Procedure

1. Create 3-4 small groups of students. 

2. Provide each group with a writing utensil and something to write on (we suggest white boards and markers). Assign a recorder for the group. 

3. Set a 1-minute timer (or more) for each round. 

4. Give the teams a prompt (see list below for ideas). For each round, the teams are given the same prompt and are competing against each other to see who can complete the prompt the quickest and most accurately.

5. Each person in the group must attempt to answer. If they can’t think of a word, they can say “pass.” The recorder is writing all their answers down.

6. After the timer goes off, teams share their answers and check each other’s work.  

7. Repeat steps 3-6 as often as needed. 

8. Scoring. The team(s) who do not complete the prompt or who get answers wrong receive a point. For example, if Team A has eight answers before the time runs out but has one answer wrong, while Team B was able to get all eight correct still within the timeframe but were last, Team A gets a point while Team B doesn’t. The winning team has the lowest score! 

9. After the game has concluded, have students individually reflect on their experiences with the content prompts. For example, ask them to describe how many they got correct or had to pass. 

Here are some suggested prompts to use during the activity. Feel free to attach these prompts to a text you’re already working on in class. 

• List eight adjectives that begin with the letter ___.

• List eight adjectives to describe ________.

• List eight action verbs in the ________ tense.

• List eight nouns you would find in a ________.

• List eight examples of proper nouns that are people/places/titles.

• List eight synonyms/antonyms for ________.

• List eight adverbs that could be used to describe the verb _______

• List eight verbs you would do at the _______ in ________ tense.