10 Interactive Vocabulary Games for the Classroom
Vocabulary is not only the foundation and key element to learning any language but also an important tool in learning other subjects as well. As a teacher, searching for fun and meaningful ways to improve the children’s vocabulary in any field is an essential task. And, while traditional lesson plans for teaching vocabulary are the starting-point, vocabulary games are becoming more and more valuable.
To help you out, we decided to find and share some of the best vocabulary games for the classroom. First, we’ll take a look at the benefits of using vocabulary games in a typical school environment, and then we’ll list our favorite vocabulary games with detailed explanations on how to implement them, and how the students will benefit.
Benefits of Vocabulary Games
Without a solid vocabulary in their native language, children will read slower, have a hard time understanding complex sentences, won’t be able to express themselves in a clear manner, and might even have trouble organizing their thoughts and memorizing new concepts.
A young mind learns new words by developing a mental network that builds elaborate ideas hierarchically. This is why using newly learned words frequently is the best way to reinforce that mental network and make new connections.
Vocabulary games are perfect for that task, as they provide a communicative atmosphere where children can express themselves. But the popularity of using vocabulary games in a classroom goes beyond that.
Vocabulary games provide a fun-filled and relaxing learning atmosphere. Learning can be stressful for kids who are anxious when answering in front of authority or in front of their classmates, which is why learning through games is a wonderful opportunity. Plus, you’ll get a chance to evaluate the children’s progress in a spontaneous setting.
Another reason why vocabulary games are so beneficial is that they’re unpredictable. Instead of memorizing a certain word order, or several definitions, children will have to actively construct the answers from previous knowledge.
10 Interactive Vocabulary Games for the Classroom
Games are challenging, motivating, and amusing. This means that most of the time, children will be learning new words or reinforcing newly acquired knowledge, without even realizing it. Here are some easy-to-implement, fun, and meaningful vocabulary games for the classroom.
Guess the Word
You might know this game under the name “Who am I?” where players use yes or no questions to get clues about a person or fictional character that the other player has in mind or has written on a piece of paper. Our “Guess the word” variation works the same way, except children have to guess which word is written on the piece of paper that’s attached to the child’s forehead.
You can play this game with a time limit or not, depending on how hard you want to make it for the kids.
To play, divide the classroom into four or five groups of four to five children. After this, instruct the children in the group to come up with a word on a specific topic (something they’ve recently learned). Each member of the group should write a word on a piece of paper attached to the forehead of the member on their left (without them knowing what word they got). After this, one by one, students take turns asking yes or no questions (example: Is my word a verb?), trying to guess the words on their forehead.
You’ll need:
- Little pieces of paper.
- Pencils.
Memory Cards – Vocabulary Edition
This game works just like a regular memory card game. The only difference is that children will have to match words with their meanings, instead of two identical objects. Aside from practicing their memory skills, children will have to quickly recall the word when seeing the definition and remember it so they can match it once they find the appropriate word in the cards.
To play this game, you can divide children into small groups, or let them play in partner-groups. The player that matches most cards wins the game.
For practicing English skills, you can buy word cards online. However, if you want to personalize the game and make it much more effective, you can make your own cards with words that children have recently learned in science, math, geography, history, and other subjects.
You’ll need:
- Word cards and matching definition-cards.
Explain This! – Lightning Rounds
Lightning rounds are super fun and adrenaline-packed games or contests where children, especially hyperactive ones, will get a lot of excitement and laughs. This game is most suited for topics that children are well familiar with.
To play, you’ll need to divide the classroom into two groups. After this, one player from each group comes forward and competes in defining most words in a specific time limit (one or two minutes). The words can be drawn from a bowl, or as a teacher, you can pick the words, while the players try to define them. The player who succeeds in defining more words wins a point for their group.
To make it more fun, you can make categories from which the players can choose a topic.
You’ll need:
- An extensive list of words.
- Pieces of paper and bowl (alternative).
Vocabulary Jeopardy
This is a game that the whole classroom can enjoy, or you can divide students into two or three groups. Just like the classical and famous Jeopardy game, our vocabulary version is just as fun and challenging.
To play, draw a table on the whiteboard, with different categories as rows and the points as columns. The word cards should be taped on the board facing down. This means that the players can choose a category and the number of points they would want to receive, and they’ll receive a word. More points mean the words are harder to define. Alternatively, you can choose to make different answers for a different amount of points; one point for telling a synonym, two points for spelling a word, and three points for defining a word. The group with the most points wins.
You’ll need:
- Whiteboard.
- Pieces of paper.
- Color markers.
Vocabulary Dice Game
While some games depend entirely on the children’s knowledge or memory skills, this simple vocabulary game adds the element of luck, which means anything is possible. It’s a wonderful game because it evens out the field to a certain point, so children who have a harder time learning new words won’t feel too far behind the overachievers.
