WORD WALL ACTIVITIES
Make flashcards of the word wall words. These flashcards can then be used with many of the
activities listed below. They can also be given to each student to use in class as well as at
home. Students can quiz each other using the flashcards as well as parents. The definition of
the words can be placed on the back of the flashcards for added enrichment. It’s helpful to
have them put the definition in their own words.
ACTIVITIES USING WORD WALLS
Shaving Cream Writing
Students must have a cleared off desk. The teacher puts some shaving cream on each desk.
Students smear the shaving cream around on the desk and then write the words in the
shaving cream. It’s fun, students practice writing the words, and it also cleans the desk
surface.
Word Wall Bingo
Each student writes one word wall word of his/her choice in each space using template
attached (laminate the templates so they can be used over and over again using dry erase
markers). Have all the word wall words on index cards. The student draws a card, reads it,
and then covers it if it is on his/her card. When all words on the bingo card are covered say
BINGO! This can also be done using definitions on the index cards instead of the words.
Beat the Timer
The teacher sets the timer. The teacher flashes the word wall word cards. Students try to
read all of the cards before the timer goes off. Once students consistently read all of the word
cards within the time given, tell them you are going to give them less time.
Write, Look, and Learn
Using the template attached, students write 5 words selected by the teacher from the word
wall in the first column. The students then say each word and notice the parts of the word as
they hear it. Next students look at the word to notice what it looks like on the paper. Then
students cover the word, think about how the word looks, and then write the word from
memory. Next, uncover the word and check it with the word written in the first column.
Finally, students cover the word again and rewrite it in the last column.
Word Battle
Use one set of word wall flashcards, turned face down. Turn one card over. The first student
to say the word gets the card. The student with the most cards at the end wins.
Definition Battle
Use one set of flashcards with the definitions on the back. With the word portion facing up,
students take turns trying to state the definition in their own words for the word. If the
student gets it correct, he/she keeps the card. If the student cannot come up with the
definition, then the next student can try to state it. The student with the most cards at the
end wins.
Erasing Relay
Divide the class into two teams. Write two columns of Word Wall words on the board that are
the same list only in different orders. Include as many words in each list as there are students
in each team. Place two chairs the same distance from the board and have a student from
each team sit in the chair. At the signal, the students in the chairs come up to the board and
points at the first word in his respective column of words and reads that word. If he/she says
the word correctly, he/she is allowed to erase that word. The game is won by the side that
erases all the words first.
Board Race Game
Divide the class into two teams and place two chairs the same distance from the board. Have
a student from each team sit in the chair. The teacher then says a definition. The students
then race up to the board and write the word. If a student does not know the word, they must
stay seated. The first student to finish writing the correct word scores a point for their team.
Slap
Students play with a partner. Partner A names a word from the Word Wall. He then lays the
cards face up one at a time. Partner B reads the words silently and slaps the table when he
sees the word that Partner A had named. The object of the game is to slap the table before the
next card is laid down. The roles are then switched.
Jump On It!
Have flashcards of the word wall words. Using paper plates, write one word in the center of
each plate. Scatter the plates face up on the floor, leaving about a foot between each plate.
Place the flashcards in a stack facedown. Turn over the first card in the stack. The student
reads the word (offer help as needed) and then jumps on the corresponding plate on the floor.
Turn over the next flashcard, the student reads it and jumps to that word. Continue until
he/she has jumped on all of the words. Mix up the cards and play again! This can also be
done using definitions on the plates OR definitions for the cards with the words on the plates.
Guess the Word
Cover all but the first letter in the word. Students try to guess the word. If they cannot guess
the word, reveal another letter. Continue until the word is guessed.
Wheel of Fortune
Create sentences using Word Wall words. Children look at Word Wall words and guess
letters to complete the sentence.
EX: -/---/---/---. (I can see you.)
Hearing Sounds
Say a word form the Word Wall. Ask students “where do you hear the ___ sound?” Students
record the answer.
Beginning
Middle
End
OOPS!
Have flashcards of the word wall words. Have a few cards with OOPS! on it mixed in. Gather
students into a group. One at a time, have individual students come forward and pull a word
card, or the cards can be passed around in a box. As a student pulls a card, he/she turns to
the other students, shows the card, and says the word. If the student says the word correctly,
he/she gets to keep the card. If the word is read incorrectly, the card is put back into the box.
You can also have the student spell aloud the word (without looking at it) or give a definition
of the word before keeping the card. If a student gets an OOPS! card, they must put back all
the cards collected at that point. The student holding the most word cards is the winner.
play the game on their own.
Mystery Word
Select a "mystery word" from the word wall and give five clues one at a time to help students
find the mystery word. Each clue should help students narrow down the words on the word
wall to the mystery word. As you give each clue, students should select one word from the
word wall that matches all the clues given to that point in the game. Have the students write
down their selection with each clue. The last clue should be pretty obvious. Which
student(s) had the mystery word with the fewest clues?
EXAMPLE for the Mystery Word: evaporation
Clue 1: The mystery word is one of the science word wall words.
Clue 2: The mystery word has at least one letter that occurs twice in the word.
Clue 3: The mystery word has the letter “p” in it at least once.
Clue 4: The mystery word has -tion at the end of the word.
Clue 5: The definition of this word is: this occurs when a liquid changes into a gas.
Hot Seat
One student comes to the front of the class and sits in the "hot seat." The hot seat is located a
few feet in front of a board facing away from the board. The student also should have a clear
view of the class word wall. Another student selects a word from the word wall and writes
that word on the board. The student in the hot seat is unable to see the word, but it is his/her
job to guess the word by asking questions with a yes or no answer that helps them to figure
out the word. Keep track of the number of questions asked. Which student asks the least
number of questions?
Vocabulary Toss
Either purchase a mini basketball net with sponge basketball or create one. Put painter’s tape
on the floor for where the shots will be taken. Arrange the class into teams, from 2 to 4. Ask a
question of the first student on the first team. It can be a definition, fill in the missing word in
a sentence, provide a rhyming word, etc. If the student identifies the correct word, the
student earns a point and has a chance to earn another point by shooting a basket. A
successful shot gets the additional point (no penalty for missed shot). If the student does not
identify the word, pass the question to the first player on the next team.
Group and Guess
Have students study the words on the word wall and make up three or four different groups of
words. Then a student reads one of their lists aloud. The rest of the students must guess what
category the words belong to (or what the rule is for those words). For example, let's say that I
read my list of words and they were “jumped, listened, flew, ran,…” The rest of the class must
guess that these are all past tense words, action words, or verbs.
Wheel
Using the template attached, make copies for each student. The word wall word goes in the
first box. You can either let students pick a word that they would like to learn better or you
can select the word for them. In the second box goes a list of words that the student thinks of
when they hear the word. In the third box is an illustration of the word. The fourth box is the
definition in the student’s own words.
WORD WALL BINGO TEMPLATES
WRITE, LOOK, AND LEARN TEMPLATES
WHEEL
TEMPLATE