COMPOSITION CRAM INSTRUCTIONS:

• Make sure each student has a piece of paper and a

writing utensil.

• Display the current vocabulary list on the board.

• Instruct students to write a story that includes as many

vocabulary words as possible.

• Set the timer for 1 minute.

• When the timer goes off, ask students how many words

they fit into their stories.

• The student with the most words wins, but he/she must read

the story aloud to prove that it makes sense.

• Repeat the game until one student earns 5 points (wins 5

times).

Investigative inquiry INSTRUCTIONS:

• Split the students into two teams.

• Have teams take turns sending up one contestant.

• Show contestant one word and definition from the current

vocabulary list.

• Tell the contestant’s teammates that they can ask 3 yes-or-no

questions about the word and its definition, but they can only

guess one vocabulary word.

• Set the timer for 60 seconds.

• If the team guesses the correct word within 60 seconds, award

them a point.

• Move on to the next team and repeat.

• Tell the students that the team who reaches 20 points first will win

the game.

FOREHEAD FIGURING INSTRUCTIONS:

• Arrange desks or chairs in a circle and have students sit,

facing the center.

• Give each student a sticky note with a word from the current

vocabulary list, but place the notes gently on their

foreheads before they can see the words written there.

• Go around the circle clockwise, and allow each student to ask

1 yes-or-no question regarding the word on his forehead. The

other students should answer the question collectively.

• If a student discovers which word is on his/her sticky note,

he/she should ask, “Is my word _____?” as his 1 yes-or-no

question.

• Continue to go around the circle until all students have figured

out which word appears on their forehead.

Vocab van gogh INSTRUCTIONS:

• Split students into two teams.

• Have teams alternately send 1 contestant to the front of the

room.

• Show contestant 1 word and definition from the current

vocabulary list.

• Ask students to draw a picture that illustrates the given

vocabulary word.

• Set a timer for 30 seconds.

• Tell the contestant’s teammates to guess which word is being

portrayed (team only gets 3 guesses per turn).

• Give contestant’s team 1 point if teammates guess correctly

within 30 seconds.

• Move to the next team and repeat.

• The first team to reach 20 points wins.

MIME MASTER INSTRUCTIONS:

• Split students into two teams.

• Have teams take turns sending 1 contestant to the front of the

classroom.

• Show contestant 1 word and definition from the current

vocabulary list.

• Tell contestant to act out an interpretation of the vocabulary

word, using no words or sound.

• Set a timer for 30 seconds.

• Tell contestant’s teammates to guess which word is being

illustrated. (Team only has 3 guesses per turn.)

• Give contestant’s team 1 point if they guess the correct word

within 30 seconds.

• Move to the next team and repeat.

• The first team to reach 20 points wins!

Forbidden phrase INSTRUCTIONS:

• Split students into 2 or 3 teams.

• Have teams take turns sending 1 contestant to the front of the

room.

• Show contestant 1 word and definition from the current vocabulary

list, along with 6 words or phrases that the student cannot say.

• Tell contestant to describe word to teammates without using any

forbidden words.

• Set a timer for 30 seconds.

• Tell contestant’s teammates to guess word being described (team

gets only 3 guesses per turn).

• Give 1 point if teammates guess the correct word within 30 seconds.

If the contestant says a forbidden word, that turn is immediately

over.

• Move to the next team and repeat.

• The first team to reach 20 points wins!

Jargon jog INSTRUCTIONS:

• Split students into 2 teams.

• If room is cramped, take students to a larger room, a gym,

or a large outdoor area.

• Use duct tape to place an “x” on the ground, with a line 10

feet to the left and 10 feet to the right of the “x.”

• Have one team line up behind each line.

• Call out a word from the current vocabulary list. The

student at the front of each line must run to the “x.”

• Have the first student to arrive at the “x” give the correct

definition within 1 second of arriving.

• Give 1 point to the correct team.

• The first team to reach 20 points wins!

Word whack INSTRUCTIONS:

• Split students into two teams.

• Have each team send 1 contestant to the front of the

room.

• Instruct contestants to hold their hands behind their backs.

Place a “buzzer” in front of each student.

• Call out a word from the current vocabulary list.

• Instruct contestants to slap the “buzzer” if they know the

correct definition.

