How To: Vocabulary Matching Games
Manifest Destiny Vocabulary
Term
Definition
1803
I am the year which saw the doubling of the size of
America
Florida
Jackson once fought within my borders, I am almost
surrounded by water, and became a southern state
Gadsden
Purchase
I am pretty small when compared to my peers, but
the US bought me to build railroads on to connect
the country.
Gold Rush
I started in 1849 when a shiny metal was
discovered on the western coast of California
Jefferson
I am a writer, inventor, plantation owner, and
philosopher. I have been a Secretary, Diplomat, and
even President of the United States at the turn of
the century.
Lewis and
Clark
We worked well together traveling over mountain
and crossing rivers. We claimed territory to the
Pacific and were the first Americans to do so.
Manifest
Destiny
I am the belief which caused territories to expand
and people to move west
Mexican
Cession
I went from one country to another after they
fought a war
®SAISD Social Studies Department
Reproduction rights granted only if copyright information remains intact.
How To - Vocabulary Matching Games
Page 2
How To: Vocabulary Matching Games
Manifest Destiny Vocabulary
Term
Definition
Missouri
When I became a state, they had to draw a line to
separate slave and free states
New
Orleans
I am the busiest port in the South and made Andrew
Jackson famous
Northwest
Territory
I am territory that was gained after a war between
the colonies and the mother country
Oregon
Country
I am the land where people traveled many miles to
get there
Oregon
Trail
I am the trail which people took to get westward
Railroads
I cover the north and parts of the south with my
metal sides and wooden slats
Rio Grande
I am the river which separated a colony, nation, and
countries
Sam
Houston
I am the general who was responsible for turning the
colony into a Lone Star Republic
®SAISD Social Studies Department
Reproduction rights granted only if copyright information remains intact.
How To - Vocabulary Matching Games
Page 3
When?
How?
Why?
What?
How To: Vocabulary Matching Games
Vocabulary matching games that commonly use the following or a combination of:
• Terms students need to master for learning especially terms associated with the
vocabulary of the discipline
• Definitions that are associated with the terms
• Visual representations associated with the terms
• Examples associated/connected to with the terms
To help develop a student’s ability to recognize and apply the language of the discipline, they
have to practice using the terms in multiple formats. Vocabulary matching games can come
in different forms and complexities, but they all have the basic component of having students
match a term to a representation of what that term means.
When developing a game, try to limit the amount of words used in the game. [Even
with the large amount of terms associated with Social Studies, it is important to chunk
the information]
Come up with variations of the common characteristics of vocabulary matching
games. (For an example, a beginner game would be Term-Visual or Term - Definition Visual variety and an advanced game might include the Term - Example variety)
Create the template for the game. Print out and cut out enough sets for your classes.
To conduct the game:
Divide students into small groups (2-3).
Explain the rules of the game to students.
Have students work as a team to complete the challenge you set before them.
Once teams have completed their challenge, have students apply the vocabulary:
Use [Insert Number] of the terms in a paragraph to explain an event / pattern /
concept.
Pick [Insert Number] of the terms to act out an event / pattern / concept.
This strategy can be used at any time during an introductory phase or during the guided
practice phase of a lesson cycle.
®SAISD Social Studies Department
Reproduction rights granted only if copyright information remains intact.
How To - Vocabulary Matching Games
Page 1