I never tire of playing Oranges to Oranges, and as this post has been the most popular post to date on Vocab Gal, I think there are a few other teachers like me out there!
This vocabulary edition has such great benefits as students are constantly reiterating their vocabulary and have to use the definition of the vocabulary word to support or negate each player’s connection. Having played this game all year with teachers from Florida (hi Olympia!), South Carolina (hi Dutch Fork!) and Ohio (hi Harrison!), teachers have suggested some awesome alternative ways to play.
I particularly like playing with an open hand, so that each player plays his red card openly and justifies why his/her answer best matches the vocabulary word’s definition. This dialogue forces all the players to ingeminate the vocabulary word and also have a longer conversation about the word in question. When I was the one to select the winning red card, my answer actually changed because of the justification one player gave over the justification over my original winning card.
Check out the directions in Mattels Apples to Apples for many alternative ways to play Oranges to Oranges, and keep having fun with vocabulary! Extra bonus: playing this game not only helps with several Language Common Core Standards, it also meets many Speaking & Listening standards!
Speaking & Listening Standard 1. Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations
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 6. Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks
Language Standard 1. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
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