The Best Way to Review Prose, Poetry, and Drama Before State Testing
Looking for a state testing review activity your students will actually enjoy?
If you're anything like me, you’re deep in state testing season, probably trying to find any possible way to make review feel less soul-sucking. And if you teach upper elementary or middle school, you already know that students need to understand the difference between prose, poetry, and drama (hello, RL.5!). But worksheets? Snooze-fest. I’ve got a better way to review this skill—and I think you’re going to love it.
The Standard We’re Targeting: RL.5
Let’s talk about RL.5 for just a second. This standard focuses on explaining the differences between prose, poetry, and drama—how they're structured, how they look on the page, how they sound, and how we read them differently.
I like to start my lesson with a quick review of those three:
Prose is your everyday writing—novels, stories, nonfiction text. It’s written in paragraphs and full sentences.
Poetry is usually written in lines and stanzas. It uses rhythm, figurative language, and sometimes rhyme.
Drama is written like a play. It includes dialogue and stage directions and is meant to be performed.
We cover the basics first, then—boom—we dive straight into the game.
Let’s Make It a Game: RL.5 Task Card Review
This isn’t just any review game. This is one that gets your students moving, thinking, and actually talking to each other about the content. And that’s why I love it.
So here’s how it works:
Students will rotate through a series of task cards. Each card contains a short piece of text, and students have to decide: Is it prose, poetry, or drama?
The texts are short, engaging, and diverse—some are written like a paragraph from a story (prose), some are formatted like a script (drama), and some are poems with stanzas and lines (poetry).
I set it up one of two ways, depending on the day and the vibe in my classroom:
Option 1: Scoot Game Style
You’ve probably played Scoot before. If not, here’s the quick version:
Tape a task card to each desk or surface.
Students rotate through the room one card at a time.
They read the card, then write their answer (prose, poetry, or drama) on a recording sheet or whiteboard.
You can set a timer for each rotation to keep the pace quick and exciting.
Option 2: Scavenger Hunt Style
This one is so fun. I hide the cards all around the classroom in random places. Think: behind a plant, under a desk, on the back of a door, taped to the pencil sharpener. Students search for the cards and mark their answers as they find each one.
Not only does this add a layer of novelty and challenge, but it also turns the whole review session into a game. And let’s be honest—getting your students up and moving is always a win.
Why This Works (and Why It Beats a Worksheet Every Time)
Let’s talk real for a sec: our students are tired. We’re tired. And during test review season, it’s really easy to fall into the worksheet trap. But here’s the thing: the more engaged your students are, the more they retain.
With this RL.5 game, they’re:
Actively reading different types of text structures
Comparing and contrasting forms of literature
Working collaboratively or independently (your choice!)
Physically moving around the room, which boosts energy and focus
Having fun—and probably forgetting they’re reviewing for a state test
I mean... can your standard worksheet do all that?
What’s Included in the Task Cards Set
This set is available now on my Teachers Pay Teachers store, and it includes:
A complete set of task cards with a mix of prose, poetry, and drama examples
An answer recording sheet for students
A teacher guide with both Scoot and Scavenger Hunt directions
An answer key to make your life easier (because I’ve got you!)
Everything is ready to print and go—zero prep required.
How I Use It in My Classroom
I usually introduce this game during the second or third day of our RL.5 mini-unit. After a day of direct instruction and guided practice, the game helps students solidify their understanding in a way that’s way more memorable.
Depending on your class size and structure, you can run this game whole-group, in small groups, or even set it up as a center. Sometimes I even have students create their own prose, poetry, or drama samples after we play, just to deepen the learning.
And let’s be honest, sometimes it’s the games that really stick. I’ve had students recall details from these task cards months later, just because the experience was fun and different.
Real Talk: Why Engagement Matters in Test Review
If you’ve been around here for a minute, you know student engagement is my thing. I’m constantly thinking about:
How can I make this more fun?
How can I get them talking?
How can I get them moving?
How can I get them to care about the content?
This RL.5 review game checks all those boxes. You’re hitting the standard, but in a way that actually excites your students. And I know from experience that when kids are engaged, they’re way more likely to master the standard (and actually show what they know on the test).
Grab the RL.5 Prose, Poetry, and Drama Task Cards
If you’re ready to ditch the worksheet and try something new for your review days, this RL.5 task card game is ready to go. You can find it in my Teachers Pay Teachers store and the product is called Prose Poetry and Drama Task Cards.
Whether you choose the Scoot version or turn it into a scavenger hunt, your students are going to have fun and learn something—which is basically the best combination.
If you have any questions about how I roll it out in my room, feel free to drop them in the comments below or message me on Instagram. I love talking engagement, games, and all things test prep.
You’ve got this. Happy teaching!
