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Vocabulary Games
for the Classroom
Presented by
Steph Wanek
swanek@esu8.org
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Marzano’s 6-Step
Vocabulary Process
1.
Provide a description, explanation, or example of the
new term.
2.
Students restate the description, explanation, or
example in their own words.
3.
Create a picture, pictograph, or symbolic
representation of the term.
4.
Engage in activities to deepen knowledge.
5.
Discuss terms with each other.
6.
Play games with terms.
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Classics
Charades

Students act out vocab words
as a class.

Teacher calls out a vocab word
and student is able to replicate
action.
Pictionary

Students draw pictures to get
their team to guess the vocab
word

You can project word lists and
have guessers face away from
the screen.
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Classics, cont.
Memory
Scattergories

Flip cards to find matches

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Switch up play with synonyms,
antonyms, homonyms, or
homophones
Roll an alphabet die (or
choose a letter)

Students write a word that
starts with the chosen letter for
each category

You may or may not set a timer
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As Seen on TV
Jeopardy
Science
$100,000 Pyramid
Math Art
100
200
300
400
500
 Place vocab word or pictures in
blanks
 Students provide a question for
which the term is the answer
 More than one correct answer

“What’s the Question?” in Vocabulary
Games for the Classroom
 Each box of the pyramid is
labeled with a category
 Clue giver gives terms in the
category
 Guesser does not look at
screen/board
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Talk a Mile a Minute

Talker faces screen with words

Guesser(s) face talker (away from screen)

Talker tries to get his guesser(s) to say each word
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Can label word lists with a category name

Have partners switch and give another list
+ Give clues about the word on the iPad,
partner holding the iPad tries to guess
the word
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Who Am I?
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Similar to Heads Up

Students put on a hat

A name of a famous person is then attached to the hat so
he/she does not see the name

Teammates/class describe the person for the hat wearer to
guess

Marzano’s Vocabulary Games for the Classroom lists many
historical figures that students should know
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“Sneak” vocabulary words into conversation
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Magic Letter, Magic Word

Write a “magic letter” on the board

Give a clue for a vocab word that starts with the magic letter

Team guesses word
Elementary Example:
Magic Letter: A
Clue: A list of all of the letters is called an _____________.
Answer: alphabet
Secondary Example:
Magic Letter: S
Clue: A genre that intends to make political statements by
using parody is called a _____________.
Answer: satire
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Resources
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Thank you for joining me!
Have fun playing games with
your students!
Please feel free to contact me anytime for more tips
or questions on vocabulary instruction!
Stephanie Wanek
swanek@esu8.org
402.887.5041 ext. 1231