Digital Play

By kylemawer 　http://digitalplay.info/blog/2009/10/word-up-with-fun-free-and-engaging-vocabulary-games/

Here’s a brief description of ten word games that require very little preparation and some tips on how to use them.  All these games were chosen because they are free, easily accessible, engaging and fun for English Language Learners.

1)                 Fowl words – Seven hens have laid an egg each with a letter on.  Use the letters to spell as many words as you can before time runs out.  Great for pair work in the computer room.  One learner can use the keyboard and type the word then press the enter key while the other can use the mouse and click the letter then click the enter button on the screen.  Get them to note scores and challenge them to beat previous class scores.

2)                 Flip words – Click on the red letters to link them into words.  Great to play in open class and a real ‘shout ‘em out’ favourite.  No time limit here so it gives individuals some time to think or maybe even use a dictionary.  Stop the game and declare the winner when someone guesses the category at the top.

3)                  Boggle – Nice little three minute team activity.  Present the game in open class and get teams to shout out words.  While you type them in someone in each time should write down the words their team said.  You can decide whether you accept all words or question any you’re not sure about.  When the game ends teams can check what points they got for each word, add up their score and see who the winner is.

4)                 Bookworm – Play the web game version at the beginning of a class.  If you see any yourself you can help out by giving the class a definition to think about or a translation to look up.  Don’t forget to give the class time to read and ask you about the instructions that pop up.  Keep a record of scores to beat for when you play in another class.

5)                 Alphabet jungle – Make sure your learners understand the instructions and start the game.  You don’t even have to play it.  Learners look at the six letters and use a dictionary, a pen and a piece of paper to write down any words they can make.  When time runs out the game gives them the list of correct words and all they have to do is count how many they got right!

6)                 Scrabble blast – A fun computer room warmer or fast finisher activity.  Learners read the instructions and play the game.  It’s a lot like the popular board game ‘scrabble’. Your learners can either try to beat previous class scored records or play to beat another team head to head.

7)                  Text twist – Use the letters to spell as many words as you can before time runs out.  Great for a ‘shout ‘em out’ activity in open class.  Teams take it in turns to send a member up to the computer.  The team has to describe a word to their colleague at the computer who has to think and type fast if they are to pass the turn to the other team.  The team who has a member at the computer when time runs out is the loser.  Don’t allow time wasting – that’s cheating!

8)                 Spot the difference – An open class activity for higher levels.  Can teams spot the differences and write them all down before another team can?  You can set your own time limit with your watch to challenge them a little more.  First team to get them all written down and delivered to your table is the winner.

9)                 5 Spot difference – Can the class spot the differences and tell someone with the mouse where they are before time runs out?  Don’t let them use words like up, down, left and right – it’s a little more difficult that way!

10)             Puzzle maker – why not get your learners to make their own word game?  This site is great for recycling vocabulary and you can use word searches for lower levels or challenge higher levels with writing clues for their own crosswords.

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