-
Ensure you rotate the speaker in the group!
🎬 Setup tips!
-
Time: 30–40 minutes.
-
Setup: Connect your device to a projector/smartboard, open the game, and use the settings menu to customise your team names, number of judges, and specific writing prompts.