We all know that spelling can be a challenging feat, with intricacies and exceptions that often perplex even the most advanced English learners. However, the journey to mastering spelling doesn’t have to be dull or arduous. In fact, it can be an engaging adventure filled with excitement and creativity. That’s where spelling games come in!
In this article, we cover 19 of the best spelling games to play with kids. You can also play them with adults too!
Best Spelling Games
Welcome to the world of spelling games, dynamic tools that turn the task of learning into a joyful experience. From classic favorites like Hangman to innovative challenges like Word Ladder, we’ll cover a variety of spelling games that offer a diverse and effective approach to practicing spelling.
Being able to spell correctly is important for any age group, especially when there are so many words in the English language that are commonly misspelled. The good news is that these games can not only help learn to spell but also instill a love for words.
So, read on and get ready to start playing spelling games!
1. Hangman
Hangman is a classic word-guessing game that blends suspense and spelling. One player thinks of a word and draws blanks for each letter. The other player guesses letters, and for each incorrect guess, a part of a stick figure is drawn. The goal is to guess the word before the stick figure is complete.
What You Need:
All you need is a pen and paper or a whiteboard to draw the gallows and blanks for the word.
How to Play It:
To play Hangman, choose a word and draw blanks for each letter. The players then guess letters. If the guessed letter is in the word, fill in the blanks; if not, start drawing the stick figure. The game continues until the word is guessed or the stick figure is complete.
2. Word Ladder
Word Ladder is an inventive word game that challenges players to transform one word into another through a series of incremental changes. It’s a linguistic puzzle that enhances vocabulary and encourages strategic thinking by getting players to form words.
What You Need:
No specific materials are required; just a list of starting and ending words.
How to Play It:
To play Word Ladder, provide a starting word and a destination word. The challenge is to change the starting word into the destination word by altering one letter at a time, creating valid words at each step. Players leap from one word to the next, exercising their vocabulary and spelling skills.
3. Boggle
Boggle is a fast-paced word search game that shakes up letters to create a grid of randomized characters. Players race against the clock to find as many words as possible by connecting adjacent letters. It’s a fun game that can be played in the classroom or at home, and is among our favorite spelling games.
What You Need:
A Boggle game set or an online Boggle generator.
How to Play It:
In Boggle, shake the lettered cubes and arrange them in a 4×4 grid. Set a timer and start finding words by connecting adjacent letters horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The longer and less common the words, the more points you score. It’s a thrilling race against time that sharpens spelling and word-finding skills.
4. Word Jumble
Word Jumble is a brain-teasing game where letters of a word are deliberately scrambled, challenging players to decipher the correct spelling. It’s a mental workout that reinforces spelling and critical thinking.
What You Need:
Prepare a list of words with their letters jumbled.
How to Play It:
In Word Jumble, players are presented with a scrambled word. The goal is to unscramble the letters to form the correct word. This game encourages players to visually analyze letter arrangements, strengthening their spelling abilities.
5. Word Battle Royale
Word Battle Royale is an exciting head-to-head competition that combines strategy and spelling. Players go head-to-head, aiming to create longer and more complex words to outscore their opponents. This is a spelling game that really challenges the depth of vocabulary, where players have to come up with their own words in order to win.
What You Need:
A list of words or a deck of word cards.
How to Play It:
In Word Battle Royale, two players face off, taking turns to lay down words. The catch is that each subsequent word must build on the letters of the previous word. Longer words score more points, making it a thrilling battle of wits and vocabulary. The player with the highest score at the end wins the word battle.
6. Scrabble Scramble
Scrabble Scramble is a creative twist on one of the most famous word games of all time, Scrabble. However, unlike the traditional Scrabble game, in Scrabble Scramble players are challenged to build words against the clock out of a selection of Scrabble tiles. This game encourages vocabulary expansion and strategic thinking. It’s also great spelling practice for kids, as you can get them to work in teams to spell as many words as possible.
What You Need:
You’ll need a Scrabble set or printable Scrabble tiles.
How to Play It:
To play Scrabble Scramble, mix up the tiles and set a timer. Race against time to create as many words as possible on the board. Points are awarded for each valid word, promoting friendly competition and spelling proficiency.
7. Word Bingo
Word Bingo brings a dynamic twist to spelling practice by combining the excitement of bingo with language learning. It’s a lively game that reinforces word recognition and spelling skills.
What You Need:
Prepare bingo cards with words instead of numbers and markers.
How to Play It:
During Word Bingo, listen to words being called out and mark the ones you have on your card. The goal is to get five in a row to win. This engaging game transforms spelling into an interactive and enjoyable experience.
8. Alphabet Soup Challenge
The Alphabet Soup Challenge adds a delightful touch to spelling practice. This sensory game involves blindfolded letter fishing to spell words, enhancing both tactile and spelling skills.
What You Need:
Prepare a large bowl filled with foam letters or magnetic letters.
How to Play It:
In the Alphabet Soup Challenge, blindfold yourself, reach into the “soup,” and fish for letters. Once you’ve caught a letter, use it to spell a word. This game adds a hands-on and entertaining element to spelling practice.
9. Spelling Bee
The Spelling Bee is a competition that celebrates language proficiency and fosters a love for correct spelling. The name of the game is spelling words correctly, so anyone with a talent for spelling will have a good chance of winning. Participants engage in a public display of spelling prowess, spelling words aloud in front of an audience. It helps boost confidence and enhances vocabulary.
What You Need:
All you need is a list of words, a moderator, and enthusiastic participants.
How to Play It:
In the Spelling Bee Championship, participants take turns spelling words aloud provided by the moderator. The challenge lies in correctly spelling increasingly difficult words, with contestants eliminated for misspelling. The last participant standing is declared the Spelling Bee Champion.
