This past week, the boys practiced their spelling words one day with our NEW Apple Word Bump! {Find the free download at the end of this post.} To see all of our seasonal Word Bump! spelling games, click HERE.
*This post contains affiliate links.
If you aren’t familiar with Word Bump!, you will want to read more about it HERE. It seems like every time we’ve played it, we’ve done it differently. It highly adaptable because you can use any spelling list. It’s also multi-leveled, because each player has their own set of words. For example, my two sons played one another {Kindergarten and third grade}. These two features of Word Bump! make it the perfect fit at home, during a tutoring session, at a literacy center, or during a small group.
Prepare Apple Word Bump!
Prep is easy.
- Just print off the game board you want. There are three game boards included in the free download {you will find at the end of this post}: 1 die, 2 dice, and 3 dice. We used the game board with 2 dice.
- Slip the game board into a plastic sleeve protector {you could also laminate}.
- Each player needs to pick a different colored dry erase marker or Vis-a-Vis marker.
- Each player needs a list of spelling words {blank word list is included on the last page of the printable pack}. You can use phonics words, like we did here or sight words. Remember that each player has their own list of words, making it just right for each student. To make it less prep for you, especially if you have multiple students, students can write their own spelling list before the game begins on the blank list.
- Die or dice, depending upon which board you choose.
Play Apple Word Bump!
Playing is easy, too!
- Players take turns rolling the die/dice.
- Count/add the dots.
- Find the corresponding number on the game board.
- Write a word from your list in that spot {it helps if kids write the words in order on their list} with your color marker.
- But be watch out for being bumped! If the other player rolls a number that already has your word on the game board, he can bump {erase} your word and write his.
- The player with the most words of his color on the board when all the spaces are filled in, is the winner. {We’ve also played for a set amount of time instead of filling in the entire board, especially when we’re short on time. When time’s up, just count how many each player has written. The person with the most words wins.}
This time, I encouraged the boys to look at the word from their list they were supposed to write for 2-3 seconds, then write it strictly from memory on the board, checking it after they had spelled the word on the game board. It provided an extra challenge that they both enjoyed.
Hands-On Spelling Ideas:
- More Seasonal Word Bump!
- 50 Hands-On Spelling Activities
- Hands-On Spelling Tools and Manipulatives
- Why I Don’t Give a Spelling Test {and What I do Instead}
- Short Vowels Word Study App {only $2.99!}
Follow This Reading Mama’s board Hands-On Spelling Ideas on Pinterest.
Download this FREE Apple Word Bump! HERE.
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~Becky
Rose says
May 29, 2015 at 2:01 amBecky, thank you again for the wonderful resource! My niece hates practice her spelling with writing it 5-10 times. I’m sure she will love to do it in a game setting!