Free Reading Activities for Kids: Make This Sentence Game

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Image (c) Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved

In addition to regular reading, related activities and games are great for practicing and developing essential skills. Not all children learn in the same way. As a homeschool teacher and parent, it's common practice to come up with such games and activities for the kids. Here's one of the homemade games I play with my kids called Make this Sentence.

Materials

• index cards
• list of sentences
• scissors
• permanent marker
• timer
• paper and pencil for scoring

Making the Game

To create Make this Sentence, the first step is creating a list of sentences. These should be formed based on reading and writing levels. Sight words are a great base for these. Now, cut the index cards in fourths. Write the words for each of the sentences on the index cards. Each word should have its own card. Common words can be written on two or three cards.

Playing Make this Sentence

This game can be played with two or more players or teams. One person needs to be assigned to reading out the sentences. This can be a parent, teacher, or student. The same person also gets to keep score. Spread the cards out in the middle of a table or floor. The words should be face-up so that the kids can easily see them.

When the first sentence is read out, the timer needs to be set for one minute. The first player or team needs to create the sentence with the cards. If the sentence is created before the minute is up, the player or team gets the point. If not, no points are awarded. For a variation, some might give the point to whomever is next when a player or team doesn't create the sentence in time. Move on to the next player or team and continue in the same fashion.

Beneficial Skills from the Game

When used in conjunction with regular reading, games and activities can help children develop and enhance reading skills. Whether children are hesitant to read or they enjoy it thoroughly, Make this Sentence can be beneficial in many ways. Hand-eye coordination is practiced in the act of searching for the right cards and assembling the sentences. Important organizational skills are taught when the child arranges the sentences in the proper order. This action also is another form of reading practice. The child has to read the words in order to create the sentences.

More Reading Activities on Life Successfully

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

---