Grade 1 Spelling Word Activities
Creative Ways to Teach Elementary Spelling Word Lists
Teach traditional elementary spelling words with a little flair to get the younger student excited about learning new words.
Learning to read is the core of the grade 1 curriculum. Young students need to read if they are to succeed in all the subjects including math. Reading is a difficult task and can become tiresome to the younger child who struggles with pronunciation, word and letter recognition. Here are some fun spelling word list activities to make learning those words easy and fun.
Rhyming Match Up
The younger students love rhymes and this is a great strategy for students to learn the new spelling words. Students are introduced to the weekly spelling words. Teacher creates a match up with the spelling words on one side and a rhyming word on the other side. Students must match the spelling word with the rhyming word.
Make a Word
Students make a smaller words from their spelling word lists. Often grade 1 words are only 3-5 letters long, but there is usually a word or two found in the word. Sample: Does: do, so
Have students cut out each letter for the spelling word to enable them to move the letters around to make a new word. As well, students can work in pairs or independently. Share the words at the end and identify the words that are a part of the English language.
Word Hunt
Teacher makes a word search with the weekly spelling words and may add a bonus word or two. Students will circle the words in the word search. This activity reinforces the spelling of the word.
Spelling Bee Contest
Teacher sounds out the spelling words with the students. Teacher will ask students to identify the beginning, middle, and end sound. Teacher and students will practice saying, spelling, and identifying the sounds of the word for the week.
For the spelling bee contest, teacher will ask students to spell the word or to identify the beginning, middle, or end sound. Students in grade 1 are at both ends of the spectrum in spelling and it is important for all students to be involved in the contest. The twist to the spelling bee contest ensures all students are learning and active in the contest.
Journal Writing
Students are to use one or more of the spelling words in their journal writing. Students will underline the word in their journals. This strategy allows the student to use the spelling word in an activity not associated with spelling. Too often students are able to spell the word correctly for the spelling test but are unable to spell or use the word in their language studies.
Spelling Word Story
Teacher and students create a story with the weekly spelling words as a class. Students write the story in their language books and accompany it with a picture. A more advanced student can be encouraged to write his own story or the students can be asked to write a sentence for one of the words and illustrate it with a picture.
The above ideas for making spelling a little more interesting should be rotated on a regular basis so that students will always feel challenged with new and different activities.
