“ Through these games, boys are not only reviewing content in a fun, dynamic way, they’ re practicing collaboration, strategic thinking, and communication skills.”
representing. This has been a particularly popular choice amongst the boys in my homeroom this year.
Through these games, boys are not only reviewing content in a fun, dynamic way, they’ re practicing collaboration, strategic thinking, and communication skills. The sense of ownership they feel toward their binders motivates them to stay engaged and responsible for monitoring their own understanding. The act of creating, organizing, and playing with their cards helps build a strong, personal connection to the material that they’ re learning.
“ Through these games, boys are not only reviewing content in a fun, dynamic way, they’ re practicing collaboration, strategic thinking, and communication skills.”
It has been so encouraging and inspiring to see the way the trading card system has boosted engagement and creativity across my classroom. Boys who might otherwise feel overwhelmed by lengthy writing tasks are more motivated by the approachability of summarizing ideas concisely on a card. Those who love drawing get a chance to integrate art and creativity with academics. Even the more competitive students have the chance to channel their energy into playing games, all while studying their cards with focus and excitement. Incorporating transitive factors like creativity, teamwork, and friendly competition has truly proved to support the atmosphere of learning within a second-grade classroom. The boys aren’ t just memorizing facts; they’ re diving into history in a way that feels meaningful and memorable.
Ultimately, my goal has always been to encourage a love of learning that extends beyond the walls of my classroom. The trading cards give students a tangible reminder of what they’ ve accomplished, something they can look back on with pride. As they flip through their“ Heroes of History” binders, they’ re not just remembering facts— they’ re remembering the growth, creativity, and teamwork that shaped their second-grade year. •
Once boys have built a small collection of the Heroes in History trading cards, they become tools for interactive games.
Jarrett Culotta is a Second Grade Homeroom Teacher at Saint David’ s School.
Summer 2025 • 25