June 18, 2015 VG Vocabulary Games 6-12, VG Vocabulary Games K-5, Vocab Gal, ELA K-5, ELA 6-8, ELA 9-12, ELA Resources - Games, ELA Focus - Vocabulary
By: Vocab Gal
The prep work: write the letters A-Z down the left side of 4-6 sheets of easel paper and hang them around the room for 4-6 different groups (ideally so no group can see another’s sheet).
Then either think of a topic or have the kids come up with a topic/theme from what you have been studying lately. Discussing great picture books? Talk about the importance of friendship or individualism. Studying Julius Caesar? Have the class muse on power dynamics or hubris. This game works regardless of grade level or ability!
Divide your students into teams of approximately 4-5 people.Then, have your students break out their vocabulary lists/books/etc. Instruct them that they will be writing a word or 2-4 word phrase that deals with the day’s topic, and they must use a vocabulary word as the word or in the phrase.
The game part: students have to go in order from A-Z…and the first group that completes all 26 letters with vocabulary and all of their answers legitimately go back to the topic of the day, wins a prize –or bragging rights.
To start, have the students get into their groups and line up single file. Then, when you shout “go,” the first student in each group has to race to his/her group’s paper and fill in the “A” slot with a word or phrase dealing with the topic and including a vocabulary word. It may look like:
Topic: The need for individualism
Group 1’s board:
A-Apathy is the opposite
Group 2’s board:
A-Antagonist to society
Group 3’s board
A-Annie is a renegade
OR…
Topic: The importance of friendship
Group 1’s board:
A-Alex is sympathetic
Group 2’s board:
A-Admirable kindness
Group 3’s board:
A- Approval
As soon as student #1 in each group is finished, s/he races back to the next student in line, who has to fill out the “B” slot. Therefore, while students are waiting in line, they know which letter is theirs and can start speculating on what to write. You can determine if they can ask their teammates for help or if the whole exercise remains silent (I would remind them that talking could tip off the other team). Have students compete to get through all 26 letters, but do not let any team give up if another team finishes first-all of their answers may not be legitimate! In order to determine a winner, have students sit down, then hold up the paper while a team representative reads off their answers in order. If the class votes down an answer, the next fastest team comes up to read their answers and so on until a winner can be determined.
However, some days are not good for such revelry, or you may have a few students who refuse to play. Alternatively, these students or your class could complete this game by themselves or with a partner (or two) at their desks, using the vocabulary worksheet I created. Perhaps try the game both ways and see which way your students prefer for learning vocabulary and discussing themes.
Overall, I really enjoy this way to teach vocabulary because it provides vocabulary instruction indirectly through play. Hopefully, this can be a great vocabulary resource for you!
Common Core Standards:
Language Standard 6: Acquire and Use Words Accurately in Specific Situations
Writing Standard 10: Write routinely for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Reading Standard 2: Determine the theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed
Note: For this week’s game, I modified a game I learned when I attended the NCTE 2011 presentation entitled “Drama, Power, Play: No-tech Engagement Strategies…” presented by Jennifer Onopa and Jason Zanitsch. Thanks for the initial idea!
Second Note: I do also have an alternative playing strategy where students complete this activity in desks as individuals or in small groups, so keep reading everyone!