I always want to save time and make life simpler. This one resource helps with both. You can use this game set in multiple ways. Maybe the best part – this versatile game set is free! You can grab it now.
What is this resource?
This short vowel (CVC) Mixed Review game set includes games, word cards, and activity wheels. This set is a great way for your Kindergarten, First Grade, and/or Second Grade students to review beginning sounds, ending sounds, medial sounds, rhyming words, and basic decoding.
More information about how to use it to review skills in a moment. First, let’s talk about what is included.
What’s Included
This free set has 5 gameboards, 5 activity wheels, and 225 short vowel word cards!
The set comes in color and B&W. The materials in color are bright, colorful, and fun and will definitely appeal to young learners. The B&W materials are certainly a cost-effective way to print.
The activity wheels are great for a quick center activity. Simply add clothespins and your activity is ready. I like to make the wheels self-checking by adding a tiny dot on the back of the correct answers. Of course, some students may peek but I figure they are still reviewing, even when they see the answers.
When Can You Use This Resource?
You can play these games in small groups, or whole groups, or use them for partner games. These games are perfect for centers and time fillers too. When students are playing learning games, they become so engaged that don’t even realize they are reviewing! If you are new to using games in the classroom, no worries, I have a post that will help you successfully use games, quickly and easily.
How Do You Play?
The gameboard directions are super simple. You have two options. One option requires a spinner and the other requires some of the word and/or picture cards.
The spinner goes with the gameboards that have pictures. Students spin the spinner, land on a vowel, and then cover a corresponding picture on the gameboard. The other gameboard displays short vowels. Students turn over one of the cards and then cover the represented short vowel. It is really easy to differentiate with this gameboard, simply change which cards you use – picture only, word only, or a combination of both.
How Can You Use the Game Cards in Multiple Ways?
You can play the board games as they are intended, but you can also use the cards for a variety of activities.
Memory
This classic game is a fun way to review. Decide which cards you want to use. Start simple by using words only and picture/word combination cards. Turn the words over. Turn the combination cards over. I like to make two separate groups since the cards do not have different backs. You can put the word cards at the top and make a group with the combination cards at the bottom or make separate groups side by side. Students turn over one of the word cards and one combo card, hoping to make a match. The game continues until all matches are made. Make the game more challenging, by switching to words only and pictures only.
Make a Match
This game gets the kids moving. I like to put cards with just pictures around the room. Then, I give them a word card and they must go and find the corresponding picture card. You can switch this activity up in a variety of ways. You can change which cards you use. You could also do a mix of cards and then use the spinner to determine what kids find. For example, spin an “e” and tell students to go hunt for “short e” cards.
I like to make this game “a get-up and move game” but you could also do this at a table or in one location (i.e. on the rug).
Read the Room
Similar to the above game, you can “Read the Room”. Create a quick recording sheet, put cards around the room, and let kids find, read, and record the cards. This activity is another great way to add some movement to the review.
Sorts
Students can sort the cards. They can sort cards by all 5 vowels or you could pick 2 vowels and give them cards for those two vowels.
Even though this set is made to review short vowels, your students can sort by other categories too – beginning sounds or ending sounds, for example.
Advanced Game Board Option
I have shared ways you can use the cards included in this set, but you can also change how you play the board games. Use one of the game boards with pictures. Give your student a picture card or word card that is not featured on the board. Students must then find and cover a picture that has the same short vowel as the card you showed them.
Intervention Time
All the activities in this set are great for intervention but the cards can be used to review so many skills. I like to give my students a dry-erase board so they can practice writing the words as well as saying them.
You could have them identify the short vowel and then write the CVC word. Then you could extend the activity by having them change the beginning letter to make a new word. When your students are ready, you could change the ending letter or the middle one.
You could also use the cards for phonemic awareness activities. Name the word and then name a rhyming word or name a word and then segment it into phonemes.
There really are so many possibilities. I bet you have thought of some other ones as well.
Other Great Games that Can Be Used Multiple Ways!
Grab this free set and see how you like it. If you like it as much as I do, you might be interested in trying some other CVC games that have similar formats. Since these games have the same basic components, you can use them in multiple ways too!
This bundle includes 5 sets (and a freebie set!). Each short vowel has a separate set. There is also a short A freebie set if you want to get a smaller version of the short A complete set. These short vowel games feature word families. There is also a similar set that features digraphs, but this game set is not included in the bundle.
In Conclusion
Save time and energy by prepping one game set and using it in multiple ways. This game set has so many different possible uses. The title says there are 8 ways, but I bet there are many more options with this set. Have fun using one game set multiple ways!
