Depending on their levels, many students may not be confident enough in their speaking to volunteer to speak in front of their classmates and teachers. It is a social risk to open themselves up and be vulnerable in front of their school community. Students learning a second language take the chance of being mocked or humiliated if they mispronounce words or say them out of order in a sentence. At times, even we as teachers don’t realize that we are embarrassing students in the way we correct them.

There are many learning strategies appropriate for an ESL classroom, but one way to encourage ESL students to practice speaking English is to create a low-pressure scenario using fun games. Students may be hesitant to participate at first, but before they know it, they will be taking risks and speaking aloud without even realizing it! Here are a few fun games to try with your ESL students.

ESL Games to Try in Your Classroom

Taboo

In my opinion, Taboo is the best game to get students talking when they might normally be timid and shy. Taboo is a great way for students to practice their vocabulary when describing nouns. There are several ways to play this game, but to start, I would recommend playing as a whole class to model the concept.

Create a Powerpoint or Google Slide presentation with one noun on each slide. Have one student sit in a chair in front of the board, facing the class. The class then describes the word that is displayed on the board (without using the actual word) until the student seated up front guesses the word. A modification of this could be to assign students into groups of four or five with a stack of index cards with nouns written on them in the middle.

Students take turns giving clues to the guesser until they say the word that is on the card. In the end, the student with the most cards successfully guessed is the winner. This game is always fun and students become more and more engaged as the game progresses. It is great for practicing vocabulary and synonyms, and the team aspect takes the spotlight off of a single speaker.

Pictionary

Like Taboo, this game is great for creating an atmosphere that is low-pressure and fast-paced for students to take risks in speaking. For Pictionary, have the class divided into two teams with each team sending one student to the board at a time. Divide the board into two sides and give each student at the board a card with a word (noun) to draw out for their teams to guess.

Setting a timer and having students draw as many words as they can while their team correctly guesses them before the timer runs out can add a fun level of intensity to the game. The team with the most words successfully guessed wins!

Guess Who?

Guess Who? is a great way for teams of two to practice adjectives and to use vocabulary words that describe physical attributes. This is especially low-stress for the most timid and shy ESL students, since they will only be speaking with one other person and not in front of the entire class.

The concept of the game is simple to use for any grade level. When using this game, be careful to actively monitor students so that they do not slip back into their first language when they think that no one is listening to them. Older students can play best three out of five games, or turn it into a class tournament and post the winners for other classes to see.

Jenga

Modifying Jenga to practice conversational English is a great way to get students speaking English aloud with each other in pairs or small groups. The teacher should use a permanent marker to write one question in English on each block piece. As a player removes a piece, they must ask the question to another player, who must answer the question in English before the other player can place the piece on the top of the tower. Here are several examples of questions to write on the blocks.

• Can you describe your favorite animal?
• Who lives at your home?
• Can you describe your favorite place to be?
• What is your favorite meal?

The bonus to using this game is that it also builds community and positive relationships within the classroom. Students will get to know each other and it can double as an icebreaker.

There are many more useful and fun games to implement in an ESL classroom. The key is to look for opportunities for students to speak English with each other in a low-stress, safe environment. Providing positive feedback and being extra conscientious of our own reactions to students speaking English will also encourage students’ willingness to take risks and try new words! These four examples will get you started on the road to students speaking English and having fun at the same time!

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In this post-COVID era, where students have experienced varied levels of engagement and comprehension, differentiated instruction has become a powerful and popular tool to ensure students will thrive academically. As educators continue to cater to diverse learning styles, many are using classroom games as a fun and effective way to differentiate instruction in their classrooms.

What is Differentiated Instruction?

Differentiated instruction is a technique that accommodates the learning style, readiness, and interests of every student. It typically involves using various instructional methods to convey identical information to students depending on their learning style. The primary objective of differentiated instruction is to ensure that all students are engaged in the learning process by providing tasks that align with each student’s specific needs.

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, a more personalized approach to learning has gained popularity more so than the traditional one-size-fits-all approach that is typically been used in classrooms. This may be due to the extended period using remote or hybrid learning, which showed educators needed to be more flexible and adaptable to the needs of students.

