While many may already be playing Bingo to review vocabulary with their students, it has taken me until this year to actually to create my own Bingo board. I was too lazy to cut up little slips of papers and locate a complicated “spinner,” so instead I just used an old set of vocabulary flashcards and drew cards at random to call out definitions to students.
Overall, for me, playing the Bingo Vocabulary Game is a great way to keep my students engaged with their words on the Friday afternoon or at the end of the semester. But you can play this fun vocabulary game anytime!
1. Students can write only their vocabulary words on the Bingo card (no hints as to what each word means).
2, The teacher calls out only definitions or synonyms to the class; each student has to match the teacher’s definition with the proper word on his/her sheet.
3. Students can shout “Bingo!” if they get five across, down or diagonal. The winning student must confirm that the words on his/her Bingo board match the definitions that have been called out by the teacher. If no one gets Bingo, students play until all the slots are covered. I would especially use this rule if you have many words to review from multiple units.
4. Once one student has won “Bingo” you can move on to other lessons, or you can keep playing and have multiple winners. The first Bingo winner can help call out new definitions and check off winning Bingo cards if you have multiple winners.
Variation: To win, a student must use all five of the “Bingo” words in one or two sentences that make sense.
Speaking & Listening Standard 6: Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks
Language Standard 3: Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts.
Language Standard 4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown words
Language Standard 5: Demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meaning.
Language Standard 6: Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge