In this activity, students do a variety of tasks revolving around words in a 4×4 grid. The game and vocabulary can be adjusted according to the level of the students.
Prep: Create a Blank Grid
Students listen and watch the teacher create a 4×4 grid. Students create a similar grid on a sheet of blank paper in their notebooks.
Part 1: Fill the Grid with Dictation
First the teacher will draw a 4×4 grid on the board. The horizontal grid will be labeled by number and the vertical grid by letters. (See example below).
Part 2: Compare Spellings
Next the students compare grids and see if anything is different. To make this more challenging, students can compare words vocally without looking at each others words.
Part 3: Play a Speaking Checkers
Next the students will try to get four across on the board. To do so, one student calls out a cell the want to mark. Then they must use the word in the cell in the sentence. If they can, they can mark the cell with their sign (an ‘X’ or an ‘O’). The next student then goes. The first student to get four across wins. (Note: if students play smart they should not play to a draw, just like in checkers)
See sample language below:
S1: D1 – trouble – I often get in trouble. (student marks cell with the mark)
S2: B4 – She – She knows a lot of people.
Part 4: Word Puzzle
Now, students try to use all the words in the grid to make four sentences. This game is good for working on grammar because the students need to use the forms the words to make grammatically correct sentences. For the example above, here are four possible sentences.