Reading and Spelling Activities: Word Building, Compound Words, Contractions and Spelling Rules

The learning program can easily incorporate enjoyable spelling activities, while teaching concepts such as word contractions, compound words, and spelling rules effectively. An assortment of motivating board and card games can be used to support early childhood students with spelling concepts. Concepts including syllables, word endings, plurals, prefixes, suffixes and homophones are easily reinforced with games that can be played regularly in the classroom as part of the literacy program.

Incorporating some computer software games or online games within students' weekly spelling jobs, can also spice up spelling so that it is an enjoyable and productive daily task.

Moon and Stars Spelling Game (not loading properly...please don't use)

A board game with 24 picture cards that players try to match to letter combinations. Eight diagraphs are represented. This game is self-correcting as the words are printed on the backs of each picture.

Suffixes

Fishing for Suffixes Card Game: ed er ing

This game has 9 words with each suffix and some special instruction cards. Some words have the consonants doubled. All other words have the suffixes added without any changes to the original word.

Suffixes Bingo Game: ed er ing

Revised (3 words were incorrect) If you downloaded this file before 20/12/09, these are the three words that need to replace walker, spinner and cutter: 3 updated words: jumper, swimmer, reader

This game has 12 words with each suffix. There are four boards. Some words have the consonants doubled. All other words have the suffixes added without any changes to the original word.

Contractions

Contractions Halloween Uno

This game gives players an opportunity to practice reading common word contractions. Keep taking cards until a buzzy bee is pulled out. Then it is the next player's turn. This game has 44 cards.

Contractions Snowman Card Game

This game gives players an opportunity to practice reading common word contractions. Keep taking cards until a buzzy bee is pulled out. Then it is the next player's turn. This game has 44 cards.

Buzzy Bee Contractions Game

This game gives players an opportunity to practice reading common word contractions. Keep taking cards until a buzzy bee is pulled out. Then it is the next player's turn. This game has 44 cards.

Is Had Will Contractions Game

This game gives players an opportunity to practice reading common word contractions and to analyse which words have been contracted. Players read their card aloud and place it on the correct stack. The player putting the third card on a stack takes the cards. Includes 27 cards.

Not Have Would Contractions Game
Free resource

This game gives players an opportunity to practice reading common word contractions and to analyse which words have been contracted. Players read their card aloud and place it on the correct stack. The player putting the third card on a stack takes the cards. Includes 27 cards.

Lion Contraction Cards

Instructions for three games are included with these 62 cards (36 word contractions). Word pairs are on the male lion cards, and the matching contractions are on the female lion cards. Games these cards can be used for include Snap, Memory and a variation of Go Fish.

Jungle Contractions Board (Print 4)
Jungle Contractions Cards

Each player puts 4 contraction cards on their board. Take turns to draw a card from the jungle cards (word pairs that can form contractions, eg. we will can be contracted to we'll). If the matching word contraction is on your board, make a pair, and place another snake card on your board. Play continues until all cards have been matched.

Contractions Bingo
Four boards with different frames so that students can remember which ones they have already played. Contractions are on the boards and the two words they are formed from are on the 36 cards.

Contractions: Remember and Write Game
A game where students use the process ' look, say, cover, write, check' to learn how to spell words.

Compound Words

Compound Words Snowman Uno

This game gives players an opportunity to practice reading common compound words in order to develop automatic recall.

Compound Words Halloween Card Game

A game with 36 different compound words and 12 special cards to add interest.

Compound Words Bingo Game
(Revised- cheeseburger and iceberg replaced by cowboy and bullfrog)

This game contains 36 different compound words on cards to match with the pictures on the boards.

Compound Words Garden (Board: Print 4)
Compound Words Garden & Butterfly Cards
Each player puts 4 garden cards on their board. Take turns to draw a card from the butterfly cards. (Together, the word pairs can form compound words) If the word drawn can be used with one on your board to make a compound word, then the pair is removed. Play continues until all cards have been matched.

Spelling Sight Words

Sight Words 1: Remember and Write Game
Free resource

A game where students use the process ' look, say, cover, write, check' to learn how to spell words.

Sight Words 2: Remember and Write Game
A game where students use the process ' look, say, cover, write, check' to learn how to spell words.

Sight Words 3: Remember and Write Game
A game where students use the process ' look, say, cover, write, check' to learn how to spell words.

Sight Words 4: Remember and Write Game
A game where students use the process ' look, say, cover, write, check' to learn how to spell words.

Sight Words 5: Remember and Write Game
A game where students use the process ' look, say, cover, write, check' to learn how to spell words.

External Links to
Online Games and Activities

Spelling City: Spelling Activities For Your Own Words Enter your own words in a list, and choose from lots of online games to practise your words, as well as an option for the computer to "teach" you the words by spelling them aloud and saying each word in a sentence. After all this, have a test and get your score!

Spelling Colour and Shape Words A simple activity for the younger learners.


Spelling it Right This site has lots of worksheets to print, but also a good online Hangman Game with lots of lists such as 'the i before e rule', beginning blends, 'magic e', and double letters.

Walk the Plank: Compound Words An animated game where the teacher walks the plank if all answers are correct!

Compound Words Memory Squares

Adding -ed to Words (Online Quiz)

Contracted Words Memory Squares