To play, you need to divide students into small groups or play in partner-groups. Give each group a dice and a stack of word cards. Players roll the dice and draw a card. If they can correctly define the word (if given a definition – to guess the word), they receive points according to the number on the rolled dice. Time for answering should be limited so it’s more challenging and fun. If the answer is wrong, the student gets zero points in that round.
You’ll need:
- Dice (two or more, depending on the number of groups).
- Word cards.
Vocabulary Checkers
Everyone’s familiar with regular checkers, but did you know there’s a vocabulary version that’s just as popular? Vocabulary checkers is much more stimulating, challenging, and exciting.
To play, you’ll need a special vocabulary checkerboard, which is just like the regular board, only with blank spaces in the middle of each field that you can fill out with words. The spaces can be predetermined, with words of your choosing, or you could give students the opportunity to write the words themselves (for the opponent player). The added challenge comes with the fact that a player can only move or occupy the square if they correctly define the written word in that square.
Other than that, the rules are the same as a regular game of checkers. To take an opponent’s piece, they must say 3 synonyms of the written word or use it in a sentence (since the word is already defined by the opponent).
You’ll need:
- Checkerboard and pieces.
- Printable vocabulary checkerboard.
Vocabulary Pictionary
In our vocabulary edition, we don’t make a strict distinction between Pictionary or Charades, because the rules can be flexible – the main aim is to have fun and go through a lot of vocabulary words.
To play, you need to divide the classroom into two groups and assign a topic. One member from each group has to come forward and describe a word or a phrase to its group. The words are given to the players by the opposite group. Whichever team guesses correctly first, gets a point. If both groups fail to guess the words in a specific time frame, neither group gets a point, and new players get new words to describe.
In order to make it more educational, you can set some specific rules. For example, players need to use a synonym, define the meaning, or use descriptive sentences. They shouldn’t use clues like the number of letters in the word or point to clues without using words.
You’ll need:
- Two whiteboards and markers, or
- School board and chalk.
Conversation Competition
The conversation competition is probably one of the most advanced vocabulary games, which means it might be more suitable for middle schoolers or even high school students. The main goal of this game is to improve the children’s ability to publicly speak, debate, and construct better sentences.
To play, divide the students into pairs. After this, one pair comes forward to compete. As the teacher, you’ll give one of the students a list of 10-20 vocabulary words one minute before speaking. Their task is to analyze the words and share a logical, meaningful story with their partner using the words from the list. Their partner (not knowing the words) can ask questions, or reply with their own opinions, which can help the other student use the words faster, or make it that much harder. Once they use all of the words, they sit down and another pair comes forward. The teacher should measure the time for each conversation and the pair that uses all the words in the shortest time wins.
You’ll need:
- Word lists (for each pair).
Word Train
This vocabulary game teaches children the importance of individual effort for the success of the whole group.
To play, divide the blackboard into two sections, left and right, and write 20-30 vocabulary words in each section. After this, divide the class into two groups and make them form a line (each group in a separate line). Upon your instruction, the first student from each group approaches the board (each in their separate section) and chooses a word for the student behind them to define. Once the second student defines the word correctly, the first student erases the word and goes at the back of the line, while the second student comes to the board and chooses a word for the third in line. The first group that manages to erase all the words in their section wins.
You’ll need:
- Chalk or marker.
- Eraser.
- A list of vocabulary words.
Newspaper Detectives
Give each student one page of a newspaper and a vocabulary word. The students should circle every word, phrase, picture, or name that relates to their vocabulary word. After five or ten minutes, each student should present their findings in front of the class – tell them the vocabulary word and explain how the marked words relate to the word. The student that has the most valid and meaningful connections, wins the game.
This is also a more advanced game suited for middle school students or older. It’s a multi-purpose game where children work on their reading, analytical and critical skills, as well as their creativity. They’ll improve their vocabulary, not just by reading, but by actively thinking about new connections between words, and listening to their classmates.
You’ll need:
- Newspapers or magazines.
Before You Leave
Hopefully, you liked our list of vocabulary games for the classroom and we guarantee your students will love them. We made sure the games are very easy to implement, don’t require too much set-up time, and can be adapted to large and small groups, as well as partner groups.
Also, most of the games are simple variations of famous and classic party or family games, which, most likely, children will already be familiar with. This is going to make things a lot easier, as they’ll feel comfortable and ready to start playing. But, even if they’re not familiar, the games are so simple that kids of all ages can enjoy them.
Last but not least, vocabulary games are just one way to engage children in classroom activities, but if you want to find more, check out our blog and subscribe to our newsletter. We can also cover you with educational, interactive worksheets for any subject or grade.
