Games

Learning to read and write does not always happen through books.  Here are some games for you to use at school or at home to help you to have fun while you learn new skills to develop into a better reader and writer.

Cat Nap
Number of players: 2 - 4 is best
Materials required: gameboard, dice (1), counters/player pieces as needed, paper/whiteboard, pencils/markers

How to play:

1. Shake hands with your opponent(s) and wish them 'Good luck'.
2. Do 'Scissors, Paper, Rock' to see who goes first.
3. Proceed in a clockwise direction after the first player rolls.
4. After rolling the dice, the player moves in any direction according to the roll of the dice and lands on a particular word (i.e. can).  All the players need to write down the word can on their individual paper/whiteboard.  As a group, brainstorm 5 other words that rhyme with can and try to write them down on your paper/whiteboard.  Compare your spelling of each word.  Give yourself a point for each word that you spell correctly.
5. Allow the next player to roll and repeat step 4 according to the word that they land on (i.e. tin).  If a player lands on a word that has already been done, they can roll again and move off of that word to a new word.
6. The game stops when a player lands on the cheese in the middle of the board.  This can happen too by landing on a cat paw (it will automatically take you to the cheese).
7.  When the game stops, add up all your points for words spelled correctly.  The player with the most points wins!

Chinese Dragons
Number of players: 2 - 4 is best
Materials required: gameboard, dice (1), counters/player pieces as needed, paper/whiteboard, pencils/markers

How to play:

1. Shake hands with your opponent(s) and wish them 'Good luck'.
2. Do 'Scissors, Paper, Rock' to see who goes first.
3. Proceed in a clockwise direction after the first player rolls.
4. After rolling the dice, the player moves off the Start and lands on a particular consonant blend (i.e. dr).  All the players need to write down the blend on their individual paper/whiteboard.  As a group, brainstorm 5 other words (with 1 syllable) that begin with this blend and try to write them down on your paper/whiteboard.  Compare your spelling of each word.  Give yourself a point for each word that you spell correctly.
5. Allow the next player to roll and repeat step 4 according to the blend that they land on (i.e. pl).  If a player lands on a blend that has already been done, they can roll again and move off of that blend to a new blend.
6. The game stops when a player lands on the dragon's head at the end of the board. 
7.  When the game stops, add up all your points for words spelled correctly.  The player with the most points wins!

Extension option - If you want a harder challenge, play the game but only accept 2 or 3 syllable words (i.e. if you land on pl, the word play would not be a valid option.  The words player or pleasantly would be).

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Drive With Me
Number of players: 2 - 4 is best
Materials required: gameboard, dice (1), counters/player pieces as needed, paper/whiteboard, pencils/markers

How to play:

1. Shake hands with your opponent(s) and wish them 'Good luck'.
2. Do 'Scissors, Paper, Rock' to see who goes first.
3. Proceed in a clockwise direction after the first player rolls.
4. After rolling the dice, the player moves off the Start (the cars) and lands on a particular blend (i.e.
 -op).  All the players need to write down the blend on their individual paper/whiteboard.  As a group, brainstorm 5 other words (with 1 syllable) that end with this blend and try to write them down on your paper/whiteboard.  Compare your spelling of each word.  Give yourself a point for each word that you spell correctly.
5. Allow the next player to roll and repeat step 4 according to the blend that they land on (i.e. -im).  If a player lands on a blend that has already been done, they can roll again and move off of that blend to a new blend.
6. The game stops when a player lands on the checkered flag at the end of the board. 
7.  When the game stops, add up all your points for words spelled correctly.  The player with the most points wins!

Extension option - If you want a harder challenge, play the game but only accept 2 or 3 syllable words (i.e. if you land on -ick, the word kick would not be a valid option.  The words kicking or candlestick would be).

Treasure Hunt
Number of players: 2 - 4 is best
Materials required: gameboard, dice (1), counters/player pieces as needed, paper/whiteboard, pencils/markers

How to play:

1. Shake hands with your opponent(s) and wish them 'Good luck'.
2. Do 'Scissors, Paper, Rock' to see who goes first.
3. Proceed in a clockwise direction after the first player rolls.
4. After rolling the dice, the player moves off the Start (the trees) and lands on a particular digraph (i.e. oo).  All the players need to write down the digraph on their individual paper/whiteboard.  As a group, brainstorm 5 other words (with 1 syllable) that have this digraph in them and try to write them down on your paper/whiteboard.  Compare your spelling of each word.  Give yourself a point for each word that you spell correctly.
5. Allow the next player to roll and repeat step 4 according to the digraph that they land on (i.e. ea).  If a player lands on a blend that has already been done, they can roll again and move off of that digraph to a new digraph.
6. The game stops when a player lands on the treasure at the end of the board. 
7.  When the game stops, add up all your points for words spelled correctly.  The player with the most points wins!

Extension option - If you want a harder challenge, play the game but only accept 2 or 3 syllable words (i.e. if you land on ai, the word hair would not be a valid option.  The words hairy or hairdresser would be).

