Here’s an easy-peasy (to create) word work idea for your center activities. I created this super fun spelling activity to help students work on blending, adding and also deleting, and substituting phonemes to make new words, all while having loads of fun. These vital phonemic awareness skills are just some of the 34 skills that I focus on in this activity. You can see all 34 skills in a free cheat sheet I use.
I created ‘Making Words’ as a center activity, but you could also use it with fast finishers, or even interventions to focus on phoneme manipulation skills.
Each stick can be numbered, so that students can record which stick they have completed.
The word work activity is super easy, and very quick to create. Keep reading to see how you can make it in a few minutes.
Join the word work newsletter
Subscribe to get word work ideas. Plus download your FREE Vowel Chart now.
You will need:
Popsicle sticks, cups, tins, or containers, and a permanent marker.
Students will need a piece of paper to record their answers.
How to:
Simply write a range of letters on each popsicle stick. You could fill up the entire stick with letters if you like. I tried to include different spelling patterns to help the kiddos pull on developed, or developing spelling skills.
Number each stick.
Then place them in a cup(s).
Demonstrate how to use the sticks to spell words. Children can spell words by blending sounds together and listening to find out if they make sense, then write the word. You may explain that if they can write; bat, they could also write sat if there were an ‘s’, and so on. This is substitution skill will come in handy later with their reading and writing.
Variation 1: Students could score one point for each word they make. However, it is not necessary to create this as motivation, especially if don’t want to encourage winning and losing.
Variation 2: Use vocabulary words from your word list, or texts – jumble up each word on the your popsicle sticks. Have them make words using each letter as detailed above. Then challenge children to use all the letters to make one long word from the given list. You could then score each word they create. and perhaps 5 points for using all letters. this would be great fro students who need that extra challenge and rigor. I have created that uses fall vocabulary words, and letter tiles. See it here: Making Words Cards and Booklet Fall Edition.
To download your FREE making Words Record Sheets, click here.
You might also like to have children make words with letter tiles, or Banagrams a center activity. Click here to see it on our blog.
For even more word work ideas, come on over and join thousands of teachers in our Facebook group: Word Work Ideas for K-2 Teachers. In our online community, we have teachers from all over the world. The group is very supportive, and active. You will be able to chat about word work ideas, planning, assessments, grouping, activities, management and more. Click here to request an invite, and I will be sure to confirm it under 24 hours.
Happy word work!
Join the word work newsletter
Subscribe to get word work ideas. Plus download your FREE Vowel Chart now.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.