Why Games are an Effective Way to Differentiate Instruction

There are several ways teachers can differentiate instruction, including flexible grouping, learning centers, tiered assignments, or providing students with a selection of activities to choose from. Although these methods can be engaging for students, integrating classroom games can be a more dynamic and interactive way to engage students using differentiated learning. Here are a few reasons why using classroom games can be an effective approach.

Collaborative Learning Opportunity

Games often encourage students to work together, fostering teamwork and building classroom community. This cooperative learning opportunity allows students with different strengths to contribute their unique strengths and skills based on their abilities.

Caters to Different Learning Styles

Games are inclusive and can cater to different learning styles. Whether a student prefers verbal interaction or a hands-on activity, games can accommodate different learning styles and modalities.

Reinforces Skills

Games offer students an opportunity to practice and reinforce specific skills. By playing games, students strengthen these skills, ensuring that they grasp the information through repetition. This is especially beneficial for any student who needs additional practice, a deeper understanding of a subject, or those who need to be challenged because they grasp concepts very quickly.

Varied Levels of Complexity

Many games offer diverse difficulty levels, making it easy for students to select levels based on their current skill set. This can empower students to tailor their learning experience as well as foster a personalized learning experience.

Intrinsic Motivator

Games tap into the internal motivation of students, where their natural curiosity and competitiveness to achieve and win lies. The element of competition or the desire to outperform their classmates can create an engaging and motivating learning experience for students.

How to Differentiate Instruction Using Classroom Games

Using classroom games can be an effective way to meet the diverse learning needs of your students. Here are a few tips to help differentiate instruction using classroom games.

Modify Rules

Adapt the rules of the game to meet the needs of all students. You can do this by creating varied levels of difficulty. For example, if playing a math game, you can adjust the complexity of the problems to suit the varying skill levels of each student. If playing a science game on biology, you can customize the questions to cover different branches of biology allowing students to choose which branch they want to focus on. You can do the same thing for a geography quiz or historical events.

Allow Game Choice

Offering a selection of games or allowing students full autonomy not only will align them with the games that pique their interest but will also help to foster a sense of ownership over students’ learning. In addition, it can help them stay motivated and engaged in the learning process. For example, let’s say students were learning about the solar system. One game option can be a trivia challenge for more advanced learners, another can be a board game about planet facts, and another can be a hands-on game that reinforces concepts.

Rotate Game Stations

Rotating stations is an effective strategy to differentiate instruction using classroom games. This approach allows you to address diverse learning styles and cater to individual preferences. For example, different stations can focus on specific skills or concepts allowing students to move from station to station based on their needs. This will also ensure you’re appealing to all learning preferences.

Try Flexible Grouping

Flexible grouping allows you to tailor learning experiences based on the abilities of individual students. When you form groups based on varying levels of ability, style, and interest, you can cater to specific groups. This approach ensures that each student receives targeted instruction that maximizes their learning experience as well as challenges them. Additionally, peer collaboration is an added benefit where students can play off one another’s strengths.

Incorporate Reflection and Feedback

Embedding reflection during gameplay can be an effective strategy. Pre-game reflection can be a good starting point and help to set the stage for students’ current standing of information while post-game reflection can help students gain a deeper understanding of the game and what they’ve learned. Peer feedback can also be an effective way to enhance learning because it helps to create a supportive learning environment where students learn from one another and can share different strategies.

By incorporating differentiated instruction through classroom games, you are meeting all students’ diverse needs and creating an inclusive and engaging learning environment. Facilitating interactive games can also help to instill a love for learning that goes far beyond the classroom.

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Hunting for Hearts

For this party game, have students cut out hearts of all different sizes and colors. Then have one group of students scatter them all around the room while another group waits outside of the classroom. On your go, students who were waiting in the hall must come into the classroom and find as many hearts as they can in the time allotted. The person who finds the most hearts wins. If you want to make this game more advanced, you can assign each heart a different amount of points for the size or color.

Heart Stack

Heart Stack is a minute-to-win-it-themed game that is quite popular on Pinterest. All you need for this Valentine’s Day game is a lot of candy hearts. To play, divide students into teams. Each team has one minute to stack the candy hearts as high as they can without them falling over. Teams can work together, or you can assign one team member from each group to go for their team. The giant candy hearts work the best for this game.

