Learning new words and constructing sentences doesn't have to be boring. Try Word Building Scrabble with a child for an educational evening or at a family event to get everyone involved.
Materials for Scrabble Word Building Activity
- 1 Scrabble Board
- 20-30 minutes per game, longer with more than two people
- Imagination
How to Play Word Building Scrabble
- Children learn words by placing them in the context of their lives. Invite a child to choose a theme. For example, in late April, choose "spring." In December, choose "Christmas." Other examples may include a favorite book or movie, seasons, holidays, and sports or recreational activities children enjoy, such as baseball, gymnastics, music, dance, or video games.
- Begin game with eight letters per person. Select a word from the available letters that fits the chosen theme. For example, the letters available spell "sun," which fits with the theme "spring." "Sun" is therefore a good word for this game of Word Building Scrabble.
- Place selected word on the Scrabble board, and construct a sentence on the game's theme that includes the word. For example, "the sun comes out after it rains in April," fits nicely with the "spring" theme.
- Take turns creating words and a story on the game's theme until all Scrabble letters are gone.
Rules of Word Building Scrabble
Creating a story with a child on the Scrabble board means that some of the rules of Word Building Scrabble are different from those known to adult Scrabble enthusiasts.
- All Word Building Scrabble team members work together to create words and tell a story on a theme. They can ask each other questions about how to spell words, encouragement on what sentences to say, and even trade letters if one person has a really good word!
- Word Building Scrabble does not keep points or take score. Everyone wins when the story is complete.
- Each player gets one free word per game. A free word is a word not connected with other Scrabble words. The free word emphasizes creativity; a player may have a fantastic word that does not fit in with other words, and he or she can use that as the free word. For example, Sophia is playing Word Building Scrabble on a Harry Potter theme. She can spell the word "Hedwig" (Harry's owl), but it doesn't fit in with words already on the board. She loves this word and really wants to play it. She decides to make "Hedwig" her free word and places it in an empty corner of the Scrabble board.
Word Building Scrabble encourages everyone to think outside the box and expand upon favorite activities. It also offers children an opportunity to learn new words and connect them with their lives, not just by playing the game, but by spending time with loved ones and creating memories where words and stories are fun.
For another easy family game that teaches children vocabulary, try Consequences, A Victorian Story Game. To encourage children to think creatively, try Starry Night Art Activity.
 |
