Energize · Just for Fun · Encourage Collaboration
The Wiki Race
Navigate from one curated Wikipedia page to another using only links inside the articles.
Time10–15 minutes
Group size4–36 people
FormatIndividual, Partners
MaterialsOne school-approved device per pair, Teacher-curated starting and target links
What this accomplishes
High school students work individually or in pairs to find a short route between two teacher-approved pages, then compare strategies rather than browsing freely.
- Practice strategic navigation
- Compare multiple pathways toward the same goal
Before you begin
Materials
- One school-approved device per pair
- Teacher-curated starting and target links
Preparation
- Test every start-target pairing on the school network
- Provide direct approved links
- Prepare a paper link-map alternative
What to say
“Use only links inside the approved articles—no search bar. You are racing the route, not opening random tabs. Pairs share one device and one decision at a time.”
How to run it
- 1
Share the exact starting and target pages.
- 2
Students navigate using only article links and record each page visited.
- 3
Stop the round when a pair reaches the target or time expires.
- 4
Compare one successful path and one interesting detour.
- 5
Run two or three short rounds with new pairings.
- 6
End by letting students propose pairings for the teacher to approve later.
Prompts to use
Toaster to Napoleon
Basketball to volcano
Pineapple to the Cold War
A local landmark to the periodic table
Adapt it to the room
Small group
Play cooperatively and improve the group’s route each round.
Large group
Use pairs and project one winning path afterward.
Virtual
Share approved links and use breakout pairs with route logs.
Accessibility & inclusion
- Provide shared devices and keyboard or navigation accommodations.
- Offer a printed page-link map alternative.
- Do not require students to use personal devices or accounts.
Debrief, if useful
What made a link strategically useful?
Which detour helped you form a better plan?
Why it works—and what can go wrong
Why it works
A fixed destination makes browsing purposeful, while comparing routes rewards strategy and curiosity rather than prior knowledge.
Watch out for
- Use only teacher-tested pages and follow district web policies.
- Do not allow open web searching or unreviewed student-selected destinations during the activity.