• Have the contestant who hit the “buzzer” first to shout out

the definition within 1 second of their buzz. If the student

takes longer than 1 second, let the other contestant guess.

• Give 1 point to the correct guesser’s team.

• Keep playing until 1 team reaches 20 points.

Lingo launch INSTRUCTIONS:

• Take students to the gym or outdoor basketball court. (If a

basketball court is not available, you can use a trash can

and paper balls in lieu of a hoop.)

• Line students up at the free throw line.

• Give the first student a basketball and let him take a shot.

• If the student makes the basket, call out a word from the

current vocabulary list.

• If the student provides the correct definition, instruct him

to return to the back of the line. If he misses the shot or

does not know the definition, he can help you with

rebounds.

• Tell students that the goal is to be the last student in line.

• Repeat the game several times.

Memory Match • Several vocabulary words and their definitions are written on

the playing cards.

• Select one person to be the game’s “host.”

• The host should place the cards face down in five rows, as

shown below. X X X X X X X X X X

X X X X X X X X X X

X X X X X X X X X X

X X X X X X X X X X

X X X X X X X X X X

• Split into two teams.

• The first team must choose two cards to flip over.

• The team must tell the host if the two cards are a matching

word and definition. If the team gets a match and answers

correctly, they will keep the two cards.

• If they answer incorrectly, skip their next turn. If they do not get a

match but answer correctly, simply move on to the next team.

• At the end of the game, the team with the most cards wins!

Guess that word INSTRUCTIONS:

• Write the vocabulary word on the top of a card.

• Write five synonyms or related words under the

vocabulary word.

• Split students into two teams.

• Have each team send 1 contestant to the front of the

room.

• The contestant can say the five synonyms or related

words to his/her teammates.

• Tell contestant’s teammates to guess the word being

described (team gets only 3 guesses per turn).

• Give 1 point if teammates guess the correct word.

• Move to the next team and repeat.

• The first team to reach 20 points wins!

Vocab checkers INSTRUCTIONS:

• Before you begin, create your Vocabulary Checkers checkerboard by writing a

different vocabulary word in each of the shaded squares. • Place the vocabulary board and checkers between you and your opponent (you can use pennies and nickels, two different colored dots, or classic check game pieces). • The checker pieces will only move on the shaded squares, so each player should set up their pieces on the 12 dark squares in the first three rows closest to him or

her. • Take turns moving the checkers one space diagonally. When a player wants to make a move, she or he has to say a sentence using the vocabulary word on the space to which she or he wants to move. • A player who does not use the vocabulary word correctly in the sentence does not get to move. • Likewise, if a player wants to “double jump,” she or he must use both vocabulary

words in the same sentence. If one of the words is used incorrectly, the move cannot be made at all. • All other checkers rules apply! • The first player to remove their opponent’s pieces from the board wins.

Vocab bingo INSTRUCTIONS:

• Students write their vocabulary words on the Bingo card (no hints as to

what each word means).

• The teacher calls out only definitions or synonyms to the class; each

student has to match the teacher’s definition with the proper word on

his/her sheet.

• Students can shout “Bingo!” if they get five across, down, or diagonal.

• The winning student must confirm that the words on his/her Bingo

board match the definitions that have been called out by the

teacher.

• If no one gets Bingo, students play until all the slots are covered.

• Once one student has won “Bingo,” the game can be repeated with

other lessons, or continue playing and have multiple winners.

• The first Bingo winner can help call out new definitions and check off

winning Bingo cards if there are multiple winners.

• Variation: To win, a student must use all five of the “Bingo” words in

one or two sentences that make sense.

Think-tac-toe

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Distribute Think-Tac-Toe sheet to each student.

• Students must choose three squares to create a tic-tac-toe,

either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

• Remember you must go in a straight line; you can’t just pick

three assignments at random.

You’re On A Roll! Directions: • Roll the dice.

• Use the chart on the right

so you know what to do

next.

• Get it right, move ahead the same number of

spaces as you rolled.

• Miss it and stay where you

are.

• Take turns, be creative and have fun.

• First one to finish wins!

Select a Term & Roll: 1. Use the word in a

sentence

2. List two synonyms for the

word

3. Give two antonyms for the word

4. Give the definition of the

word

5. Connect the word to

another vocabulary term 6. Ask a question using the

word

You’re On A Roll!

Start

Finish