True or Untrue – Kids can give the correct definition or try to fool players with a fake one. Students could define the word or have to use it in a sentence.
Toss and Answer – Students throw a ball or small object into a muffin tin that has a word in each compartment. That’s Nonsense! – Print out sentences that include nonsense words and have players match vocabulary words to the correct sentences.
Sticky Note Match – Students write vocab words on sticky notes, outline them on the board and write the definition in the square. Stack the Words – Students who correctly define or use a vocabulary word written on a cup can keep it and use the cup to build a tower. Slap! – Call out a vocabulary word and the first student to slap it, adds it to his/her pile. Do the same with a spinner or with notecards. Roll the Die – Depending on the roll of the die, students will define, give a synonym or antonym, use a word in a sentence, draw a word, or act it out. Relay Runners – Teams compete to find the just-defined word in a stack of index cards at the finish line and return to their team the fastest. Rate Your Happiness – Have students rate their happiness on a 1-5 scale if they experienced a situation using a vocabulary word. Picture It! – Pictionary for vocabulary words.
Password of the Day – Students have to use the new vocabulary word to do things in the classroom. Memory – With vocabulary words and definitions. Match-up – Using paper plates or index cards to match vocabulary words and definitions. I Have, Who Has? – Could use these cards for synonyms. Homonym Bean Bag Toss – Players throw bean bags onto squares drawn with sidewalk chalk. Heads Down, Vocab Up – Played like Heads Up 7-UP only with vocabulary cards. Game Show – Students write their own vocabulary questions and answers on cards that are then used in a game show format. The player with the most signatures wins.ĭefinitely…Not…Kind Of – Students try to get their teammates to guess their vocabulary word by putting their descriptor words into definitely, not, and kind-of categories.ĭictionary Roll a Word – Encourages students to check the dictionary for the part of speech of a word, pronunciation and more using a die.ĭon’t Break the Ice – Students hammer out the ice piece that corresponds to the definition read.ĭon’t Say It – This is like Taboo for vocabulary words with a list of words that cannot be given as clues for guessing the word.Įrase a Word – Team members get to erase a correctly identified vocabulary word and win when all their words are erased.įake Texts – Text your students using a new vocabulary word and challenge them to use the context to determine meaning.įish Race – Teams or players move their fish one wave for correctly identifying vocabulary words (used for Spanish vocab, but appropriate for English as well). The outer circle player asks the facing inner circle player a question about a word and signs her sheet if she is correct. Whichever word a player’s thumb (right or left) is touching must be defined and used in a sentence.Ĭhat About It – Partners compare the number of words correctly defined/used in a sentence on a list.Ĭhoose the Better Definition – Can help students differentiate shades of meaning.Ĭircle Rotation – Players form inner and outer circles. The player that gives the winning clue is then it.īeach Ball Vocabulary – Write words in marker on a beach ball. Students turn around in the circle so players can see and give clues to the word. Players get to take a step toward “It” when giving a correct synonym/antonym.Ī Sticky Situation – The player who is it is in the center with a sticky note on their back with a vocabulary word on it.
Free Vocabulary GamesĪntonym and Synonym Get There First Game – The player who is it says a word. If you love this list, be sure to check out the Ultimate List of Free Grammar Games as well. If you scroll down, you’ll find a list of online vocabulary game sites that are also free. I’m including over 50 games that can be tailored to a wide range of grade levels and number of players. Reading is the best way to build vocabulary by far, but we can squeeze more vocabulary teaching in without our kids even realizing it through games.Īre you in a hurry? Pin this post so you can reference it later. That’s why I made it such a key part of Grammar Galaxy, a new, fun language arts curriculum for beginning readers. Vocabulary is the number one predictor of your student’s academic and life success.