The freak out word game helps your first graders memorize new, high frequency words in a game that is similar to Bingo. In this game, students are given worksheets containing 4-by-4 grids and 14 words in the grid. Student mark off words as you call them out. The first student to get a row, column or a diagonal yells "Freak out!" Have students read back the winning words when they claim they they have won.
In Bang! place a large number of high frequency words in a box. Additionally, include several cards that contain the word "Bang!" To play the game, have students pick out one word per turn. If they can pronounce the word, they keep the card. If not, they must put the card back in the box. If they pull the card labeled "Bang," they must put all of their cards back into the box. The student with the most cards at the end of the game wins.
The Around the World game helps students with high frequency words and is highly interactive. In this game, have students sit in two circles. Have one student from each group stand behind another student who is sitting. Flash both groups the same word. Which ever of the two students says the word first moves one spot in the circle. The student that returns to their original spot wins the game.
Write as many high frequency words on the board as there are students in your classroom. Divide the class into two groups and have them stand at rights angles facing the board. When you signal that the game starts, each student at the front of the line points and pronounces the word. The student erases the word if they pronounce it correctly. The side that erases all of the words first wins the game.