Common Games

• Use games such as Bingo, Memory, Pictionary or Jeopardy to create vocabulary games. You can use an old game you have on hand, create a game board on the computer or print out free paper game boards at an educational website. Often children know the rules of these games already so you simply introduce the vocabulary with which you want them to play.
  
  For Bingo, place the vocabulary words on the game cards where the numbers usually go; then call out the definition of the word. Students match the definition you say to the word on their card and place a marker on it.
  
  Create Memory cards using index cards or paper printouts. Print the vocabulary words on half the cards and the definition on the other half. After shuffling the stack and placing them upside down, children turn over cards two at a time trying to match definitions to words.
  
  For Jeopardy, write the definitions on the Jeopardy board where the answers usually go in the traditional game. Children turn over a definition and must guess the vocabulary word that matches it, stating it in a question and winning the corresponding points or dollar amounts.
  
  With Pictionary, students take turns drawing their interpretation or meaning of the word while other students try to guess the word.
  
  

Active Games

• Active games can also teach vocabulary. To play a matching game, print out vocabulary words on one color paper and definitions on another. Play a matching vocabulary game by passing all the papers out, both words and definitions, one to each child. The children crumple up the paper into a ball while standing in a large circle. Everyone throws the paper ball into the center of the circle on the adult's signal. Afterward, everyone retrieves a paper ball, opens it, reads it and attempts to match words and definitions.
  
  Print out two sets of words and definitions for a relay game. Divide the children into two teams. Place the words face up and spread them out in two locations on the floor. Across the room, have the two teams line up, Then give each child a definition. The first child in each line crosses the room, finds the word that matches his definition and returns with it. The next child goes as soon as the one in front of him returns. Play continues until every child has had a turn. You are responsible for checking to see that the winning team has matched words and definitions correctly. The first team to finish with all words and definitions correctly matched wins. If no one has all words correct, the team with the most correctly matched words and definitions wins.
  
  

Reinforce Known Vocabulary

• Build general vocabulary by challenging children with word games. Games that force children to recall and use words correctly strengthen vocabulary skills. In the game Hink-Pink, children work in teams to come up with a set of rhyming words to answer a teacher challenge. Each team needs a pencil and piece of paper. The adult plays game host and asks questions that can be answered with a pair of rhyming words such as "What two rhyming words mean an unhappy father?" The children answer by writing "sad dad" on their paper. Determine team winner by number of correct answers when the game is over.
  
  Play a vocabulary ABC game with students seated in a circle. Player 1 says a category and a word such as "animals, cat." The next person must say another word in the category starting with the next letter of the alphabet. For example, the next player says "animals, deer". Player 1 may start with any letter of the alphabet but the remaining players must state a word in that category that comes next alphabetically. If someone answers incorrectly or cannot answer, he sits out. The next player changes the category and states a word, and play continues. The last player remaining wins.