Learner-Centered Activities - Mystery Word and Spelling Scramble By Carole Pankow
Learner-Centered Activities
Mystery Word

This activity was submitted by Carole Pankow, South St. Paul Junior High, Minn., who uses it in her remedial reading class to gain students' attention and hook them into the content for the day.

1. Select a vocabulary word that is pertinent to the content of the lesson.
2. Write a "mystery" word on the white board prior to class and cover each letter with an index card or post-it note.
3. Have students guess letters and reveal those letters by removing the cards one at a time like you would for Wheel of Fortune.
4. Students then will try to guess the mystery word with the fewest number of letters revealed.
5. After students have guessed the "mystery" word, you then introduce the related activity (synonyms, antonyms, writing prompt, etc.)

Students are much more engaged and seem to remember the vocabulary word better when it has been presented this way!

Spelling Scramble
Sample Standard: Use correct spelling of high frequency words.

Grade Level: 3

Time: 5-15 Minutes

Materials: Letter cards, small prizes, list of high frequency words

Group Size: Any. If the class is larger than 20 students, you may divide them into teams, and give each team the same set of letters. A heterogeneous grouping works best for this activity.

Activity:

• Distribute one letter card to each student as students enter the class, or have them choose a card from a bag.
• When every student has a letter, call out a high frequency word that they are responsible for spelling correctly.
• Students scramble to find other students who have the letters they need to spell that word. When the students have lined up in the correct spelling order, they hoot and holler. Prizes may be awarded to the winning team.
• This process may be repeated with additional words as time permits. This activity may also be used during the class period to reinforce spelling and to energize the group.

Modifications for above-level students:

To win, students must also write a sentence on the board or chart paper using the word spelled correctly.