Word Wand - Purchase a butterfly net at a discount/dollar store. Cut out the netting and decorate with curly ribbon. Sing this song to the tune of “Do You Know the Muffin Man?” as children take turns framing words: Do you see the word word, the word word, the word word? Do you see the word word somewhere in the room? Child frames the word and sings: Yes, I see the word word, the word word, the word word. Yes, I see the word word somewhere in the room.
Highway Letters Make copies of highway letters at markinglearningfun.com. Insert the letters in clear sheet protectors. Children can place the letters on the floor to make words. Give them a little car to drive over the letters and blend the sounds. Punch holes in the letters and tie on string. Students can wear these and make words.
Word Man Decorate a swinging trashcan with googly eyes, felt, etc. to look like a man. The teacher holds up a flash card and sings: I know an old man who swallowed a word. What would he say if he swallowed this word? Children read the word and sing: That’s absurd!
Word Wizard Choose a “word wizard” each day to lead the class in learning a new word. This student gets to be the “teacher” and decide how the word will be introduced. They can cheer it, shine the flashlight on it, play it on the xylophone, or choose another strategy. Hint! You can make a cape and crown for the word wizard or simply let them hold a magic wand. The magic wand can be made by wrapping a cardboard roller from a pants hanger with aluminum foil. Dip the end in glue and roll in glitter.
Word Ball Get a large beach ball and write words on it with a permanent marker. Children sit in a circle on the floor. Roll the ball to different children. They must read the word closest to their thumb. *You can also play this game outside and have the children stand in a circle and toss the ball to each other.
Pick and Type Place a sand bucket with flash cards near your classroom computer. Children choose a word, type it, and then put it back in the pail. For a greater challenge, give them an egg timer and see how many words they can type in three minutes.
Stepping Stones Write high frequency words on paper plates. Children can lay these randomly on the floor and then step on them and read the words. *Let children arrange “stepping stones” to make sentences. *Play a game similar to “Twister” with the paper plates. *Use the plates to practice alphabetical order.
Word Birds Cut birds out of construction paper and write high frequency words on them. Tape to a wall or bulletin board. Children make “goggles” around their eyes with fingers and thumbs as they read the words on the birds.
Configuration Puzzles Write words on heavy paper and cut around the outlines. Make duplicate copies of outlines on a piece of poster board. Children match up words and outlines.
Word Puzzles - Write words on 8” sentence strips. Cut between the letters to make a puzzle. Put the letters in an envelope and write the word on the front. Children put the letters together and read the word.
Pocket Chart - Let children make sentences in a pocket chart using word wall words. *Give them copies of sentences to reproduce and read. *Write sentences on sentence strips and cut between the words to make a puzzle. *Children put words in alphabetical order on the pocket chart.
The Word Monster - Click the Downloads button in the menu at the top left to get the monster pattern and cut a monster shape from the front of a file folder. Insert paper in the folder and write the words in bold in his tummy. Glue the story to the back of the file folder, removing one sheet of paper at a time as you tell the story.
The Word Monster wanted to read.
He thought if he ate words, it was all he would need!
On Monday he ate will.
“Mmmm…but I am hungry still.”
On Tuesday he chomped my.
“I like eating words. Oh give it a try!
On Wednesday he nibbled on play.
“More words, more words is what I say!”
On Thursday he feasted on hat.
“I hope these yummy words don’t make me fat!”
On Friday he gobbled make.
“I’m almost finished with what I can take.”
On Saturday he swallowed down.
“Then he got dressed up and went to town!”
On Sunday he slowly ate red.
Then he fell asleep in his warm cozy bed.
Now, Word Monster has all he needs.
He’ll see how much fun it is to read!
*Special thanks to Mary Richards for sharing this idea!
Word Monster’s Game - Write random words to be displayed in his tummy. Say this rhyme to play the game: “Now let’s play Word Monster’s game. How many words can you name?”
Adaptations: Think of other words that rhyme with words the monster eats.
What Do You See? - Cut monsters, fish, bears, or any seasonal shape out of construction paper. Write words on the shapes and then hold up as you sing this song to the tune of “Twinkle Little Star.”
First word, first word, what do you see?
I see second word looking at me.
Second word, second word, what do you see?
I see third word looking at me….