It's simple really: English grammar can be a very dry subject, but this need not be the case. For a few years now, I have been developing a games-based approach to teaching important grammar concepts. It is amazing how the introduction of dice takes the learning into a new place - the element of chance making it seem less like work and more like play. Because I test my games extensively in the classroom, I get a feel for what works. Dump your boring worksheets and start dicing with grammar.
It's simple really: English grammar can be a very dry subject, but this need not be the case. For a few years now, I have been developing a games-based approach to teaching important grammar concepts. It is amazing how the introduction of dice takes the learning into a new place - the element of chance making it seem less like work and more like play. Because I test my games extensively in the classroom, I get a feel for what works. Dump your boring worksheets and start dicing with grammar.
If you are confident with your classroom management, this game works well in a lesson observation.
Children compete in teams, dropping relative clauses into prepared sentences.
Children try out different roles, from author to reporter, and work collaboratively.
I have found that children were quickly able to apply this skill in their writing after a session playing this game.
Differentiation included, if needed.
Give it a try!
If you are reading Goodnight Mr. Tom here are three very short drama activities for children to try in pairs. They could be used just to help children engage with the story.
I asked children to use these three short pieces of drama to support them in writing a diary entry and they produced some wonderful writing.
If you like this creative and active approach to teaching, you will love my pack of 40 grammar games - available to buy in my TES shop.
Hope they are of use to someone out there in teacherland.
If you use it, please review it! *2200 downloads…2 reviews
This is now the original 40 grammar dice games (a 145 page word document containing 40 fun grammar games) and also 38 more grammar games. Unlike a lot of sellers, my work is a Word document, so you can edit-and-adapt to make it work in your classroom. All of these games have been tested in class and adjusted if needed. They have a real impact on learning.
For each grammar skill there is:
a child friendly explanation of the concept; printable rules and resources for a lively dice game; suggestions to challenge or support learners; suggestions for application of the skill in written work.
For some grammar games there is also a lesson plan and a presentation.
Some of the games included are:
1. Mission Control - Write commands, questions and statements
2. Mythical Six
3. Simple or Compound
4. Adverb Sea Monsters
5. How many proper nouns? - Use proper nouns in a sentence
6. Castle of Nouns - Classify different types of nouns
7. The Memory Test – contractions
8. Apostrophe abductions - Identify possessive apostrophes and contractions
9. Synonym racers (adjectives) - Use more adventurous adjectives
10. Unplanned Story - Use sentence variety
11. Whose side are you on? - Learn the language of argument
12. Whose side are you on? (advanced) - Use extended arguments in a balanced discussion
13. Sentence Extenders - Extend simple sentences in a variety of ways
14. Battle of the complex sentences - Create complex sentences
15. Simple, compound or complex - Create simple, compound or complex sentences
16. Explanation game - Use causal connectives
17. Fronted adverbials - Use a variety of fronted adverbials
18. Warrior swords - Vary the length of fronted adverbials
19. Score my speech - Punctuate direct speech accurately
20. Score my interrupted speech - Interrupt direct speech by dropping a reporting clause in
21. The relative clause team game - Drop a relative clause into a sentence
22. Will you or won’t you? - Use modal verbs in sentences
23. ‘Time’ or ‘Place’ - Classify prepositions into two groups
24. Add a prepositional phrase - Add a prepositional phrase to a main clause
25. Punctuation show-offs - Use dashes, brackets and semi-colons
26. Plural planets - Explore 6 rules for making plurals
27. Battle words - Use this for any spelling rule!
28. Determiners ‘Point or show quantity’ - Learn all about determiners
29. Determiners ‘Introduce the noun’ - Classify and use determiners
30. Unstressed vowel race - spell unstressed vowels
31. Follow the rule/break the rule - spell ‘ie’ and ‘ei’ words
32. Creepy crawly colon sentences - Colons to explain
33. Colons to introduce lists
...and more!!!
This one works a treat!
***This game and 39 others are included in ‘40 Grammar Dice Games’ available from my TES shop***
’More Grammar Dice Games’ is also now available
Fronted adverbials should now be taught from Year 3 upwards and this is a useful way in - it will also stretch talented KS2 writers.
This dice-based activity encourages children to add a wide variety of fronted adverbials to a main clause.
The game is differentiated into three different versions. In its simplest version, less confident writers can pick appropriate adverbs to open sentences. In the most challenging version writers must elaborate and include more than one adverbial before the main clause. This can produce some stunning sentence work.
My class have been able to apply this skill in their own writing and I’m sure yours will too.
There is a presentation to provide your class (or any less confident teachers) with the knowledge needed to use the activity creatively.
NEW! I have added a new game ‘Warrior Swords!’ to develop the skill of varying the length of fronted adverbials. It is more challenging than the other 3 versions attached.
I hope you find the games as useful as I have.
***This game and 39 others are included in ‘40 Grammar Dice Games’ available from my TES shop***
’More Grammar Dice Games’ is also now available
This lively whole class game involves stealing words and wearing blindfolds - it causes a real buzz of excitement around creating complex sentences. It is one of my most involved games, but very easy to get the hang of. You’ll need a full lesson to play it.
A fun whole class grammar game promoting the use of subordinating conjunctions in complex sentences.
My class loved it - I hope yours will too.
Adverbs are one of the trickier word classes, so let's start off with the basics and learn in a playful way.
From Year 3 onwards, children are expected to understand the term 'adverb' and use adverbs in sentences. From Year 4 onwards, children are expected to be able to open sentences with adverbs.
In this fully resourced lesson (including lots of engaging activities), complete with lesson plan, presentation and a lively dice game, children will learn to understand the term 'adverb' as well as exploring some of the functions of adverbs. They will also have plenty of opportunities to use adverbs in sentences orally - though if desired, they could record their learning as well.
There is also more challenging task for your talented writers and I have included the game cards so that you can edit them to match your class text.
This lesson would also be an ideal revision tool for the Year 6 Grammar Test.
Key Stage 2 nouns
A fun game for 2 players exploring proper, common, concrete, abstract and collective nouns. I designed it to support children preparing for the Y6 grammar test. It could be useful for anyone exploring different types of nouns. Enlarge the game board and playing cards up to A3 for less fiddly fun. Enjoy! If you would like more like this please download my other games. They come with presentations and lesson plans.
If you use this, please leave a review - it's good teacher karma!
