Creative Spelling Activities
Children learn in many different ways; some prefer the practical, hands on approach whilst others learn by listening or visualising. Therefore the traditional 'look, say, cover, write, check' method of learning spellings may not suit everyone. Below I have compiled a number of creative, practical and fun activities that should enhance both the enjoyment of learning spellings and the effectiveness.
- Rainbows - write the spelling word lightly in pencil, then trace over the word 3 times using a different colour each time.
- Pyramids - write the first letter of the spelling word, underneath that write the first and second letter, underneath that write the first, second and third letter... continue until you have recorded the entire word in the shape of a pyramid.
- Colourful syllables - record each syllable of the word in a different colour.
- Vowels and consonants - record the consonants in blue and the vowels in red.
- Scrambled words - scramble the letters of each spelling word then ask your child to unscramble the word correctly.
- Bubble letters - write out each spelling using bubble writing.
- No vowels - record each word replacing all the vowels with a line then go back and see if they can fill in the vowels.
- Picture words - write the spelling then add a picture to the word that relates to it or turn the word into a picture.
- Speed spell - how many times can you record the word correctly in 30 seconds?
- Word shape boxes - record the word then draw a shape box around it so children can remember and visualise the shape that it makes.
- Doodle words - make a doodle pattern on a page then record each spelling a number of times in each part of the pattern.
- Say what you see - emphasise double letters e.g. fuss = 'fusssss' or say the word phonetically e.g. Wed - nes - day.
- Acronym - create an acronym using the individual letters from the spelling e.g. big elephants can't always use small exits.
- Silly saying - to help remember the tricky part of a word e.g. weird, you might say 'we are weird' to help remind your child that weird begins 'we...'
- Spelling songs - spell out words to the tune of their favourite songs.
