Differentiation With Educational Games: A Practical Guide
The simplest way to differentiate with educational games is to keep the whole class on the same game but set each child at a different level. Use the level guide on each game page to choose a starting point by school year, move children up after three stars and down after repeated low scores, and offer reasoning games as extension. Everyone practices the same skill, at the right level of challenge.
Why games suit differentiation
A worksheet is the same for every child unless you make several versions. A game with levels adapts in seconds. Children get instant feedback and an explanation when they are wrong, so they can practice independently while you work with a group. They also cannot see what level a classmate is on unless they look, which takes some of the sting out of working at an easier level.
Start with the level guide
Most of our games show a level guide on the game page, listing the level that usually suits each school year. Use it as a starting point, then adjust. For example, the addition game runs from numbers up to 10 for the youngest pupils to numbers up to 1,000 for older ones, and the place value game and fractions game grow in the same way.
| Group | Starting point | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Needs support | One level below the year’s suggestion, tap to answer | Accuracy and confidence |
| Working at expected level | The level guide’s suggestion | Three stars, then typing mode |
| Ready for more | The suggested level in typing mode, or one level up | Fluency, then reasoning games |
Three dials you can turn
- Level: the size of the numbers, the difficulty of the words or the complexity of the question.
- Answer mode: tapping a choice is easier; typing the answer means recalling it with no options to lean on.
- Time: untimed practice first. For pupils aged 9 and over who are secure, the Timed test button adds 15 questions in 10 minutes, with answers revealed at the end.
Change one dial at a time, so you can see what made the difference.
When to move a child up or down
A clear rule saves you making decisions on the spot and lets children manage their own progress:
- Move up after three stars on two rounds in a row.
- Stay when scores are mixed. That is where learning is happening.
- Move down after two rounds with one star or fewer, and come back to the teacher table for support.
Using Classroom mode to spot who needs what
In our free Classroom mode, the teacher view shows each student’s points, games played, three-star rounds, last played date and most-played game. Lots of games but few three-star rounds suggests the level is too high. Almost all three-star rounds suggests it is too low. The results grid for each homework game shows the whole class at a glance, so you can regroup for the next lesson.
You can set up to 12 homework games, so try including a core game for everyone and one or two optional challenge games for children who are ready.
Extension without more of the same
Giving fast finishers more of the same questions is not real extension. Instead, ask them to apply the skill in a new way. Reasoning games work well here:
- Thinking skills for logic and problem solving.
- Verbal reasoning for word patterns and codes.
- Non-verbal reasoning for shapes, sequences and spatial thinking.
- Sudoku for logical step-by-step thinking.
Pair the game with a talk task: “Explain to a partner how you solved the hardest one.” Explaining is a stretch in itself.
Support without a stigma
Children notice who is on an easier level, so keep it low-key. Talk about levels as “where you are working this week”, not as groups with labels, and change groups often. Celebrate moving up a level as loudly for a child going from level one to two as for one reaching the top level.
Mixing paper and screen
Printable worksheets at different levels give the same differentiation away from screens. For example, a child working on addition within 20 and a classmate on addition within 100 can sit side by side doing similar work. For more on matching games to ages, see our guide to the best educational games by age.
Frequently asked questions
How do I differentiate with online games?
Keep the class on the same game but set each child at a different level, using the game’s level guide as a starting point and adjusting after a few rounds.
How do I know which level to choose?
Each game page has a level guide showing the level that usually suits each school year. Start there, then move up after three stars or down after repeated low scores.
What can early finishers do?
Offer reasoning games such as thinking skills, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and sudoku, rather than more of the same questions.