Just One Clue: Biology Edition
At a Glance
Discipline
- STEM
- Biology
Instructional Level
- College & CEGEP
Course
- Cellular Biology
Tasks in Workflow
Social Plane(s)
- Group
Type of Tasks
- Discussing
Technical Details
Class size
- Small (20-49)
Time
- Single class period (< 90 mins)
Inclusivity & Accessibility
- Variety of representations
- Diversity of engagement
Instructional Purpose
- Consolidation & metacognition
- Assessment & knowledge refinement
Overview
The aim of this activity is to review biological terms. Students will practice the vocabulary using creativity and linking of concepts, helping a deeper understanding and acquisition of terminology. The activity draws on social constructivism and gamification of learning.
The game cards are designed to either be used in independent units of the course or as review for the final exam; the in-class portion of the activity needs at least 30 minutes for students to learn the rules and participate in several rounds of game play.
Remember to encourage the students to discuss their clue choices and the links they made between the clues and the term. The conversations around these choices can provide students with valuable moments of clarity and solidify their understanding of concepts.. Provide a copy of the game pieces and cards to a common study area so students can use the game in study groups.
To review the activity sequence, check out the workflow below.
Contributor’s Notes: Created in collaboration with the Biology Department Faculty at John Abbott.
Citation to others: Based on the board game “Just One” by Repos Production SA https://www.rprod.com/en/games/just-one.
Instructional Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Identify and define key Biology terms using contextual clues.
- Connect related biological concepts when creating and interpreting clues.
- Review and apply knowledge from course units to reinforce learning and prepare for assessments.
Workflow & Materials
Activity Workflow
Contributor's Notes
- This is a fun, social activity for the students to use the terminology they have learned, while also creating opportunities for them to think about the terms in relation to other terms and vocabulary.
- Biology is a discipline that has its own specific language, so students are often overwhelmed with the number of terms they need to learn – seeing the stack of game cards may amplify their feelings of being overwhelmed by language and memorization.
- The game takes time to play, and class time may be limited.
Applied Strategies
Published: 23/02/2026
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