Hello everyone! I am Tao Ma. In different articles and in reply to comments, I have mentioned that although learning and memorizing words may sound untechnical, if they are not firmly grasped and remembered, it really gets frustrating when promoting English learning. For example, kids in the enlightenment stage may be slow to start independent reading. For children who are reading original books, they may get stuck after a while. Moreover, in elementary school, the vocabulary requirement suddenly increases, but there is very little time left for learning words in class. In reality, even in junior high school, high school, or even college, words remain a “big weapon” that affects the progress of English learning.
This week, I shared a very rare set of high-frequency word learning books with everyone. It basically brings back the learning and playing methods of high-frequency words in American kindergarten and elementary school classrooms in their original forms. It is very suitable for children with zero foundation or only a little foundation who want to quickly improve their progress.
Today, let’s continue to share six “sneaky” high-frequency word games from American teachers!
If you prefer reading text, I have also prepared a text version. In the text version, there are also upgraded gameplay and supporting game resources!
Here we go! Six small games to play high-frequency words with the effect of an American classroom!
Bingo Game
First, prepare a 3×3 grid:
Put nine learned words in the grid:
Randomly read a word and let the child find the read word card. If it is correct, flip the word card over. If it is wrong, don’t flip it.
The person who first arranges the flipped word cards in a row (straight line or diagonal) shouts “Bingo!” and is the winner!
PS: The back of this set of word cards has short sentences containing key words, so the back is not pure white.
Upgraded Gameplay
To increase the difficulty of the game, make the grid larger and have more word cards participate!
Replace the 33 grid with a 44 or 5*5 grid:
▲ The electronic versions of these templates can be obtained by replying “high-frequency word games” in the background of the public account.
Bomb Game
Write the word “BOOM” on a blank card. Then shuffle the “BOOM” card and all the previously prepared word cards (these words are all new words that the child has recently learned) and stack them together.
Let the child draw a card from the stacked cards. If the child can read it, the card belongs to the child. If not, put it aside as a card for focused review later.
But if the “BOOM” card is drawn, the child will lose all the cards collected before and start reshuffling and repeating the game from the beginning.
Upgraded Gameplay
This game can also set a time limit. For example, within two minutes, whoever collects more cards wins.
Or set a limit on the number of games. For example, after drawing the “BOOM” card three times in a row, all the previous word cards can be replaced so that the child won’t lose interest and patience because it’s always the same set of pictures.
Dice Throwing Game
The action of throwing can directly attract the child’s attention. It also gives a feeling of decompression and makes the child feel that learning words is not just boring recognition and reading.
Let the child memorize the words first and get reacquainted with all the words on these word cards. Then spread all these cards flat (or scatter them randomly) on the table.
Let the child throw the dice at the cards randomly. Whichever card the dice lands on, let the child read the word on that card. Multiple people can also answer quickly.
If there is no dice, other small objects can be used instead.
The person who reads the word first gets one point!
Upgraded Gameplay
If you want to test the child, after the dice is settled, increase the difficulty – for example, read the synonym of the word on the card! Or, the antonym! For another example, when the dice lands on “red”, we can let the child read words that also represent colors! Doesn’t the thematic vocabulary bank grow along with it?
