Although I am a terrible artist, I do enjoy the odd round of Pictionary every now and again. It is quite easy to play a simplified version of the game with your students as a quick and often hilarious way to review vocabulary words.

Rules:

1. The class is divided into teams – you can have up to four teams, depending on how many students are in your class and the students’ level of attentiveness. Smaller groups may be better for students who are have problems paying attention.

2. Each team selects an artist who then goes up to a space for drawing – this can be a chalkboard, a dry erase board or tablet, a large pad of paper, etc.

3. All artists are given the same vocabulary word to draw.

4. The artists attempt to draw the vocabulary word using NO letters or numbers. Whichever team shouts out the word first wins the point. An extra point can be awarded to that team if they can use the word in an accurate sentence or can provide an accurate definition.

5. A new artist is selected from each team and the new artists are given the same new vocabulary word to draw.

6. Repeat until all members of each team have been artists at least once, or until you run out of time.

7. The team with the most points wins.

Options when playing:

• Each team’s artist is given a different vocabulary word to draw.

• Divide the vocabulary words into nouns, verbs, and adjectives/adverbs and tell all the students the part of speech of the word being drawn.

• If no one is guessing the word, you can choose to call time at 60 or 90 seconds and move on.

• Students are divided into teams, but each student on a team is given the same word to draw. After 60 seconds, each team votes on the best drawing from within their group. That word then goes up to compete against the other teams’ best drawings. The winner among all the teams gets a point for his or her team.

Download the Picabulary Vocabulary Game instruction sheet for your classroom!

Common Core State Standards:
Speaking & Listening Standard 1. Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations.
Speaking & Listening Standard 2. Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats.
Speaking & Listening Standard 3. Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.
Speaking & Listening Standard 4. Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow.
Speaking & Listening Standard 5. Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data.
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.