Build Literacy with Word Games

Here's a word game that uses building terms!

Word games are fun and can help kids become proficient in reading, writing, and spelling. Here are some ideas on how to build your child's literacy skills while enjoying some family time.

Anagram Word Game

By rearranging letters in a word you get an "anagram" — words found in a longer word. Here's an example:

What words can be made from "ELEPHANTS?"

    Some answers could be: ant, ants, pant, pants, help.

Get the idea? See how many new words you can make from the building terms below.

Let's go!

Tip: If your child is a braille reader, use braille word tiles from Bananagrams or Scrabble. You can also make your own word tiles.

SKYSCRAPER

    (Some answers: scraper, scrape, sky, scrap, cap, car, scar, parks, park)

BRIDGE

    (Some answers: bid, rid, big, beg, bride, ride)

WINDOW

    (Some answers: win, no, now, wow, wind, won)

ROOF

    (Some answers: of, or)

TOWER

    (Some answers: tow, or, ore, wet, woe, wore)

CASTLE

    (Some answers: cast, case, cat, cats, let, tale)

CORNER

    (Some answers: corn, no, cone)

ARCHITECT

    (Some answers: arch, arc, art, hit, hate, hat, chat, cheat)

HAMMER

    (Some answers: ham, harm, arm, are)

Make Your Own Braille Word Tiles

Idea from Paths to Literacy

How to Create Word Tiles

• 1. Print several sets of alphabet letters, A-Z, so you will have enough letters to make multiple words.
• 2. Print extras of vowels, A, E, I, O, U, and Y.
• 3. Add braille equivalent under each letter using braille labels, a braille label maker, a slate and stylus, or a Perkins brailler.

Organize Your Tiles to Create Words

• 1. Create a folder to hold the letters using Manila folders.
• 2. Cut the folders at the fold to create sheets.
• 3. 3-hole punch the file folder sheets to fit in a binder for easy storage.
• 4. Use another Manila folder to create the "pockets" to hold the letters. Each pocket should be about 2-3 inches tall.
• 5. Glue the bottom of the pocket down, or use double-sided tape.
• 6. To save space in your binder, attach the front of one Manila folder sheet to the back of another, using masking tape to bind the two pages together.
  
  You can also purchase these folders from teacher supply stores.

These activities were created by Lisamaria Martinez for Great Expectations.