Looking for vocabulary word card games that help students understand the meaning of the words without using all of your time to prepare them? This is the blog for you. These fun vocabulary games have little to no prep and keep elementary students engaged. Here’s a list of engaging vocabulary games that cater to different age groups and proficiency levels, which can be used for educational or entertainment purposes. These games are designed to help improve language skills, encourage creative thinking, and make learning fun. Focus on vocabulary acquisition and teaching the students the meaning of the words with these fun, no-prep word card games. You won’t find spelling activities suggested on this list. Rigor meets fun with these no-prep vocabulary word card games for elementary students.
Will My Elementary Kids Enjoy These No-Prep Word Card Vocabulary Games?
I have tested these games on kids as young as kindergarten and as old as sixth grade. Your class may have a preference but they are bound to love at least a few of these games. The younger kids enjoy them all. The older kids tend to prefer the movement games, anything that breaks up the monotony of sitting at their desks all day. I have even tried these on some of my tutoring kids including a senior in high school and a three-year-old. Basically, these fun, no-prep vocabulary word card games are for all ages even though this blog is intended for elementary students.
You Said “No-Prep,” But I Don’t Have Word Cards!
No problem! You can get the kids to make them. Why do yourself what the kids can learn from doing? You are one hotdog fold, and two hamburger folds from 4 word cards, and 4 definition cards. Writing the words and the meaning of the words is a simple activity that will help students retain the information. Note, that this may take a good chunk of time if the kids are younger and still learning to write. You can also purchase one of my many sets of vocabulary word cards in my store HERE. Browse the store, I have a few freebies too.
Teaching Vocabulary is NOT the Same as Teaching Phonics
It is important to teach vocabulary outside of spelling activities and within the context of a text or activity. Often we see curriculums combining spelling and vocabulary. While teaching phonics is also vital and kids should know what their spelling words mean, most native speakers do not need to learn the meaning of “because” when they are ready to spell it. Likewise, it is not always appropriate to overly focus on the spelling of a vocabulary word. We all know that 4-year-old who can tell us about how the Allosaurus went extinct during the late Jurassic Period. They probably can’t spell that sentence though, nor would it be appropriate to focus on that spelling pattern if they cannot yet spell CVC words. Exposing kids to the richness of the English language should not be limited by their spelling or reading abilities. Students can acquire higher-level vocabulary words without being able to spell them. They may only learn these words verbally or they may learn to read them by sight. Do not hold back on introducing a word to a student because of their spelling or reading ability. Likewise, expose kids to hard words as often as possible. It can sometimes take 20-30 experiences with a word for a student to learn it. It does not hurt to tell a class of preschoolers about condensation even if they are not ready for that word yet. Some of them will grasp it; for most of them, it will count as their first exposure. Teach kids vocabulary words! Yes, this is a hill I will die on.
For these games, all you need is vocabulary word cards and definition cards. You will also need students. That’s it. Otherwise, they are no-prep. Don’t have word cards? Check out my store here or have the kids make them!
Word Hide-and-Seek
Have kids put their heads down at their desks. I tell them to have a little nap, I usually get dramatic snores and giggling. Hide the word cards around the room. Depending on the age of the students the difficulty in hiding can vary. For older kids, have just a small part of the card showing for younger kids have them pretty easy to find. Then have kids put their heads up. Read the definition of the word. To increase participation, you can have all the kids write the word on individual whiteboards. If your room is small, have just four kids try to find the matching word. If it’s larger you can let more kids search. I once had a small class of just 12 students (bless the days), and I let them all search. After all the words have been found, you can have a student hide them again. Play until all students have been able to search for a word.
Lava Vocabulary
This game is class versus teacher. The floor is lava. Students stand on their chairs, no way this could go wrong. Place a word card or a definition card under each chair. Students have to get their cards without touching the floor. Then they have to find their matching partner without help from the teacher, and let them figure out how to coordinate so they aren’t all shouting at once. It’s a nice teamwork/bonding activity. Once they have found their partner they need to figure out how to get the cards to them without touching the floor. Add any other rules your class needs that make the game safer. This depends on your class. I had a pretty calm class once that I allowed to stand on their desks and even move from desk to desk if they “hit their slow motion button” first. And I had another crazy class that was not allowed to move their feet, they were glued to their chair. Class wins when all cards are together with their match by the end of a certain time. They can not all be given to the same child either. The teacher wins if any kids fall into the lava or the task is not done by the end of the time. Yes, the cards are special, magic lava-proof paper.
Vocabulary race
This is a running and matching game. Put the words on one side of the room or if it is nice weather go outside and put the words on the other side of a field. Use rocks on a windy day. Then split the class into two groups. Have two students from each group race. Read the definition and have those students race to the matching word card. You can have two sets if behavior is an issue. The group back first with the correct card gets two points, the other group also gets a point if they get the correct card. Repeat until all of the words are back with their match.
Pictionary
Break students up into two to four groups depending on the size of the class. Using just the word cards without the definition cards, have one student from each group draw pictures to help their group guess that vocabulary word card. They can not talk. Repeat until all kids have had a chance to draw a card.
Vocabulary Skits
Break students up into pairs or groups depending on class size. Give each group 2-3 vocabulary words. They must make a very short skit (less than 1-2 minutes long) that uses all of their vocabulary words correctly in a real-world context. They may not just list the words. They also may not be a teacher explaining the words. Every member of the group should say at least 1 vocabulary word.