What's Missing?
Number of players: 2 - 4 is best
Materials required: gameboard, dice (1), counters/player pieces as needed, paper/whiteboard, pencils/markers

How to play:

1. Shake hands with your opponent(s) and wish them 'Good luck'.
2. Do 'Scissors, Paper, Rock' to see who goes first.
3. Proceed in a clockwise direction after the first player rolls.
4. After rolling the dice, the player moves off the Start (the arrow) and follows the boxes in numerical sequence (1, 2, 3, etc.).  The player lands on a particular word with a missing vowel(s) (i.e. n_t).  All the players need to write down the word prompt on their individual paper/whiteboard.  As a group, brainstorm between 2-5 words (with 1 syllable) that can be made by adding a vowel and try to write them down on your paper/whiteboard.  Compare your spelling of each word.  Give yourself a point for each word that you spell correctly.
5. Allow the next player to roll and repeat step 4 according to the word prompt that they land on (i.e. d_ll).  If a player lands on a word prompt that has already been done, they can roll again and move off of that word prompt to a new word prompt.
6. The game stops when a player lands at the end of the board (number 43). 
7.  When the game stops, add up all your points for words spelled correctly.  The player with the most points wins!

Sight Word Arrows (like Snakes and Ladders)
Number of players: 2 - 4 is best
Materials required: gameboard, dice (1), counters/player pieces as needed

How to play:

1. Shake hands with your opponent(s) and wish them 'Good luck'.
2. Do 'Scissors, Paper, Rock' to see who goes first.
3. Proceed in a clockwise direction after the first player rolls.
4. After rolling the dice, the player moves off the Start box and lands on a sight word (i.e. in).  Starting with the player who landed on the square, each player in turn needs to come up with a sentence orally that uses the word correctly (i.e. I left my hat in the kitchen.  In the garden, there are beautiful flowers. etc.). Players score a point for saying a sentence that uses the word correctly.
5. Allow the next player to roll and repeat step 4 according to the sight word that they land on (i.e. was).  If a player lands on a sight word that has already been done, they can roll again and move off of that sight word to a new sight word.
6. Landing on the base of a blue arrow is good - you get to move up the board more quickly.  Landing on the base of a green arrow is not so good - you have to move back down the board and it will take you a longer time to move up.
7. The game stops when a player lands on the Finish square at the end of the board. 
8.  When the game stops, add up all your points for correct sentences spoken.  The player with the most points wins!

Extension option - If you want a harder challenge, play the game with a time limit (i.e. a player has only 5 seconds to come up with a sentence or a player has 10 seconds to come up with two sentences). 

Wizards and Lizards (like Snakes and Ladders)
Number of players: 2 - 4 is best
Materials required: gameboard, dice (1), counters/player pieces as needed

How to play:

1. Shake hands with your opponent(s) and wish them 'Good luck'.
2. Do 'Scissors, Paper, Rock' to see who goes first.
3. Proceed in a clockwise direction after the first player rolls.
4. After rolling the dice, the player moves off the Start Here indicator (at the side of the board) and lands on a sight word (i.e. all).  Starting with the player who landed on the square, each player in turn needs to come up with a sentence orally that uses the word correctly (i.e. I ate all of my vegetables.  All of the students laughed at the teacher's funny hat. etc.). Players score a point for saying a sentence that uses the word correctly.
5. Allow the next player to roll and repeat step 4 according to the sight word that they land on (i.e. big).  If a player lands on a sight word that has already been done, they can roll again and move off of that sight word to a new sight word.
6. Landing on the body of a wizard is good - you get to move up the board more quickly.  Landing on the head of a lizard is not so good - you have to move back down the board and it will take you a longer time to move up.
7. The game stops when a player lands on the Finish indicator at the end of the board at the top. 
8.  When the game stops, add up all your points for correct sentences spoken.  The player with the most points wins!

Extension option - If you want a harder challenge, play the game with a time limit (i.e. a player has only 5 seconds to come up with a sentence or a player has 10 seconds to come up with two sentences).

Spiders and Spells (like Snakes and Ladders)
Number of players: 2 - 4 is best
Materials required: gameboard, dice (1), counters/player pieces as needed

How to play:

1. Shake hands with your opponent(s) and wish them 'Good luck'.
2. Do 'Scissors, Paper, Rock' to see who goes first.
3. Proceed in a clockwise direction after the first player rolls.
4. After rolling the dice, the player moves off the Start Here indicator (at the side of the board) and lands on a sight word (i.e. always).  Starting with the player who landed on the square, each player in turn needs to come up with a sentence orally that uses the word correctly (i.e. I always brush my teeth after eating a snack.  My brother is always late for the bus. etc.). Players score a point for saying a sentence that uses the word correctly.
5. Allow the next player to roll and repeat step 4 according to the sight word that they land on (i.e. because).  If a player lands on a sight word that has already been done, they can roll again and move off of that sight word to a new sight word.
6. Landing on a book is good - you get to move up the board more quickly to the star.  Landing on a spider's web is not so good - you have to move back down the board to the spider, and it will take you a longer time to move up.
7. The game stops when a player lands on the Finish indicator at the end of the board at the top. 
8.  When the game stops, add up all your points for correct sentences spoken.  The player with the most points wins!

Extension option - If you want a harder challenge, play the game with a time limit (i.e. a player has only 5 seconds to come up with a sentence or a player has 10 seconds to come up with two sentences).