Writer's Blocks: Play Sight Word Jenga
Topics: First Grade, Second Grade, Reading, Writing
Though they're used frequently in print, sight words can be confusing for new readers because they don't often sound like how they're spelled. But recognizing sight words is an important part of learning to read successfully. Looking for a fun way to expose your first-grader to more sight words? Here's an activity that puts a new twist on a classic game to help his reading skills: create your own wooden word blocks and play Sight Word Jenga!
What You Need:
- Blank wooden rectangular blocks, available at teacher supply and toy stores
- Permanent marker
- Lists of sight words and vocabulary
Set-Up
- Use the permanent marker to write one word on each of the blank blocks. Sight words (like "the", "always", "anything", and "every") are great to use; you can find lists of these words with a quick internet search. You can also use words and vocabulary from your child's spelling lists or favorite books.
How to Play:
- Stack the blocks up into a tower.
- Players will take turns. On each turn, a player will pull out one wooden block from the tower. If the tower does not fall, the player must then use the word written on the block in a sentence.
- The objective of the game is to pull out as many word blocks as possible without knocking the tower over. The first person to make the tower fall loses that game.
Barbara Sweet has a Master's degree in Education and has taught Spanish in grades K-12, as well as a variety of undergraduate college courses. She is also the mother of a nine-year-old son.
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