PAT Bank
Dictionary Race (grades 3-6)
Author:
Pat Driscoll
California
Subject:
Language Arts
Objective:
Develop reference skills and increase vocabulary.
Materials and Preparation:
Dictionaries, all EXACTLY THE SAME, for each student.
List of words you want to use.
Student Grouping:
2 teams
The Play:
-
Each student gets a dictionary.
-
On a white board write down one of the words from
your list of entries.
-
Flip the board over and say, "First team to
tell me the page number this word is on gets one point."
- Caveat: After a few points students pick up on
the strategy of guessing by yelling out consecutive
page numbers that are in the general vicinity of
the answer. Stop this by allowing each team only
two guesses. Or better yet, give each student a
mini-whiteboard and have them write down the page
number.
Comments or Variations:
For ESL or less advanced classes, use only the guide
words at the top of the page. Much easier to find and
a useful skill to know as well.
By the way, I recommend Longman's Dictionary of American
English. Very nicely set up for learning.
This is a game that kids really like - once they get
past their initial resistance to anything to do with the
dictionary. So this is a game to use after you have built
up a little bit of trust with the kids.
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