Vocabulary development is a key component in fifth-grade reading programs. Students are usually given a list of important words from the reading material and asked to discuss their meanings and relationship to the story. A fun and simple way to review these words and their meanings with your child is to play “Reverse Bingo”. It’s an easy twist on the classic game and it will prepare your fifth grader for the vocabulary challenges that lie ahead!
What You Need:
- paper or pencils
- vocabulary list
- bingo chips (or paper clips, beans, coins)
What You Do:
- Create bingo cards by drawing 4 vertical lines and 4 horizontal lines to form 25 squares. Write “BINGO!” in the middle square.
- Each player should fill in his bingo card with vocabulary words from the list.
- Once all cards are filled with words, begin calling out vocabulary. However, instead of the words, call out the definition. Players must then identify the word being described and find it on their cards.
- Continue playing until one player fills in 5 boxes down, across or diagonally and calls out “Bingo!”.
- Rotate and reuse cards to play several rounds.
Note: Instead of bingo chips, players can use a pencil to mark boxes with a symbol, for example an “X” or a star. Choose a different symbol for each game.
By Brigid Del Carmen
Brigid Del Carmen has a Master's Degree in Special Education with endorsements in Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders/Emotional Impairments. Over the past eight years, she has taught Language Arts, Reading and Math in her middle school special education classroom.
Add your own comment