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What's the Teacher Thinking?

 

Subjects

  • Arts & Humanities

Grade

  • K-2
  • 3-5
  • 6-8
  • 9-12

Brief Description

Build vocabulary and reinforce skills across the curriculum.

Objectives

Students

  • brainstorm vocabulary words related to a selected topic.
  • correctly spell all the words on their list(s).
  • try to guess what words the teacher will write on his/her list.

Keywords

game, category, theme, vocabulary, spelling

Materials Needed

  • sheet of paper and a pencil

Lesson Plan

Students can do this activity on their own, in pairs, or in small groups. In this game, the teacher writes the name of a category on the board. That category might be a general category (School Supplies, Ice Cream Flavors) or it might relate to the curriculum. Some curriculum category topics might include 

African Countries
Asian Countries
Christopher Columbus
Famous Artists
Greek Mythology
Lakes
Oceans and Seas
Rivers of the World
Sea Creatures
Types of Transportation
Wars

Animals
Basketball
Computers
Famous Buildings
Holidays
Money
Olympic Sports
Rock & Roll Performers
Solar System
U.S. Presidents
Weather Words
Antarctica
Brain
Dinosaurs
Fruits
Human Body Parts
American Indians
Pets
Santa Claus
State Capitals
Vegetables
Zoo Animals

The teacher will write ten words associated with the topic on a sheet of paper that students cannot see. The words might be the "typical" words related to that topic. The teacher also might include some less expected -- more obscure -- words on his or her list.

For example, if the topic is Computers, then the teacher's list of ten words might include byte, database, download, memory, modem, mouse, printer, software, spreadsheet, virus.

Then give students 5 minutes to write down as many words as they can that relate to the topic.

Do you want spelling to count? Each student group might have a dictionary so they can check the spelling of the words they write.

When time is up, the teacher will share the ten words on his or her list. As she reads the list, students will circle any of the teacher's words that appear on their lists. How many words on their lists match the words the teacher called out? Give each student, student pair, or team of students a point for each correctly spelled word that matches a words on the teacher's list.  

Assessment

Play another round; keep a point tally. At the end of the game, the team with the most points is declared the winning team.

Lesson Plan Source

Education World

Submitted By

Gary Hopkins

National Standards

LANGUAGE ARTS: English
GRADES K - 12
NL-ENG.K-12.8 Developing Research Skills
NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying Language Skills

Find more great learning games in Education World's Learning Games Archive.