Give students extra sight word practice with this fun, non-competitive game. Using a word processing program, create a table to be used as a game board. Program the page to have a landscape page layout and insert a table with six columns and 11 rows. Type six targeted sight words into the bottom row of the table. Leave the remainder of the cells empty. Photocopy enough game boards for each student. Write the six targeted sight words onto six small adhesive labels. Place a sight word label on each side of a jumbo die. Model the game by playing together as a class. Students will each need a game board and a box of crayons. Have a volunteer roll the jumbo die and read the sight word. The students then color one box in the corresponding column, starting at the bottom. The game board essentially turns into a bar graph. Continue to roll the die, read the sight word and color a box on the game board until one column is full. This sight word "wins the game." Once students understand the rules, place game boards, jumbo dice with labels and crayons at a classroom center for individual practice. As new sight words are introduced, create new game boards and update the jumbo dice.
This partner game provides primary students with syllable practice. Provide each pair of students with a jumbo die and a recording sheet. Instruct one partner to roll the die and tell the number. The student must then search the room for an item with that many syllables. Encourage students to "clap out" the words to check the number of syllables. Once an item has been located, the student returns to his partner to share. The partner must check the syllables for accuracy and record the item on the recording sheet. Younger students can draw a simple picture of the item and write the number next to it. Older students should write the word and number. Students then switch roles and continue to play. If students struggle with finding five- or six-syllable words, encourage them to add an adjective to the front of the word. For example, a teddy bear, which has three syllables, could be changed to "purple teddy bear," which has five syllables. After allowing time to play, gather students to share their findings.
This game uses two jumbo dice and provides great sight word practice. Using a word processing program, create a three-column, 12-row table to be used as a game board. Make the first column narrow, about 1 inch wide, and the second and third columns equal in width. Type the numbers 1 through 12 into the first column. Type 12 targeted sight words into the second column. Photocopy enough game boards for each student. Distribute game boards and instruct students to cut out the table around the outer border. Next, have students carefully cut along the row lines only in the third column. Make sure to model these directions along with students. The flaps created by cutting can now be folded over the second column to cover up the sight words. The numbers in the first column should still be visible. Once all of the sight words are covered, students are ready to play. Ask a volunteer to roll two jumbo dice and tell the number. Students then open the flap next to that number to uncover a sight word. If they can read it correctly, the flap stays open. If they are not able to read the word, the flap recovers the word. Continue to roll, uncover and read words until the entire game board has been cleared. Place game boards, scissors and jumbo dice in a learning center for extra practice.
This individual practice game encourages students to observe the number of letters in words. Cut out and laminate yellow circles for flower centers. Cut out and laminate a collection of colorful ovals for flower petals. On the petals, write familiar words made with one to six letters. To play, students roll a jumbo die and find a word on a petal with a matching number of letters. The student reads the word and places it on her flower center. Play continues until the flower is full of petals. If the student rolls a number that does not have a matching petal, she must roll again. To adapt this game for older or advanced students, program the petals with simple sentences. When playing this version, students must find a sentence with a matching number of words.