Candy Heart Relay

Candy Heart Relay is another one of those minute-to-win-it games where students must work fast to win. To play, you will need conversation candy hearts, plastic cups, and plastic spoons. Fill two cups with the candy and a spoon and place the other two cups across the room from where the students will be standing. Then, divide students into two teams and have them stand in a relay race line. The goal is for students to take turns carrying a spoon full of hearts to fill the empty cup across the room. The first team to transfer all of their candy hearts into their empty cup wins.

Musical Hearts

Musical hearts is a fun game to get students up and moving, but it will take a little prep work to put the game together. However, you can enlist the help of students if you don’t want to do it yourself. For this game, you will need large paper hearts (or you can buy foam hearts from the store). On one side of each heart, write a challenge for students to do. Together as a class, you can brainstorm ideas, such as hop on one foot, do five pushups, make a silly face, etc.

Once you have completed the hearts, place all of them on the floor in a circle face down so you cannot see the writing. Next, turn on music and have students walk in a circle on the hearts (they will need to take their shoes off). When the music stops, whatever heart the students are standing on, they must flip it over and do the challenge. The game continues until you say it’s over.

Heart-Stopping Fun

This game is a variation of the game Hot Potato, but instead of a potato, you use heart cut-outs. To prepare for the game, you must cut out a class supply of paper hearts in a variety of colors. Begin the game by giving students hearts randomly, then starting the music. Students have to pass their heart to the person on their right until the music stops. Once the music stops, the teacher calls out a color. If a student has that color, they have to spell one of their spelling words. If they do not spell it correctly, they are out. If they spell it correctly, they are still in the game. You can also use math equations, vocabulary words, or any other concept students need to review.

Valentine’s Day games for kids are a fun diversion from the monotony of your everyday routine. By choosing interactive games, like the Heart Stopping Fun game, you’re reinforcing learning concepts while still having fun and celebrating the holiday. It’s a win-win for everyone.

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Classroom Activities and Games

A simple way to engage students in learning is to make it fun. Here are a few fun classroom games and activities to use in the classroom this New Year.

Spot It

If you’ve ever heard of the matching game Spot It, then you’ll like this classroom adaption. Just like in the original game, the goal is to be the first person to spot the correct answer. To play, first come up questions related to a topic students are learning and at least two answers, with one being the correct answer. Once you have your questions and answers, students must form two teams and stand in line with one student behind the other. On your go, one person from each team races to spot the correct answer on the board. The game continues until only one person is left. This fun review game is great because it can be adapted for any grade level.

Three Cups

Three Cups is another classroom game where students are divided into two relay race teams. However, for this game they are taking turns one group at a time. To prepare for this game, you must create a questionnaire based on any current topic students are learning. To begin, each team takes turns answering questions. If the student gets the answer correct, they get to throw a ball at one of three cups. Each cup is worth a certain amount of points, which you can determine at an earlier time. If the student knocks down the cup they aimed for, they receive that amount of points for their team. The team to get the highest amount of points at the end of the game wins.

Read My Mind

Read My Mind is a classroom game that can be used to reinforce learned skills, as well as help students build their vocabulary. To begin, the teacher thinks of a topic and ten words related to that topic. The teacher then gives students the topic and sets the timer for one to three minutes, during which students write down as many words as they can that relate to the topic. Students receive one point for each word that matches the teacher’s. Topics can be practically anything, from what students are learning about, such as planets or presidents, to simple topics, such as types of sports, fruits, or automobiles.

Without a Voice

If you’re looking for an alternative classroom activity where students are learning without talking, this game is for you. While it can be quite difficult for students to stay quiet throughout the entire game, it will teach students that they can still communicate with others without the use of their voice. There are a variety of different ways that students can partake in this activity. For example, you can challenge students to arrange themselves in alphabetical order or from shortest to tallest without using their voice. Another idea is to spell out a vocabulary word with each individual letter on a sticky note and place one sticky note on each student’s shirt. Then ask your students to arrange themselves with the correct spelling without talking. To make it even harder, you can set a timer.

Spin It to Spell It

Spin It to Spell It is a spelling review game for elementary students. The only preparation for the game is to have a spinner, which is used to determine how many points each word are worth, and a list of the week’s spelling words. To play, divide students into two teams. Students can move their desks in two half-moons facing each other or sit on the carpet. To begin, teams take turns spinning the spinner and spelling a word off of the spelling list (which is directed by the teacher). The first team who gets a set amount of points wins!

