This is the Writing Game Your Kids will Love!

The Sentence Game

Let’s face it, writing is hard.  It takes lots and lots of practice to master the many skills a writer needs.  But practice can be boring.   Not now!  I’ve created a sentence writing game your kids will love.  With this game they’ll write sentence after sentence without complaining, because it’s a game.

It’s very simple, but practices very essential skills- capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and spelling.

The game can be played with 2 or more players.  There’s even a way to play it with your whole class.

Each student needs a word grid and a sentence/scoring sheet.  Each set of players will also need one die and a scoring guide.

Here's how it's played:

v Each player rolls the die.  The players then circle that number of words on their word grid.  They circle the words down the first column, in order.  Words cannot be skipped.

v Now each player writes one sentence, using as many of the circled words as they can.  If two sentences are written, only the first sentence will be scored.  All of the circled words do not need to be used, but players earn one point for each grid word in their sentence.  The words from the word grid cannot be changed. (ie.  quickly cannot be changed to quick.)  Important:  After writing the sentence, players underline the grid words they used.  This makes it easier for the checker to check the grid words.

v Once all sentences are written, players pass their sentence/scoring sheet to the right.  These players score the sentence and write the score in the box on the right.

To play with your whole class, simply roll the dice once.  Every student in class will use that number to circle the words on their grid.  Once all the sentences are written, students can exchange their sheet with a partner for the scoring.

After your students understand how to play you can play a round anytime you need a time filler.  Students can keep their word grid and sentence/score sheet in a folder or their binder so it’s always handy. This game also works very well in a literacy center.

Click on this image to download The Sentence Game.

Happy writing!

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Fresh Fall Game

Fresh Fall Game- The Pumpkin Patch

There are so many skills that students need to practice over and over…math facts, sight words, grammar skills, etc.  One of the best ways to keep the practice fresh is with a game.

I made up this game several years ago to use in a spelling center.  But I soon saw how versatile it is and my students were soon playing it to practice all kinds of skills.

The premise is simple, players “chase” each other around the board.  The winner is the player who doesn't get “caught”.  The skill practice comes in because a player must answer a question, spell a word, read a sight word, etc. before they roll a die and move.  Click on the image to download this free game.

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Rudolph Race

Reindeer Race

This is a fun game that can be played with 2 to 12 students.  The best number of players is 3 to 5.

Materials:  Reindeer Race game board, two dice, one marker for each player. Small buttons or 1 cm cubes work well for the markers.

1. Students choose a number from 1 to 12 and place their marker on that number at the bottom of the game board.

2. Someone rolls the two dice.  Add the numbers on the dice and move that reindeer up one space.  If there is no reindeer for that number, no one moves. No matter who rolls, the reindeer with that number gets to move up one space.

3. Let the next person roll, add the numbers on the dice and move that reindeer.

4. Keep rolling and moving until one reindeer crosses the finish line.

5. The reindeer who was in last place gets to be the first to choose their number for the next race.

Students soon learn which numbers have the greater probability of being rolled with two dice.

Click here for game board and directions.

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