Vocabulary Games

As discussed in our post about extensions, the challenge for teachers is to provide students with multiple word exposures without ‘drill and kill’ practice. Worksheets and workbooks are not the answer. Make learning thoughtful and JOYful with learning games.

Vocabulary games give no-prep, quick and JOYful practice that is necessary for students to really 'own' new words. These games can be tucked into those odd bits of time in our day:

  • lining up to travel from the classroom

  • bathroom time

  • waiting in the hall to enter a special class

You’ll note that every lesson plan we post on JOYcabulary includes ideas for related vocabulary games. Here are some of our favorite vocabulary games, both for instruction and for practice, that you can incorporate into your own lesson plans:


INSTRUCTIONAL GAMES

  1. Yea or Nay: Teacher says a sentence. If the sentence applies to the word being discussed, students say the word aloud. If not, they put thumbs down. For example, using the prompt word MESSAGE: “When you read a note someone wrote to you?” [aloud: ‘message’). When you eat French fries? [thumb down].”

  2. Does This Make Sense?: Say a sentence and ask if it makes sense. With a partner, students decide yes or no and say why they think so. For example, The honest kid said she read all the books in the school in only 5 minutes.

  3. If/Then: Teacher asks a question about a word. Students answer with their partner and say why. For example, using the prompt word WICKED: “If you saw a wicked zombie, would you run away or hug it? Why?”

  4. Fill in the Blank: Teacher starts a sentence, and students complete it with one of the vocab words.

  5. Pure Imagination: Teacher asks a question describing something that might happen. Students answer the question with their partner. What would a reliable person do at a restaurant?

  6. Lights! Camera! Action!: Teacher describes someone using one of the vocab words and tells what they did. Students act out what they hear with their partner. For example, “Act out a stern boss talking to a worker who came into work late.”

  7. Would You Rather?: Teacher asks a question using a vocab word. Partners explain their responses. For example, “Would you rather have a careless puppy or a careless parent? Why?”

  8. Pick a Word, Any Word: Teacher says something that might have happened. Students connect it to a vocab word and discuss with partner. For example, “If someone was a little quiet at first around grownups, would that be optimistic or cautious?”

  9. Why Stems: Teacher asks a question using a vocab word. Students discuss with partners. For example, “Why might a coach concoct a new game plan? Why might it be inappropriate to touch paintings in a museum?”

  10. This or That: Teacher asks a question about a vocab word. Partners discuss. For example, “What might make you more cautious? Crossing a busy street or an empty street?”


PRACTICAL GAMES

  1. I Have/Who Has: Teacher creates cards for small group play. For example, “I have scrumptious. Who has a word that means to be easily tricked? I have gullible. Who has a word that means no trusting? Something isn’t the way it should be.”

  2. Word Whacker: Words and student-friendly definitions are on word rings. Played in groups of 3-4 students, one person is the leader. The leader opens the ring and either spreads only the words or the definitions on the floor. The other students each have a fly swatter. The leader reads the word/definition. Students whack the coordinating card. First person to correctly whack the card keeps that card.

  3. Vo-back-ulary: Students wear yarn necklace with an open Ziploc bag attached flipped to their back. Partner puts in a vocab word written on an index card. With student-friendly definition written on the back. Partner then gives clues for the word. Student must guess the word. If correct, student keeps the card. If incorrect after 3 tries, partner shows them the word reads the definition, and partner keeps the card. Variation: Teacher puts in the cards. Students walk around the room looking for a partner to play. Once complete, teacher puts in a new word and student seeks out a new partner.

  4. Over My Head: Same as Vo-back-ulary, but students wear a headband with open Ziploc attached.

  5. Connect Two: Put vocabulary words in two columns. Students picks a word from each column and say how they could be related.

  6. 7-Up Sentences: In partnerships, students try to use words in sentences that have 7 or more words.

  7. Snowball Fight: Words are written on half sheets of paper and crumpled into a ball. Students sit in a circle. When teacher says “Snowball Fight!” students throw the ball to someone. Student has to read the word and tell what it means. We wrote an entire post about the game here.

  8. Word Ladders: Vocabulary Ladders are a gradient, or ordered intensity, of words related to a given topic. We wrote an entire post about them here.

 

Here are two of our favorite reference books for even more ideas:

Vocabulary Games for the Classroom by Lindsay Carleton and Robert J. Marzano

 
Linda

Linda Szakmary has five decades of experience working as a classroom teacher, a district curriculum writer, a district facilitator of K-5 writing, and as a county K-8 literacy coach. She now works for Sullivan and Orange-Ulster BOCES as a content specialist. A poetry advocate and a lover of words and children’s literature, she has been a presenter at several state-wide conferences on vocabulary and writing. Currently, she is working with the staff developers of Mossflower to study intermediate vocabulary instruction within a reading workshop. Linda lives in Stone Ridge, NY where she enjoys gardening, yoga, reading, and rooting for the Yankees. You can often find her on a beach searching for sea glass.

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