Interactive Spelling Activities (Page 3 of 4) in pdf

14. MAGNETIC LETTERS

Working with a partner, younger pupils would first look at a word from their list or from a flash card,

cover it and then make their word using magnetic letters. This would continue until all the words are

displayed. Another pair would then be asked to check their spellings.

15. WORDSEARCH

Using squared paper, pupils make a wordsearch with their spelling words. Words are NOT written out

underneath. They need to look really closely to make sure that they haven’t made a mistake and that

they have included all their words.

For the next spelling session, wordsearches are swapped with another member of the same spelling

group. Words are ringed and then written out underneath. How many can they find?

They are then swapped back and marked by the original owner of the wordsearch.

16. MNEMONICS

Show the children an example of a mnemonic and explain why they are used eg big elephants can always

understand small elephants

because

Working with a partner, pupils try to make up a mnemonic for one or two of their trickiest spelling

words. A time limit should be set – again about 10 minutes. Their mnemonics can then be shared with

another pair, the whole group or displayed on the wall for everyone to use.

17. LUCKY DIP

This is a game best played in twos or threes. Pupils take turns to pick out 12 plastic letters from a bag.

They mustn’t look into the bag, as it is ‘lucky dip’. The picked letters are placed in front of them and the

rest of the letters are left in the bag. The idea is to make one of their spelling words out of the letters.

The pupils take turns to pick one new letter out of the bag and discard one that they don’t want any

more. This carries on until someone has the right letters to make one of their spelling words. The others

check that it is indeed spelt correctly. The game then starts over again.

18. GUESS THE WORD

Pupils work in pairs. One pupil chooses one of their spelling words, and then writes one letter on a

anywhere

whiteboard at a time. They can begin

in the word – it does not have to be at the beginning. The

other pupil tries to guess the word after each letter is added. If they guess correctly, they must spell

the whole word to win the points. The fewer letters that have been given – the more points to be won.

19. CROSSWORD

Using squared paper, pupils make a crossword using their spelling words. Definitions are written below to

form the clues. The children may have already written the definitions during a previous spelling session.

During a further session, crosswords are swapped and completed by another member of the group.

These would then be checked by the pupil who created the crossword.

20. NOUGHTS AND CROSSES

This is a very simple activity where pupils can work within mixed or same ability pairings. Pupils swap

lists and ask their partner to spell one of the words. If the word is spelt correctly, the appropriate

mark is placed on a noughts and crosses grid. If wrong, no mark is written but their mistake explained

and the correct spelling shown. A 10-15 minute time limit is probably long enough to play several games.

21. WALK ABOUT

and

Don’t be put off by the title. Children of all ages love this

it’s very effective!

The whole class walks about the class with their list of words. When the teacher calls a set signal (eg

’spell’), each pupil greets the person nearest to them and swaps lists. By doing this all spelling abilities

can work together. They then ask each other to spell 3 words from the

list. If they are both correct, they swap the lists back again and move on. If one or more is wrong, they

get one minute to study the words and are then asked again.

Interactive Spelling Activities Page 3

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