Top 15 Sight Word Games and Activities
Sight words are the most commonly used words in the English language. They include such words as - if, but, and, the and many more. These words hold our language together and do not usually add much specific meaning to the context. They are important for early readers to know automatically so as to maintain reading fluency. Sight words, or high frequency words, are not meant to be analyzed or sounded out, just learned by sight.
Studies over the years have produced many different versions of sight word lists. The Dolch Sight Word List is very commonly used and I have preferred using this list for teaching K-3. The Dolch list is made up of 220 words. Sight words are best copied onto colored card about 6cm x 12cm, laminated then used for all sorts of sight word games and activities. You will find they become such handy teacher resources that you will never want to be without a set.
1. Play Battleships with words on a grid with a partner or as a class.
2. Scatter the sight words onto the floor. A button or coin is tossed onto the words. Children shout out the word that the button lands on.
3. During the conferencing or editing stages of children’s writing, have a box of mini blank cards available. These are about 10cm x 3 cm. Children use these cards when looking for words on word wall, boxes, on charts, in story books, to write the words on. They then take these smaller versions back to their writing to edit their spelling.
4. Who am I? Game - I have 4 letters, I am green, I end in the letter s.
5. Children have a great time playing these types of sight word games. Play twister using a letter chart drawn with chalk on the concrete. Children spell out the sight words using their legs and arms.
6. Children make their own word wall / dictionary using photocopied small words and scrapbooks labeled with a letter of the alphabet on each page… can be added to throughout the year
7. Play Hangman using the sight words.
8. How quickly can you find a certain word in individual reading books during small group reading.
9. Using the same end letter - beginning letter - play sight word dominoes game.
10. Whiteboard pens can be used on the laminated word cards to circle certain letters within the sight words.
11. As a class or in small groups, play the game - Chinese Whispers - one child picks a word card, looks at it and whispers it around the circle. Last person has to find the card with that word on it.
12. Focus on a phonic blend such as ‘th’ for children to find within the laminated word cards and circle using a whiteboard pen.
13. Practice writing sight words with different colored chalk on concrete outside.
14. Use the laminated sight words for handwriting activities. Children trace over the words with the whiteboard pen.
15. Order the sight word cards alphabetically.
Sight word cards can be used for so much more than just look and say sessions. Keep a laminated set of words as part of your essential teacher resources. I have used them for impromptu lessons, as well as planned and sight word games have always been a part of my weekly language group planning.
Now, go and have some fun with those sight words!