ceciliafelsenstein I hate when some of my pupils finish earlier than others… and it happens all the time, of course! When I taught at elementary school, I used to devote a whole billboard to activities which could be used as bell ringers or by early finishers. Students just chose the one they liked, ticked it beside their name and completed it.
I don’t own a billboard anymore and I need to work specifically on ELA…So I’ve decided to deal with vocabulary when some pupils finish before others or when we have some extra time…(it happens! Maybe your period has run short due to a long assembly, or many kids got late to class…). It is then (and also when we need to practise for a vocabulary test!) when I use these fun vocabulary games with any word lists we have been working on.
- CROSSWORD PUZZLE MAKER: Students need to create their own crossword puzzle. I sometimes assign them a category on vocabulary items they have been working on or isolated words. Sometimes, I even ask pupils to look for the words they want to include in a particular unit or topic. I really use this activity almost with each vocabulary unit I tackle. Students love it! They have fun creating the crossword puzzle and then they exchange it with a friend for him or her to solve it!
- ONE-PAGER GRAPHIC ORGANIZER: This activity is for words which are difficult to incorporate or remember. Students need to analyze vocabulary in detail in order to do this activity. They have to use a dictionary and also their creativity to draw and write examples. Yes, you’ll be working on few words. The good part? Your pupils will be using different thinking skills such as: remembering, understanding, applying, comparing and analyzing.
- WORD SEARCH MAKER: This is a fun activity for pupils to work on (individually or in pairs! ) It contains clear instructions and the necessary space for them to be able to complete their task. I ususally assign my pupils a category on vocabulary items they have been working on but they can also work or isolated words. Students could also be asked to choose and look for the words they want to include in a particular unit or topic.
I have suggested these vocabulary games because I DO use them frequently with my pupils and they love them! I also feel that they learn while having fun and they do not need my correction afterwards!
If you want to know a bit more about why I’ve decided to start a blog, click here!
