As teachers we are always trying to find engaging games to play during ELA centers. Games are a great way to encourage students to work as a team, taking turns, problem solving, and encouraging each other. By playing these games they won't even realize they are learning! Here are four engaging games to play during ELA centers.
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Matching or Memory
Most students will know how to play Memory and this is an easy game to use during centers. The purpose of the game is to find a matching pair, but students have to focus to remember where the cards are. You can practice with a variety of skills such as uppercase and lowercase letter recognition, sight words, or matching CVC words with its picture.
Here's how to play:
- Flip all the cards over on the floor or in a pocket chart.
- The first student comes up and picks two cards, flipping them over.
- If it matches, they get to keep the pair. If it doesn't match, they have to put both cards back.
- The next student takes a turn.
- Continue playing until time runs out or all matches have been found.
Bingo
Bingo is always a hit! I make sure to do this game with my students multiple times before letting them do it independently, but once they get the hang of it, they can definitely do it on their own. You can do this with any phonics skill or sight words!
Here's how to play:
- Each student gets a bingo card and something to cover up pieces. I like to use mini erasers or math counters.
- Either have one student be the “caller” or have students take turns picking up the calling card.
- Students will either look at the word or find the word on their board.
- The first student that gets 5 in a row has bingo and wins!
Make sure to check out this fun seasonal sight word bingo game in my TPT store here that you can edit the words for each holiday or season!
Spin and Cover
Spin and cover is such a fun game that your students will be begging for more! The purpose of this game is to practice identifying whatever the spinner lands on- whether it's a middle sound or consonant blend. It's a great way to practice phonemic awareness skill of isolation without realizing they are learning! To create a “spinner” you will show your students how to use a paperclip and a pencil to spin on top of the spinner. Just flick the paperclip and it will spin around the pencil.
Here's how to play:
- The first student spins the paperclip until it lands on a spot.
- They will look at the sound and find a picture that matches the sound.
- Using a mini eraser (or dry erase marker if it's laminated) they will cover it up.
- Add a tally mark to the bottom.
- The next student takes a turn.
- Continue playing until time is up or all pictures have been covered.
Roll and Read
You can use Roll and Read for any part of your lesson- whole group, small group, early finisher activity or as a center game. It really is the most versatile game for Kindergarten students, especially since you can pair it with any skill! All you need is a roll and read paper and dice. I like to put the paper inside a sheet protector or laminate it, so they can cross off words with a dry erase marker as they go. These dry erase pockets on Amazon are game changers!
Here's how to play:
- The first student will roll the dice and look at the number.
- They will find that number on the roll and read page and read the first word underneath it.
- Cross off that word and have the next student take a turn.
- Continue playing until time runs out or all the words have been read.
This editable roll and read template makes it easy to add in any skill to use throughout the year!
Find more engaging games for your ELA centers here!
If you like these ideas and want to try these games for your ELA center rotation, you can check out these yearlong center bundles for both Kindergarten and First Grade phonics skills.
Looking for more games to play? Check out this post here with my favorite CVC word activities and games!
[…] Games are another type of hands-on activity that are great to include in your center activity rotation! You can find these 4 games that are always a hit with my students on this blog post here. […]