Students Play Classroom 'Jeopardy' with TV Celebrity

This past Tuesday, Mrs. Leigh Conley’s 3rd grade class was a very exciting place to be. Simpson Elementary hosted a visit from Kelly Miyahara of the television game show "Jeopardy" and Donna Lowry from Atlanta's NBC affiliate, WXIA Channel 11.

Miyahara, who can be seen on Jeopardy as part of the Clue Crew, conducted a game with Conley’s students.

Last fall Teena Piccione, a Simpson parent, entered a contest sponsored by NBC’s Channel 11 News. The challenge was to write an entry about Jeopardy and 11 Alive News. With 80 schools participating, Piccione was one of the five winners. The prize for her winning was a Classroom Jeopardy Game valued at over $500, which will be shared by the classes at Simpson. Piccione has two daughters, Jenny and Laura, who attend Simpson.

Conley was glad to have this unique opportunity for her class and is looking forward to using the game in the future. Questions and answers can be programmed into the game. That way, subjects being studied by an individual class can be specifically formatted into the game. “Children use so much technology at home,” says Conley. “This is a good way to use it at school to help them learn.” 

 The familiar Jeopardy category board was illuminated bright and blue on the board up front. Each team had a clicker like the ones you see on the TV show and there were three score boxes up front bearing the team names. Miyahara, who was gracious, enthusiastic and encouraging to the students, led the proceedings. 

 The categories for the first round included The Zoo, Holidays and Celebrations, Chocoholics, Toy Box and Parts of Speech. With those in mind the three teams, Superstars, Donuts and Four Leaf Clovers (AKA Clovers), began the competition.

There were great answers from every team. They all made their teacher proud by eagerly choosing the Parts of Speech category to answer. The Donuts took an early lead but both of the other teams worked back from a deficit so that in the end, everyone wound up in the plus column.

Remembering to give their answers in the form of a question was one of the hardest things to master. After final Jeopardy, the Donuts were the victors, but it was a hard and fun battle for everyone participating. 

 This story was covered by Donna Lowry from Channel 11, WXIL and WATL, and will be broadcast on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011, at 6 a.m., Noon and 10 p.m.