Looking for a great idea for a party? Treat guests to their own interpretation of the hit game show “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader.” Test your knowledge, or lack thereof, of elementary school facts. Just like the hit game show, adults won’t believe how much they’ve forgotten since grade school. You’re sure to make the “honor roll” when you throw this A+ party for your friends.

create the atmosphere

Make a classroom environment:

Create a blackboard (or use a real one) in the front of the room to serve as a game board (print up to six topics on the board: 1st grade math, 3rd grade social studies, 5th grade earth science, etc. , and come up with several easy questions for each.)

Decorate a “teacher desk” in the chalkboard font (Place the following on the desk…an apple, a stack of books, a pencil holder full of sharpened pencils, a globe, a pencil sharpener, a candy jar, etc. )

Place two student desks in front of the whiteboard…one for the student helper and one for the contestant.

Decorate for 8 year olds

Tie red helium balloons to bright red apples and place them around the party room.

Hang elementary school poster clippings on the walls (found at teacher supply stores)

Stack shoe boxes at the entrance of the party to serve as “cubicles” for the guest to store their belongings.

Hang a large map on the wall.

Place an American flag in the corner of the room.

Use old lunch boxes as centerpieces

Print guest names on wooden rulers and use as place markers at tables.

Play the game

Before the party, find two or three elementary students to serve as student helpers. Make sure they know how the game works. Let them know that they will be asked to answer elementary school questions. (Plan to play the game at the start of the party, so the youth can sneak out early.) Also choose a friend (if not yourself) to play the role of game show host or teacher. Make sure the host is familiar with the game setting.

Explain the rules of the game and ask if anyone thinks they are “smarter than a fifth grader.” Pick a fun-loving, willing contestant and make them laugh. After the first contestant finishes, or graduates, choose someone else and play another round.

make it more fun

Create fake money (personalized with details about the party) to award winning contestants. Record music from the game show on the TV and play it during the party. Serve sack lunches: Pack each guest a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a bag of chips, and a small dessert in a paper lunch bag. Fold the tops and print the names of the guests on the bags with a magic marker. Place the lunch bags in the middle of the food table and surround them with lots of snacks. Stock coolers with juice boxes and milk cartons, and of course, have a second cooler stocked with beer and bottled water.

For a fun touch, ask guests to come to the party dressed as elementary school kids or teachers. Set up a backdrop for your elementary school “photo day” and take digital photos of the guests. Print the photos and send them home in manila envelopes.

Ask guests to bring a picture of themselves from elementary school (if they can find one) and play “guess the elementary school kid” during the party.

For take-home gifts, order personalized pencils and notepads. Pack them in zip-top bags or small school supply boxes along with glue sticks, fruit cups, large lollipops, and Twinkies.