Classroom activities and games are a great way to engage students and break up the monotony of your everyday routine. Try and incorporate one of these fun games at least once a week, and you’ll see students’ motivation and engagement rise.

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How Games Help Keep Students Engaged in the Classroom

Games help to grab students’ attention and keep them actively engaged in learning. Playing games requires students to pay attention. As the game moves quickly, students must stay alert. As students play games, it helps them to develop their focus. Learning this attentiveness can help students stay focused as they continue learning throughout the day.

How Games Help Students Retain Information and Skills

Through games, students can learn and develop a variety of essential skills such as teamwork, good sportsmanship, creativity, and critical thinking skills. As students play card games, they are using their working memory to think and react quickly. Most games also require students to use their problem-solving skills, which is important in cognitive development.

Card Games that Utilize Math

One of the great things about using playing cards for math games is that they can be customized to suit any skill level, so any card game can be changed to meet your students’ specific needs. Grab a few decks of cards and introduce these math games to your students.

Go Fish – Go Fish is a childhood favorite that most students should already know how to play. For this version, students will go fishing for pairs that add up to ten. Face cards are eliminated, and aces are used as a number one. You can easily customize this card game by merely changing the number that students go fishing for.

Beat the Teacher – Challenge students to beat the teacher by drawing cards and trying to build the largest number possible. Have students use a place value chart to keep track of their number. You can customize this card game by simply putting a limit on how large the number can get.

Twenty One – This game is a slightly simplified version of Blackjack. The object of this game is to be closest to the number 21 without going over. Each player is dealt two cards and have the option to be dealt another card to help improve their hand. The person closest to 21 gets a point; if they go over 21, they get zero points. The first player that gets to 10 points wins. To customize this game to suit your student’s needs, change the number students are trying to reach.

Math card games are a great alternative to worksheets and can be used to review skills or help demonstrate students’ knowledge. They are an effective way to grab students’ attention while learning through the process. If you have 20 minutes to spare or want to use some class time to give your students a fun break, try a card game.

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Classroom Games

Turn review time into fun time with games. A review game is the perfect solution to get students working together. Here are a few to try out.

Monopoly – For this review game, each student is on his own, there are no teams. Each student receives the same amount of Monopoly money. They are allowed to wager their money based on how confident they know the answer to the review question you ask. If they get the question correct, they keep the money, if they are wrong their money goes to the next person who gets the answer correct. At the end of the game they can cash their money in for prizes.

Family Feud – Divide students into two teams. One person from each team must go against one another to answer a review question. If they get it right their team gets a point. To engage the other students while they are playing, have the rest of the team write the answers to the questions in their journals.

The Hot Seat – For this review game, have one student sit facing the class. Write a vocabulary word on the board behind their seat. The audience raises their hands and the “Hot Seat” student can call on three students for clues to guess the word. Change the “Hot Seat” student if they don’t get the word correct.

Jeopardy! – This fun game can be done using the Smartboard, PowerPoint, or just on the blackboard. You can find downloadable Jeopardy formats on the internet, or create your own. To begin, create questions and answers worth a specific amount of points. Divide the students into two teams and have each team choose a number. Their goal is to answer the question that is attached to the number they chose.

Pass the Chicken – You will need to purchase a rubber chicken for this fun review game. To begin, have students sit in a circle. Randomly ask one student a review question while the rubber chicken gets passed around the circle. If the rubber chicken arrives back at the student before he/she answers they must go to the middle (the pot) of the circle. The chicken is then passed to the next person, and so on. If the next student does not get the answer correct, then ask the students in the “Pot” if they know the answer. If they do, then they may get out of the pot and go back to the circle. Be sure to enlist a few safety rules, the students can tend to get rough with the rubber chicken.

Ping Pong – Divide students into two teams. Students work as a team to answer a review question. Then, if they answer it correctly, they get a chance to bounce a ball into one of three plastic cups to get a prize for their team. Prizes can be a homework pass, free time, extra computer time, lunch in the classroom, and so on.

Bingo – Review Bingo is another classroom favorite. To change it up a bit, use candy as the markers. Have students program their bingo cards with their vocabulary words and pull questions randomly.

Beach Ball – Purchase a white beach ball and write a variety of review questions on the ball. Then have students sit on top of their desks. The goal of this game is to play catch. When a student catches the ball, the must answer the question their right thumb is touching.

