Bingo is a crowd pleaser with the second grade set. To create a spelling challenge using bingo, use the computer to make a table or a grid with five large boxes across and five large boxes down. Cover the center "bonus" box with a sticker that relates to one of the spelling words or something the students have studied in class. Give students something fun to cover the boxes on the board, such as colorful cereal, candy or marshmallows. Each child gets a bingo card with synonyms or definitions of the spelling words randomly placed on each card. Read the spelling words one at a time and have students match the word to the definition and write the word under the clue. The first one to get all the boxes across, up and down or diagonal wins. The winner jumps up and yells "bingo!"
Second graders can learn how to use spelling words to solve a crossword puzzle. Teachers and parents can use graph paper or a computer-generated grid to place the spelling words on the paper, using erasable pencil. Words with common letters can intersect to form the crossword. Once the words are down on graph paper, create clues for words that are spelled horizontally (across) and vertically (down). Coordinate numbers for the clues with the answers, which are the spelling words. Place the number in the box for the first letter of the word. Then erase the answers and blacken the boxes around the crossword puzzle. Place clues beneath the puzzle. Give students a "word bank," or the spelling word list, to choose the answers. An easier way to create a crossword is to use an online service to make the puzzle.
Another version of the crossword puzzle is the word find. With the word find, all the boxes in the grid are filled in with letters. Give students a word find grid and the list of spelling words. They then search for each word on the grid. When they discover a spelling word, have students use a highlighter or pen to mark the word and cross it off the list. This activity can be set up as a team competition with a small prize going to the team that identifies all the spelling words first.
The word scramble can be designed as a whole class activity. Spelling words are put on the board, one at a time, with the letters out of order. To make it easier for second graders, the list of spelling words can be placed on the board also. Have students take turns writing the spelling word with the correct spelling on the board.