Moving Creatively in the Classroom (PE)

Make a Word Relay

By Michele Batz, PhD

This activity reinforces the value of teamwork, word-building, and math, while incorporating physical fitness and creative fun!

Equipment Needed:

• Make 4 Consonant Card Sets:
  Colorful 3 x 5" index cards with the alphabet of consonants (not vowels*) written on them.
  
  Consonant letters are: B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, X, Y, Z ( 21 cards per color/set x 4 sets = 84 total cards).
  
  (*Feel free to add vowel cards for younger kids or to make the word relay game easier).

• A Word Relay Point Guide: Write on paper or print Creativity Portal's free Word Relay Point Sign with the following word point values and then post it in the front of the room or where you'll have your students form teams:
  
  1 point for a 3-letter word
  2 points for a 4-letter word
  3 points for a 5-letter word
  4 points for a 6-letter word
  5 points for a 7-letter word
  6 points for an 8-letter word

• Paper and Pen or Pencil: (For each team's word recorder).

Activity Instructions:

Retrieving Cards: You may do this in your classroom, small room, or the gym. Make four teams out of your students. Tell them that they have 8 minutes to run, skip or hop (you make/change the movement) and pick up only one card and bring it back to their team. Continue until the 8 minutes lapse or all the cards have been picked up.

Making Words: After all the cards have been picked up, tell your students that they have 8-10 minutes to form as many words as possible on their sheet of paper (think crossword puzzle-style, allowing them to add in additional letters to connect their cards to words — see example). They'll work together and assign one student to record the words.

Adding Up Points: When the time is up, have the students go back and place the point value to each word and then they must add up their points.

Review: Review their words in front of the class and share ideas for the next time you play. You can change the game to include to suffixes or prefixes, or phonics sounds — use your imagination. Best of all have fun! •

© 2010 Michele Batz. All rights reserved.

Michele Batz, PhD, has a masters in Administrative Education and has been an educator for 30 years at the elementary, junior high and high school levels. More »

5/7/10