Vocabulary mastery, Cube Game
From FreeReading
| Activity Type: Build Mastery |
| Activity Form: Game |
| Grade: 2, 3 |
| Group Size: Small Group |
| Length: |
| Materials: vocabulary cube template; markers; list of 6 words that were explicitly taught |
| Goal: After learning new vocabulary, students will engage in a game that tests their vocabulary knowledge |
| Items: Words you explicitly taught students and want to review |
What to do
- Print paper cube template link. Write a selected word in each of the six square spaces. The selected words should be words that the students have been exposed to numerous times (see previous activities) and that you would like to have them review. Cut the cube template out. Tape the sides of the cube template to create a three-dimensional cube. Depending on the age group and familiarity with this process, you could eventually ask your students to begin building their own cubes using words from their word journals, personal thesauri, or the word wall.
- You’ve been doing a great job with vocabulary this week, so today we’re going to play the cube game! Here's how you play. I will throw the cube to one of you. The person that catches the cube will silently read the word that their right thumb lands on. Then, it’s their job to help us guess what the word is without ever saying the word. The person holding the cube can act the word out, give us an example of the word, or give us a synonym/antonym for the word. It’s up to them how they choose to help us guess. The rest of the group must guess what the word is until somebody guesses the exact word that’s under the right thumb.
- My turn. First, let's all find our right thumb (observe and make sure all students have identified their right thumb). Now, could you (choose student) throw the cube to me so that I can show all of you what to do once you catch it. Student throws cube to you. With your left hand you point to your right thumb. You show the students the word underneath your right thumb, but you don’t read the word aloud. (e.g.: the word is enormous).
- Option 1 (synonym): A synonym for this word is huge.
- Option 2 (antonym): An antonym for this word is tiny.
- Option 3 (acting out): Teacher spreads her arms as wide as she can to indicate enormous.
- Option 4: (example): skyscrapers; giants; oceans
- Encourage students to refer to the word wall you’ve created as a class. Students guess the word. Praise the students who are able to guess the correct word based on the examples you’ve provided. Praise the students who may have guessed another word with the identical meaning.
- I just showed you what to do when you catch the cube. I am sure that you’ll probably recognize most of these words. But, if you forget the meaning of the word under your right thumb don’t worry. In that case, just throw the cube to another person in the group.
- This lesson can be used for initial modeling of the cube review game in a small group. It can be used independently by students at a word center once the game has been modeled.
- The lesson can also be altered to introduce more complexity to the task. For example, when students encounter multiple meanings of words, their examples will change.
- The students can use a personal thesaurus or a word journal to generate ideas for their own cubes (if age appropriate).