Marzano's 6 Steps to Vocabulary Instruction #6: Games!

The last of Dr. Marzano's 6 Steps to Vocabulary Instruction is to play games with the terms.  Even though this is the sixth step doesn't necessarily mean it has to come last - it can be done concurrently with the other steps.  In fact, it has been my experience that when entwined throughout a unit, the different steps scaffold each other and keep students excited about learning content vocabulary.

I love playing games in class.  Middle schoolers are nothing if not competitive, and often times say, "Wait, I'm learning..." after our games.  These are some of my favorite vocabulary games to use in class...

1. Vocabulary Task Card Games - After students complete the three vocabulary task card activities designed to help them make connections between the words, definitions and images, I let them chose from the following 4 games using the vocabulary task cards.  They are also directed to play one of these games between task card activities if they finish early.
   1. Memory - This one is easy.  They lay out the "word" and "definition" cards face down and try to match them.  This game doesn't really deepen any connections, but is fun and at least helps reinforce the word-definition connection.
   2. Go Fish - This game uses the "word", "definition" and "image" cards.  Students start with 5 random cards and play Go Fish with them.  The catch (no pun intended) is that they need all three (Word, Definition & Image) cards to count as a match.
   3. Vocabo! - This game works like Uno, and is great at helping your students make connections between words.  Each student begins with 5 cards.  A starter card is placed in the middle of the table.  The first player puts down a "word", "definition" or "image" card that is connected to the starter "word", "definition" or "image" card.  They draw from the deck if they don't have one to connect.  Once they have a word, definition or image that connects, they lay it down on the starter card and explain the connection.  If the group agrees, it is the next person's turn to lay a card that connects to the prior player's card (NOT the original card).  The first person with no cards says, "Vocabo!" and is the winner.
   4. Spoons - This game uses the "word", "definition" and "image" cards.  Everyone gets 3 random cards to start with.  Player 1 selects a card from the deck and discards a card to their neighbor who discards a card to their neighbor, etc.  The goal is to wind up with 3 matching cards ("word", "definition" & "image").  Once someone has all 3, they touch their nose and keep playing.  The last person to notice and touch their nose loses.
2. On the Spot Games - These are quick games that require almost no prep that can be sprinkled in as either warm ups or filler activities.
   1. Charades - In groups, pairs or as a whole class, students act out a term as their teammates try to guess it.
   2. Pictionary - In groups, pairs or as a whole class, students draw images for terms and their partners try to guess it.
   3. Vocab Races - I project all of the unit's vocabulary words or definitions on the board and students race to be the first to point to the correct word (if I give a definition) or definition (if I give a word).  This can either be done one at a time for the fastest time, or against someone with the winner staying in until they lose.
   4. Bingo - Either on pre-printed blank bingo cards (some prep) or quickly student-drawn 5 x 5 grids on scrap paper (no prep), students randomly fill in the boxes with vocabulary terms.  Once their cards are filled out, read off definitions (don't call out words).  Students need to mentally match the definition to the correct word, then check their card.  If they have it, they mark it out.  Winners are 5 in a row horizontally, diagonally, or vertically first, then 4 corners, then whole card.

All of these games are fairly quick, fun and great at solidifying vocabulary terms.  I very highly recommend your visiting my store and downloading the FREE vocabulary games resource to use with either my cards (also available at my TpT store in my "vocabulary resources" section) or your own cards.  While you're there, be sure to check out the rest of my store for more great Social Studies resources!

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