Headbands – A fun spin on the popular game headbands is to write a review term on a post-it note. Each student must stick the note to her forehead without looking at it. Their goal is to figure out what the term on the forehead is. For example, if one person had the word “Nectar” on his sticky note, their team members would give them clues, such as a sugar-rich liquid, it attracts pollinating animals, and so on.

Spin the Wheel – Create a wheel with a variety of review questions on it. Then randomly call upon students to come up and spin the wheel to see if they can answer the question correctly.

There are a lot of great review games out there. Any one that you choose will increase student engagement and help students learn the material. Just make sure that you keep anything that you make yourself so can reuse it again next year.

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Why are Games an Effective Engagement Tool?

According to research, using games in the classroom can increase student participation by motivating students through experiences they enjoy and want to continue to play. According to psychologists, play contributes to a child’s cognitive development and helps to foster social and emotional learning. Classroom games also add flair to boring topics or a much-needed break when integrated to relevant learning objectives.

Engaging Classroom Games for Students

Here are some current, popular K-12 classroom games to help motivate and engage learners.

Who’s the imposter?

Among Us is a multi-player game (4-10 players) that takes place on one of three maps: spaceship, sky base, alien planet. Each player in the game is secretly assigned a role of a crewmate or an imposter. The crewmates must complete tasks before getting killed by the imposter or identifying the imposter, while the imposter’s job is to eliminate as many crewmates as they can before being identified. This game fosters many skills: higher-order thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and reasoning to name a few. Teachers can either use this game as a motivational tool (fun Friday) or use the concept of the game. For example, find the imposter with math facts, create your own escape room, or play Among Us using Flipgrid.

Chess

The game of chess is growing in popularity thanks to the television show the Queen’s Gambit. Over 62 million people watched the extraordinary talent of a young orphan playing chess and now everyone wants to give it a try. Teachers can jump on the bandwagon and get their students excited about chess too. What is often regarded as a game of intelligence and logic can also help build confidence in students. Research shows 72% of students say that learning to play chess has made them more confident when learning difficult material. It also shows to increases memory, problem-solving skills, and concentration. Students can learn the game in the classroom or online at Chess.com.

Minecraft

Minecraft is transforming education with millions of students learning with the education edition. This collaborative game, where students work competitively but also together to solve problems and challenges has so many possibilities and potential for different uses in the classroom. The game can be used for a tool for writing – create stories based on your character, as a way to build digital citizenship – effectively communicating with others, or to help make history come alive – show knowledge of historic places or create historic experiences. While Minecraft is a complex game, it’s also very engaging and can really help to develop key skills that students need to learn.

The Stand-Up Game

The Stand-Up game also known as the “Nunchi Game” in South Korea, is a popular classroom game that can be played in-person or virtually. The goal of the game is for students to one at a time stand up and say a number, but if two students stand up at the same time, then they are out. If playing virtually students just shout out the number versus standing up. To play, choose a number to count up to. Instruct students that one student must stand up and say the number 1. Then a different student must stand up and say number 2, and so on up to the number you choose to go to.  Any student can stand up at any time, but if two students stand up at the same time, then they lose.

Kahoot and Quizizz

Interactive game platforms like Kahoot and Quizizz are so engaging that many teachers are now reporting that their students are requesting to play them as part of their learning. These free gamified quizzes are a great tool for teachers to scaffold and can be calibrated to any ability level. Students love playing them because they are not only fun but “you don’t feel like you’re learning when you play”, said one student.

Story Cubes

Story Cubes are a literacy and story-telling tool (or game) that teachers can use in their classroom. There are 9 dice with 54 images total. You can purchase the original set, the action set, or voyages set. By rolling the dice, a different set of images is revealed, and students must tell a story that involves all nine images. These cubes can be used individually as a writing prompt to help students write a story or be used competitively as a game. If using as a game, break students up into three teams. Then, instruct students to roll the die and together as group come up with a story. Then one member of each group reads the story to the class and students vote on the best team’s story to see which group wins!

Games can have a powerful impact on learning and are also quite useful in the classroom because they allow students to socialize and learn to communicate better with one another. When implementing games, don’t rule anything out; many games can help develop a slew of practical skills that you didn’t even think about before.

