Do your students groan when it’s time for vocabulary? Do you groan when it’s time for vocabulary? Need vocabulary games for classroom fun? Need to find new strategies to make vocabulary fun? Guess what? It doesn’t have to be boring! Yes, perhaps your reading program (that you might be forced to use, and either like or dislike) may present vocabulary in a boring way, but that doesn’t mean you have to follow suit.
Here are a few ideas for spicing up your vocabulary time!
Split your kids into groups of two or three randomly (or not so randomly, depending on your class). Give each group ONE vocabulary word and 5 minutes to create a skit illustrating it. Can this work with ANY vocabulary list? Yes, it can. This activity will force your students to think outside the box and come up with things you never dreamed possible.
Allow students to use accessible props such as paper, desks, chairs, the whiteboard, and anything else readily available. Students then have one minute to present their skit to the class. The group cues the class to listen by starting with the word “BEGIN” and alerts them to raise their hand to guess the vocabulary word by saying “END”. I would allow the students to have their vocabulary list sitting in front of them. This classroom vocabulary game is so easy and fun that the kids love it.
Use the suggestions from #1, but don’t allow the students to talk during their skits. This is, of course, more challenging, but when we challenge students, they rise to the occasion, right? For what it’s worth, I used this method almost exclusively. You will definitely see some skits that you don’t understand, but the students will be engaged in their learning. They will be forced to think in new ways as they learn the vocabulary. For differentiation, you could let some groups use words, and others do it without. This way, this vocabulary game for the classroom is differentiated.
Place students in groups of three or four and give them the vocabulary list. Instruct them to use as many vocabulary words in a four-sentence story as possible. The key to succeeding in this challenge (and you can make it a competition if you choose) is to use the words correctly AND be entertaining. If you choose to make it a competition, you can swap stories with other classes in your grade level and ask the students to determine which story wins (it’s best to keep the names off the papers in this case). Many times, I set a minimum word count (6 or 7 works well for a story with 4 sentences). Do this vocabulary game one time, and your students will be begging you to do it again.
Each student gets a sticky note placed on their forehead (or back) and must ask questions to determine the word written on it (by you). Students can do this activity in a small group, or you can have one student in the front of the room at a time (you must know your class to determine which scenario works best).
The student guessing his/her word can ask YES or NO questions like, “Am I a verb? Am I a noun? Am I an adjective? Do I have a prefix? Do I have a suffix? Would I come after HOUSE in the dictionary?”
The student guessing his/her word DOES have access to the vocabulary list and can ask questions based on it. I like to set a rule that students get only TWO “official” guesses. If the student gets the word within two guesses, he/she wins. This vocabulary game for classroom use requires a higher level of understanding, but is so beneficial.
Ask students to create an illustration for each vocabulary word. Again, any vocabulary words will work. If the word is abstract, you can tell students “to draw a picture that illustrates that word in some way.” If it’s necessary to write a sentence under the picture to provide clarity, that is fine. Again, students will be forced to think outside the box and will surely come up with some surprising pictures!
Let’s face it, learning words can be boring or it can be fun. Students are savvy and will pick up vocabulary when we use it in context and have confidence in their ability to use it. Continue to use words in your daily interactions that might be “above their heads” because students are sophisticated enough to use context clues to figure out your message.
Let’s also face it… Some words are more fun to learn. Words that are fun to say, read, and write are a bright spot in a student’s day. I’m not talking about words like fart, poop, and puke either.
I’m talking about sophisticated words that would impress even the most “word-wise” adults. I love words, which is why I created fun, fancy vocabulary products for upper-elementary (and even middle-school) students. If you’re a SERIOUS word-loving teacher, a bundle is also available at a reduced price!
Cheers to arming our students with sophisticated words that expand their knowledge!
I am Kirsten Tulsian, an elementary educator with 18 years of experience as a teacher and counselor. My passion lies in empowering students to discover their inherent brilliance through the use of engaging, rigorous, and meaningful activities. I look forward to connecting with you!
