I love learning games.
They’re a great way to build camaraderie. They create fun and energy. They also have a knack for making information stick.
One of my favorites is called the vocabulary game.
It’s a review game you can play for virtually any subject and any grade level. And your students will have a blast.
Here’s how it works:
Step #1 – Write each letter of the alphabet on large index cards, one letter per card. Create two sets, one written in red marker and one in blue.
Step #2 – Add 2-3 extra cards of letters that occur more frequently, like e, t, a, i, o, n, s, h, and r.
Step #3 – Break your class into groups of 6-8 students, but no more than four groups.
Step #4 – Take on the role of a cheesy game show host. I like to wear a sport jacket and say things like “Come on down! and Heeeere they are!”
Step #5 – Place each stack of cards on its own separate desk or table at the front of your room.
Step #6 – Call two groups up to compete. To begin, each group must stand side-by-side, silent, and facing the room with their hands clasped in front of them.
Note: Only two groups play at a time, competing against each other. The other two groups watch. They may cheer but not help. Each game lasts only a couple minutes.
Step #7 – Announce a clue to a vocabulary word. “A triangle in which two sides have equal length.”
Step #8 – As soon as you give the clue, they must work together and rifle through the cards to spell out the correct word.
Step #9 – The first team to have every member holding a card silently while spelling out the word correctly and facing the class gets 15 points.
Note: Depending on the word, some students may have to hold two cards or two students have to hold one card together.
Step #10 – If the other team is also able to spell the word out correctly, they receive 10 points. This encourages both teams to finish.
Step #11 – Rotate the other groups in. You can also pair two groups together as a team (even though they compete separately). This way they cheer louder and high five each other as they switch.
Step #12 – Keep track of points. Award the winning team a trophy they can parade around the room like the World Cup (and then return right back to your cupboard).
F-U-N
Adjust the game according to your needs.
I’ll add an extra point if a whole team freezes into funny positions or facial expressions. You can also take away points for not stacking the cards for the next group or not congratulating each other.
Just do so in your host voice and never break character. It’s a time for learning, yes. But it’s also for having fun.
It’s for working together and building relationships. It’s for appreciating each other and being a valued member of your special classroom.
PS – My new book Inspire will be officially available on Tuesday.
Also, if you haven’t done so already, please join us. It’s free! Click here and begin receiving classroom management articles like this one in your email box every week.
Sounds terrific! I’m definitely going to be using that. And looking forward to the book!
This game sounds amazing! I would love to try it, but one of my big struggles is finding time for engaging activities such as this when I have to follow our rigid curriculums.
I know one of the tenets of SCM is establishing a fun learning environment so that students love being in your class, thus making them more likely to behave and timeout being an effective consequence. However, I struggle with this when I have to follow the curriculums the school purchased that are often boring and leave little flexibility for the teacher.
I would like to request an article or video on the topic of how to make your class fun and engaging when your hands are tied to a boring curriculum.
Thanks for the consideration!
I agree. That would be helpful, especially as a relief teacher.
Thank you!!
Learning games are the best! As a high school teacher, I am always on the hunt for games that the students won’t find too juvenile. This looks like a winner! I can’t wait to try it out on Monday.
What a great and easy game to engage students. Thanks for the idea and send more. I’m always looking for fun ways to keep students engaged in the content.
I love when you share game ideas! Thank you. I still have my students play that group work game every chance I get. It never gets old—though I space it out 8-10 weeks.
What is the group work game?
Love this! Trying it Monday!
Love this idea! This is not your typical post, but I can see how it would bring cohesiveness and natural classroom management. Especially if there are real prizes involved! Thanks!
Awesome thanks! Do you have a book on other engaging activities?
Awesome game and fun!
Are any other games Michael has talked about listed in archives??
This is GREAT! I cannot wait to try it with my students.
I WILL GIVE A TRY SHOULD THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENT IT’S SELF AND MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE.
I love this idea and I’m going to try it out for math and science. We’ll see how it goes! I really think the kids will love it as well.
More games please! Love it
I call this one “Scrabble Scramble”. Kids do love it! 🙂
A just-for-fun version I also play involves giving them a category or a question with multiple answers, then they have to race to answer, PLUS there are bonus points awarded for the longest answer. For example, what is a great summer food? One team could answer ICE CREAM quickly, but if the other answers WATERMELON, then that team gets bonus points! This version encourages discussion to decide on the best word to choose to answer.
Thanks for the fun game idea, SCM!
I love this idea! Thank you!
Mind if I share my favourite game here?
Well, I hope you don’t mind. Here it is.
This is a fun card game for two people. It can be adapted to any subject – maths, spelling, science – any topic, any age.
The “deck” is a load of cards, split into two types. One car says “You win!” The person who picks this card is automatically the winner.
The rest of the cards are divided evenly into two different types, matching the two players. Let’s take an example – odd and even numbers. One player’s cards contain sums which give an even total (8 + 22, 6 x 4, etc.) and the other contain cards which give an odd total (12 + 9, 15 x 3, etc.)
the cards are all shuffled, and dealt out face down. Odd Player goes first and picks up a card. If it is one of hers, she gets another go. This continues until she picks up an even card. Then it is Even Player’s turn. Or, if Odd Player makes a mistake in calculating, the turn passes to Even Player. And so on.
Sooner or later, one of them will pick up the winning card, and then the game ends.
It’s pure luck, but great fun – and a great way to revise anything from times tables to verb tenses!
Michael, do you think your book Inspire will appear in audio format on the near future, like on Audible? My drive to school allows me to “read” so many books via audio that I otherwise wouldn’t have the time or energy to read.
Yes, for sure. It may be some months but we’re definitely going to publish on Audible.
Fantastic! Your books are changing my teaching life!