*Updated July 2021

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Here are a few fun classroom games about spelling to incorporate into your weekly lessons.

Spelling Word Relay

Word relay is a fun and competitive spelling game for all ages.

How to Play:

Divide students into two teams. Have each team stand in a line (just like you would in a relay race) one behind the other. When the teacher says go, the first team member of each team races to the board and has to write a spelling word that begins with the last letter of the word that was written on the board. For example, the teacher would draw a line down the center of the board and on each side would write one word. For this example the word is “clock.” The team member that is at the board would have to write a spelling word that starts with a “k” such as knock. If they do not have a spelling word that starts with a “k,” then they move to the letter before, which in this example would be “c.” Once the team member writes the word they quickly pass the chalk or marker to the next person on the team, and so on, until all of the members have gone. The first team to finish wins!

Sink and Spell

Sink and spell is just like the game Battleship. It is a fun spelling game that is played with a partner to help reinforce spelling words.

How to Play:

Pair students together and give each student a sheet of paper. Have students draw a grid with letters on the top and numbers on the side. Then have students write about five of their spelling words in boxes on the grid they made. Students take turns calling out boxes. If they call out a box and a letter isn’t there then that is considered a miss. The goal of the game is to find the spelling words. The first one to find all of the words wins.

Spelling Squares (Tic Tac Toe)

This is a Tic Tac Toe spelling game to help reinforce spelling words.

How to Play:

Divide students into teams of two. Each team gets a pile of their spelling words, along with a tic tac toe board. The first player draws a card from the deck and reads the word to their partner. The partner then spells the word. If they get it correct they draw an “x” or an “o” on the tic tac toe board. If they get it wrong then they cannot place anything on the board. Then the next player goes, and so on. This continues until someone gets tic tac toe.

Spelling Boom!

Spelling Boom is a fun hands-on spelling game to reinforce spelling words. This game can be played with a partner, in a large group, or with a small group.

How to Play:

To play Spelling Boom you must write spelling words on popsicle sticks or small index cards. Make sure to write the word “Boom” on a few of the sticks or cards. Each player blindly draws a stick or card and hands it to the teacher or another player to read the word. If they spell the word correctly they get to keep the stick or card. If they answer it incorrectly then they must put it back into the cup or pile. If the student chooses a Boom stick or card they must put back all of the words that they have collected so far. The person with the most sticks or cards at the end of the game wins!

Word Jump

Word jump is a physical classroom spelling game to help students remember their spelling words.

How to Play:

The teacher writes a few spelling words on a piece of paper and places them on the floor. The goal is to have students see how many words they can jump on correctly when the teacher says the word. For example, the teacher would say the word “fox” and students would look on the ground and have to be the first to jump on that word.

Try and incorporate as many classroom spelling games into your weekly schedule as you possibly can. Not only are they beneficial for students, but they give students something to look forward to. Games are fun!

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How it Works

Before beginning a new chapter or unit of study, the teacher determines important terminology or key concepts for the topic. Then the words are “splashed” or displayed (preferably in an angle) on the front board or somewhere in the classroom. Students brainstorm and generate complete statements connecting the words or phrases. They predict how the words relate to the main topic. Once they have predicated and generated their statements, students then read the printed material to check their accuracy and revise if needed.

Introducing Word Splash

Word Splash can be used for any topic and in any subject. Before introducing Word Splash, decide on a topic and determine the most important vocabulary words or key concepts about that topic. For this example we will be using the following terms: slavery, freedom, conductor, Underground Railroad, abolitionist, Harriet Tubman.

1. As a prereading activity or as part of your regimen of classroom games, display words on the front board (or in any creative way you like) and explain that the words you are reading to the students relate to an article they are going to read.
2. Have students work in pairs to predict what they topic is going to be about.
3. Once students have shared their predications, you can now write your topic, “Harriet Tubman,” on the front board.
4. Then, students must connect two or more of the words together and tell how they will go together in the article. They must do this for all of the words.
5. Students then need to read the article on Harriet Tubman and learn how the words are connected. Tell students to compare the connections with their predications and revise if needed.
6. Students can next share their findings with another pair.

How to Keep it Fun and Interesting

To keep the Word Splash strategy fun, vary the way you present it. Here are a few ideas.

