Its the time of year when keeping students engaged in learning is harder and harder to do. With lessons still needing to be taught, and vocabulary word lists to learn, now is the time to amp up the classroom fun! Today I'm sharing six classroom vocabulary games that will make vocabulary practice too fun to resist.
So put the boring worksheets away and get ready to pull out vocabulary games students will love!
Have students spend a classroom afternoon fishing for vocabulary words with these Go Fish game cards. The Go Fish Vocabulary Game is a fun, relatively quick game that helps students master a few of their trickier words.
Students will play in groups of two to four, dealing out seven cards each if there are two players, six cards for three players, and five cards for four players. Cards not dealt will go into the draw pile. Then starting clockwise, the first student asks another player if he/she has a card. However, instead of simply asking for the card by naming the vocabulary word on it, the student has to ask for the card by providing the definition for the word. For example, if a student wants the word astute, he/she has to ask, "Do you have a word that means smart?" If the asked student does not have the specific card requested, he/she says "Go Fish for Vocab" and the student requesting the card must select from the draw pile. The first person to get five pairs of vocabulary words wins!
Playing bingo is a great way to keep students engaged with their words on a Friday afternoon or at the end of the semester. To make this game extra exciting, give away new pencils as a prize... students are always in need of a new pencil!
Students will write out their vocabulary words on the Bingo card (no hints as to what each word means). The teacher or a panel of selected students will call out definitions or synonyms to the class. Each student has to match the called definitions or synonyms with the proper vocabulary word on his/her Bingo card. Students can shout "Bingo!" once they've marked five across, down or diagonal. The winning student must confirm their words on his/her Bingo card with the definitions that have been called out. Keep playing until you have multiple winners!
Sometimes students just need a break to socialize. Why not combine socializing with vocabulary words and play the You're On A Roll dice game. Use this simple dice game to learn vocabulary words!
Divide the class into groups of 3-5 (depending on how many dice you have). Give each group a list of vocabulary words and the You're on a Roll dice mandates. Have the first student in the group roll the dice and then use the first word on the list in his/her answer. The next student in the group rolls and also uses the first word on the list in his/her answer. Once all group members have used the first word, students will move on to the second vocabulary word.
#4 Vocab-Categories
I love playing vocabulary games where students have to incorporate their vocabulary in multifarious ways. Inspired by Hasbro® Scattegories™, the Vocab-Categories game requires students to use vocabulary creatively! My printable vocabulary game includes letter cut-outs, student instructions, vocab-category lists, and make-your-own list cards.
Have students read the rules at the top of the Vocab-Categories game worksheet and then play a practice round as a class. Next, divide the class into groups of 4-6 players. Draw a letter and write in on the board. Students will have 3-5 minutes to complete List 1. After the time has passed, have students share their answers with team members.
Who doesn't love a game of checkers? The Vocabulary Checkers game is easy to play, as well as a great review for students. Download the game boards for your classroom and get playing!
To play this fun vocabulary game, gather up your spare change, colored dots, cold checker pieces, or other small pieces in two colors. Then pass out a checkers game board to each student. Have each students fill out a game board with a different vocabulary word in each shaded square. Students pair up and take turns playing on each other's boards. When students want to make a move, he/she must use the vocabulary word in a sentence. If the vocabulary word is not used correctly in a sentence, players do not get to move their game piece. Likewise, if a player wants to "double jump," he/she must use both vocabulary words in the same sentence. Download the game to get all the details.
Turn your students into game creators with the vocabulary board game template. Instead of presenting you and your students with a fully finished vocabulary game board that only needs to have the vocabulary words filled in, use my blank template and have students create their own game!
With the Vocabulary Board Game students are charged with creating an educational game board that classrooms can play to review vocabulary words. Students will use at least twenty words in their creation of their vocabulary game- from the name itself to the various design elements, game cards, board pieces, and directions. Award prizes for most creative, best adherence to a theme, most unique, most literary connections, etc. Then, have students play each others game boards to review for an upcoming quiz and practice new vocabulary words.