Games and classroom activities will help students retaing the meaning of vocabulary words.
Vocabulary is an integral part of curriculum across the grade levels, from elementary science to high school foreign language. Teachers can integrate fun and exciting vocabulary activities into lesson plans to help keep students interested in learning the words and their meanings.
Vocabulary BINGO
This activity can be played by handing out to students a blank BINGO sheet with rows and columns. The students will fill in the spaces with vocabulary words by writing them where ever they choose on their sheet. The teacher will read definitions from the chosen vocabulary words and students will cover the corresponding word on their sheet if they have it written down. The teacher can decide the winning design, straight line, diagonal, four corners or an X. When a student has completed the desired design, he shouts "Bingo!" The teacher should check that his card is correctly marked before declaring him the winner.
Jeopardy
Played similar to the television show, three players are at the front of the classroom at a time. Different categories are listed that the vocabulary words can be divided into. The teacher should prepare the game by sorting the words into groups; note that it may be more easily played at the end of a unit where more words are available, such as the end of a Greek Gods and Goddesses unit. Students will select a category and listen to a clue. They must then respond with the proper answer to gain a point. The teacher can then decide rotate the "contestants" so that each of the students get a turn, perhaps rotating after a certain number of questions are answered. Students may be grouped into teams for this activity.
Guess the Word
Students are divided into two teams for this activity. Two stools are placed at the front of the classroom for students to sit on facing the rest of the class. The teacher will write a different vocabulary word behind each student, or place a magnetic strip with a word written on the blackboard. Each team will take turns giving the member of their team clues to the vocabulary word. At the end of three clues each, the player at the board must answer with a word. Each team gets a point for a correct answer and a different team member comes up to the stool for their turn. The class can play until one team reaches a predetermined amount of points first.
Crossword
For this activity, students will work in pairs to create a vocabulary crossword. The vocabulary words will be the answers and the definitions will be used as the clues. If there are twenty vocabulary words, have each group use any ten that they want. Students will turn in their completed crosswords to be checked for accuracy. The teacher can then make copies of each crossword for every student and then staple them together in a packet to be completed for homework or over a long weekend or holiday break.
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