Capture the Vocabulary Card
You need a lot of space for this one. Have two groups the definitions and the word cards. This game is played similarly to Capture the Flag. However, instead of trying to get flags, they are trying to get matches. Each side has a territory. Students must cross into the opposite territory to get a match. They may only hold one card at a time. They bring the card back to their own territory and place it on a match. Once a word and a definition have been matched they become frozen and can not be stolen again. Students who get tagged within the territory of the opposite team go to jail; they must give the tagger any cards they are holding. They are frozen until a teammate comes and tags them. If all of a team is tagged they have to count loudly to ten and then are all untagged. Cards may be guarded but can not be hidden. Guards must stand at least three steps away from the cards. Put the cards under rocks on a windy day!!!
Charades
Break students up into two to four groups depending on the size of the class. Using just the word cards without the definition cards, have one student from each group act out the word. No talking is allowed from the student who knows the word. Their group will try to guess the vocabulary word. Repeat until all students have had a chance to act out a word.
Matching
Using both the word cards and the definition cards, play a matching game. Place the cards face down on the desk. Turn two cards over, if they match take them. If not, flip them back over. Play until all cards have found their match.
Vocabulary Synonyms
Say a vocabulary word and students list as many synonyms as possible within a time limit. Students get points for each correct synonym, I allow common phrases. Make this game more fun by spicing up what they write with. For example, go outside and write in the dirt with sticks, write with gel pens, use whiteboards, have kids write on paper taped under their desks, carve words into clay, and so forth. For more writing ideas, check out the BLOG POST.
Four Corners Parts of Speech
Understanding how a vocabulary word is used correctly in a sentence is an important part of learning the word. That’s where the parts of speech come in. Most tricky vocabulary words are nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs. If that fits your vocabulary list then this activity will work for you. Declare each corner either noun, verb, adjective, or adverb you can write it on paper and tape it to the wall if the students are younger and have trouble remembering. Then say a definition, and have kids go to the correct corner for the matching word. Pick one kid in the correct corner to say the word. If it can be more than one part of speech, use it in a sentence before having the kids go to a corner.
Taboo
Break students up into partnerships. Using just definition cards, have one student from each pair describe the matching vocabulary word without using the words on the definition card. I allow kids to use synonyms because, if they can think of a synonym, that’s a good thing in my eyes.
Vocabulary Tag
Some students have word cards taped to their backs, some have definition cards. Read a definition, the whole class chases the word card student until someone tags them. They remove the card and give it to the teacher to match. Do the same with the definitions but this time say the word. Another variation of this game is to shout out, “word cards” or “definition cards.” If you shout out word cards, the definitions chase their matching words. If you shout out definition cards, the word cards chase their matching definition.
Vocabulary sorting game
Using the word cards, have kids sort them into various groups with a partner. Have them record why they sorted them that way. For example, these words are nouns, these are verbs OR these all have four legs, these have two legs OR these are carnivores, these are herbivores OR these have five letters, these have three letters, these have six letters OR these have to do with people, these have to do with objects. They can sort them in any way that makes sense to them so long as they explain the rules. See which partnership can think of the most ways to sort the words.
Vocabulary Book Find
Give each kid a definition, and have them find the matching word in a book. You can go to the library if you don’t have a classroom library or you can just pull out some related books. See how many times they can find that word in a book.
Go-fish
Have students shuffle the definition and word cards. They start with three cards and play go-fish for the match. “I have the word card dog. Do you have the definition, a mammal that barks?” Play until all the cards are gone.
5-Question Vocabulary Interview
A student pulls a word card. Make sure they understand the definition. The rest of the class must ask yes or no questions only. They may ask 5 questions. These questions may not be, “Is it this word?” After asking all 5 questions, call on a student and let them guess the word. Once a student correctly guesses the word, they get to be the next person being interviewed.
Strange Vocab Story
One student comes to the board and pulls a word card. They write a sentence using that card. The next student pulls another card. They must add to the story in a way that makes sense using that card. Have two groups competing then judge which story is better.
Heads Up
Tape a word card or definition card to each head. Let kids find their match without speaking or writing. No mirrors allowed! They can verify with a classmate if they are a match, again without speaking. However, one student may not go through and arrange all the other students. Once they think they found their match, they should lock arms and stand in front of the room.
Are You My Definition?
One student stands in front of the room and grabs a word card. Other students stand in a line and grab a definition card. They read the card and do not show it to anyone else. The student with the word card says the word, and they explain what the definition is. They get three chances to go up to someone and say, “Are you my definition.” The person answers, “Yes, I am” or “No, I’m not.”If they are right, that person then goes back with them to their side of the room and pulls a word card. If they are wrong all three times, they are orphaned for two turns and then get to try one more time. Repeat until they find their match. The game is over when all the students are on the same side of the room.
These vocabulary word card games are super quick to prepare and fun for your elementary students. When teaching vocabulary make sure to appeal to a wide range of interests and skill levels so they are suitable for various learning environments. An engaging game does not have to be laborious for the teacher to prepare. Get the kids up and moving or using their higher-order thinking skills. Learn why vocabulary development is vital for children's literacy and communication skills with this BLOG POST.
Comments