10. Word Search
Transform spelling practice into a visually engaging and challenging word search game. A word search can be a solo or group activity and it reinforces correct spelling. The aim of the game is to find all the words, and it represents a great way to practice recently learned vocabulary.
What You Need:
Prepare word search puzzles or create your own with a word bank.
How to Play It:
In Word Search Wizardry, find and circle the hidden words in the puzzle. The focus is not only on finding the words but also on correctly spelling them. This game combines the joy of discovery with spelling reinforcement.
11. Spelling Puzzler
Description:
Spelling Puzzler combines spelling skills with the joy of solving puzzles. It’s an interactive game that challenges players to decipher clues and complete a crossword puzzle with correct spellings.
What You Need:
Prepare crossword puzzles or create your own with clues and a word bank.
How to Play It:
In Spelling Puzzler, fill in the blanks with correct spellings, deciphering the provided clues to complete the puzzle. This game promotes critical thinking and spelling proficiency in an engaging way.
12. Jumbled Words Jamboree
Jumbled Words Jamboree is a fast-paced and exciting game that challenges players to unscramble letters and reveal correct spellings. It’s a race against time, promoting quick thinking and spelling skills.
What You Need:
Prepare a list of jumbled words and a timer.
How to Play It:
In Jumbled Words Jamboree, race against time to unscramble as many words as possible. This game adds an element of urgency to spelling practice and encourages players to think on their feet.
13. Word Match
Word Match is a memory and matching game that challenges players to pair words with their correct spellings. It’s a fun and educational activity that enhances both spelling and memory skills.
What You Need:
Pairs of cards with words on one card and their correct spellings on the other.
How to Play It:
In Word Match, players flip over cards to find matching pairs of words and their correct spellings. This game not only reinforces spelling but also tests memory recall, making it a comprehensive and engaging learning experience.
14. Word Battle
Word Battle is a two-player spelling game where each player creates a spelling list. They then read a word from the list to their contestant who has to spell it. It’s a great game to practice spelling as each player has to spell words correctly to score points.
What You Need:
A pen and paper so that each player can create a spelling list. If you want to save time and test specific vocabulary you can provide your own readymade spelling lists.
How to Play It:
Players take it in turns to read out a word. The one listening must then spell the word correctly. They get one attempt after which they have to move on to the next word. For each correct spelling they get a point, and you can award bonus points if they get 100%. The winner is the player who spells the most words correctly.
15. Spelling Relay Rally
Spelling Relay Rally turns spelling into an active team game, promoting collaboration and friendly competition. It’s a high-energy game that combines spelling proficiency with physical activity.
What You Need:
Prepare a list of words, this will form the spelling list. Then divide players into two teams, and designate a space for running.
How to Play It:
Teams in Spelling Relay Rally take turns running to a designated point, spelling a word, and passing the baton to the next teammate. This game adds an element of teamwork and excitement to spelling practice.
16. Synonym Showdown
Synonym Showdown encourages vocabulary expansion by matching words with their synonyms. While it’s more of a vocabulary game, it’s still a game that can be used to reinforce correct spelling by getting participants to spell the words after they have matched them.
What You Need:
Prepare cards with words and corresponding cards with synonyms.
How to Play It:
In Synonym Showdown, match words with their synonyms in a fast-paced showdown. After they have matched the words ask them to spell them for bonus points. This game challenges players to think beyond spelling and consider the nuances of language, making it both educational and entertaining.
17. Spelling Scavenger Hunt
Description:
The Spelling Scavenger Hunt Adventure transforms spelling practice into an interactive quest. Players embark on a scavenger hunt, searching for items that match a given spelling or word description.
What You Need:
A list of words or spelling clues and items related to each word.
How to Play It:
Players receive a list of words or spelling clues. Their task is to find items in their environment that match each word. This game not only reinforces correct spelling but also adds a delightful twist of exploration and discovery to the learning experience.
Online Spelling Games
So, we’ve covered in-person spelling games, but what about online spelling games? These also represent great tools for spelling practice and there are a whole host of free online spelling games available. You can play them as a group in class or they can be played at home.
Here are a couple of popular online spelling games we recommend:
18. Wordle
Description:
Wordle is a popular online word-guessing game that captivates players with its simplicity and word-solving challenge. In this game, you have six chances to guess a secret five-letter word, receiving feedback after each attempt. So, you’ll need to learn how to spell words correctly in order to play!
What You Need:
Access to the Wordle website or app.
How to Play It:
To play Wordle, input a five-letter word guess, and the game provides feedback: letters in the correct position are colored, while correct letters in the wrong position are marked differently. Use this information strategically to decipher the secret word within the six attempts.
19. Spelling Bee Online
Description:
Another of the great free online spelling games, Spelling Bee challenges players to create as many words as possible out of a selection of letters. You score points for bigger words and can track your progress over time.
What You Need:
Access to the Spelling Bee website or app. It also appears as an option to play after you complete Wordle each day.
How to Play It:
To play Spelling Bee, you simply have to make words from a selection of letters. The more words you make, the closer you get to completing the game. If you get stuck you can also mix up the words to give yourself a different perspective. You need to use the right spelling for the word to be accepted, so it can be a great test of both spelling and vocabulary.
Conclusion: Start Spelling!
Now that you have a comprehensive collection of spelling games, you can turn learning into a playful adventure for the wordsmiths young and old in your life. You can find spelling games for all ages and levels, and these engaging activities make spelling practice enjoyable and effective, promoting language skills in a fun way.
Playing spelling games is a great way to practice spelling and vocabulary. This list should provide you with a good starting point to start injecting some fun into spelling words with your students, colleagues, and friends. So, have a blast spelling!
James has been helping people teach English abroad for over twelve years. He’s traveled to over 30 countries, lived in 3, and taught English in Chile and online.
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