• Write vocabulary words on a name tag and stick it to the students’ shirts.
• Display words on paper and hang them from the ceiling with wire hangers or paper clips.
• Use window markers and write the vocabulary words on the window.
• Write words in different colored chalk on the front board.
• Write words on sticky notes and place randomly around the classroom.

Suggestions for Application

Here are a few ways you can use the Word Splash strategy in your classroom as part of your collection of classroom games.

• Create a Word Splash prior to viewing an educational video; then pause the video periodically for students to discuss and revise their predictions.
• Create a Word Splash prior to having a guest speaker. After the speaker has completed their presentation, have students share their predications with the guest.
• Use the Word Splash strategy for summarizing. Have students read a passage and then create their own Word Splash of what they feel are the key terms or ideas in the passage.
• Create a Word Splash with pictures. Display a variety of pictures for students and ask them what they think the key ideas are in the photos.

• Extension activity: Have students use the words to write complete sentences about Harriet Tubman. For example. Harriet Tubman was a conductor on the Underground Railroad. She was an Abolitionist who escaped slavery to help other African-American slaves escape to freedom.
• Word Splash can also be used to teach important math terminology. Before beginning a unit on measurement, write the following key terms on the front board: area, centimeter, inches, foot, length, height, perimeter, meter. Have students read the words and guess what each term means. Hang the terms from the ceiling and keep them their throughout the unit. As the unit progresses, encourage students to draw and write their own definitions of the terms in their notebooks. This can be used as a study aid to help students recall words.

Research shows that we read better when we have a purpose. The Word Splash strategy is the perfect choice for struggling or reluctant readers. It provides them with a purpose for reading, which helps capture their attention and motivate them to learn.

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Social Studies

Social studies involve learning about history, geography, and government, among many other topics. Any social studies subtopic that students are learning about can be turned into a hands-on activity. For example, when learning about maps, students can create their own salt map. If they are learning about Native Americans and their culture, students can prepare a traditional meal or learn a traditional dance and present it to the class. If they are learning about ancient civilizations, they can create a model of a civilization, write their own play and present it, or recreate an artifact for that time.

Language Arts

There are endless possibilities for hands-on activities when it comes to language arts, especially for elementary students. Here are a few ideas.

• Use pipe cleaners, magnetic letters, sand, shaving cream, or clay to form letters, practice writing letters, sentences, rhyming words, opposites, etc.
• Use plastic Easter eggs to help students to learn opposites, rhyming, or compound words. To do that all you have to do is write one word on the outside of one of the eggs and the other word on the other egg. For example, if you want students to learn compound words, write “base” on one egg and “ball” on the other egg. Then students match the eggs.

Older students can benefit from hands-on activities as well. Here are a few ideas for them.

• Older students can learn about dialogue, imagery, and character development by recreating scenes from a novel they are reading.
• They can learn complex parts of speech and grammar by constructing sentences. To do this all they have to do is write words of various kinds (adjective, participle, preposition, etc.) on cards and arrange themselves in a line to create a grammatically correct sentence.

Mathematics

Since ancient times, manipulatives have been used to help solve math problems. An abacus, tallies, stones, beads, and wooden counting boards are a just a few of the tools people used to help them learn math. Here are a few hands-on activities to help students learn math today.

• Kindergarten students must learn about coins and their value. Have students use a magnifying glass to observe each coin, have them sort coins into jars, and toss coins to predict their landing.
• Students can learn how to count money by filling a plastic Easter egg with coins. For example, write on a strip of paper, __ nickels = 25 cents. The students would then have to put the correct amount of nickels into the egg and write the answer on the paper.
• Students can take a yard stick and go around the classroom and measure items.

Have students use beads, coins, or candy to help them solve math problems. Any manipulative that you think would keep them actively engaged would be considered hands-on.

Science

For science, hands-on learning can entail observing, predicting, setting up experiments, and more. Here is a simple hands-on experiment for elementary students that examines what items will float and sink.

• For this experiment, all you need is a bowl of water, a cork, a stone, a coin, and a grape. Have students first predict what items will float and what items will sink in the water. Then have groups of students observe as they place the items in the water one by one.

Hands-on science experiments are fun and keep students actively engaged. You can find dozens of activities online that will wow your students.

Hands-on learning through activities and games is just one component that will help improve student learning. If you couple this with active learning, students will be become more engaged, effective, and efficient learners.

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