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Fun Spelling Games

Use some fun spelling games from time to tome to spark interest in your upper-grade students. These simple games will add variety to language instruction, and they have built-in vocabulary enrichment, too!

Game #1 - Word Sandwiches

Use the printable version of our games to print and go. Here's a peek at Game 1. The full text of all three games also appears below.

Word Sandwiches is just one of our fun spelling games! See the printable version for full details.

To solve a "word sandwich," students need to add a short word in the blanks between the first and last letters that are already supplied. A definition is provided to help them identify the missing word.

Example: T _ _ _ B Insert a soft droning sound to spell a part of the body. Answer: T H U M B

Ask students to first solve these ten words. Then assign students to work in pairs to make at least 3 more word sandwiches to share with the class. Or, if playing at home, ask 1-2 family members to make a list for another 1-2 family members to solve!

1. S _ _ _ K Insert a small vegetable and have to utter.

2. W _ _ _ H Insert a small animal and have anger.

3. H _ _ _ T Insert a part of the body and have another organ of the body.

4. F _ _ _ S Insert a fib and have annoying winged insects.

5. S _ _ _ E Insert a small piece of metal and have the backbone.

6. S _ _ _ E Insert a label and have a raised platform.

7. G _ _ _ _ S Insert to wander and have groups of trees.

8. T _ _ _ _ Y Insert to corrode and have reliable.

1. SPEAK 2. WRATH 3. HEART 4. FLIES 5. SPINE 6. STAGE 7. GROVES 8. TRUSTY

Game #2 The Vowel Game

Here's another fun spelling game that you can play several times with the entire class or family. It requires no preparation!

Make sure each person has a piece of paper and a pencil. Start with the vowel A. Ask each player to write as long a sentence as possible using no vowels other than A.

Example: Anna had a banana and a squash at class.

Allow five minutes for players to think and write. When time is up, ask students to share their sentences. (Optional: Award a point or small prize to the student with the longest sensible sentence.)

As time allows, move onto the vowel E, and so on.

These are a little tricky, right??!

Game #3 Words in Words

chrysanthemum

Make sure each student has a piece of paper and pencil. Write the word CHRYSANTHEMUM on the board or a large piece of paper posted on the refrigerator, if playing at home. (Note the correct spelling!) Ask students to copy the word on the top of their papers and number their lines from 1 to 10.

Next, read of these definitions aloud. Instruct students to find a word that matches your definition that can be spelled with the letters in CHRYSANTHEMUM. Tell them to write the correct word next to each number. Note: Some answers are quite easy; others are a bit difficult.

"Chrysanthemum" Definitions

1. A fable

2. What healthy people do

3. A city in Greece

4. Something that is worn

5. Needed to start a fire

6. An odor

7. An autumn flower

8. To hurry

9. A domestic animal

10. An insect

Assign students to work in pairs to select a new large word, find words inside that word, and write short definitions for ten of those words. Keep these words and definitions available so that you can play the game again at a later date.

1. MYTH 2. EAT 3. ATHENS 4. HAT 5. MATCH 6. SCENT 7. ASTER 8. HASTEN 9. CAT 10. ANT

Variation:

Ask pairs of players to find their own big word. Find smaller words inside of it. Write definitions for those words.

Then show a pair of players the new word. Ask them to solve the new definitions.

Sample big words to use: APPLESAUCE, MAYONNAISE, HAPPINESS, NEIGHBORHOOD, ENCYCLOPEDIA

More Fun Spelling Games

Mumbo-Jumbo - A new spelling word game to play on a Scrabble game board. For grades 2-6.

Consonant vs. Vowels - A challenging game for spelling review! For grades 4 - 6.

Fifty-Fifty - Another fun spelling game for kids. Older students earn points as they engage in word play and spelling fun. For grades 4 - 8.

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