Word Bag Game
Click here to download instructions and a word family card set example!
Purpose
Determine which words belong together in a morphological word family (words that are related in meaning AND share the structure of the base)
This game is a good introduction into morphological word families and word study.
Materials
Bag or other container
Paper, whiteboard, or other surface
String (optional)
Base card and word cards
Writing utensil
Preparation
Prepare a set of word cards: you will need a base card and several cards with words that belong in the same family as the base, and some ‘distractors’ that do not. There is a template with an example card set on the last page. Put all the word cards in a bag or other container.
Instructions
Draw a large circle on a flat surface. Or make a circle out of string. Put the base card in the middle of the circle and read out (or have the students read out). Ask children to show and tell you about the meaning of the base; guide them toward accuracy.
Children pull out cards one at a time. Make this exciting! Chorally or individually, spell them out loud and determine whether the words belong in or out of the family. If the words are morphologically related to the base, place the word cards in the circle. If the words do not belong in the family, place them outside the circle. Continue until all the words are out of the bag. Optional: ask students to generate their own words in the family and write them down on blank index cards and add them to the circle.
Students might need help determining which words go inside the circle. Remind them that all the words in the family must match the structure and the meaning.
Strategies for if students are unsure:
“Is this a word you know or have heard before?”
“What do you think this word means?”
”How could you use this word in a sentence?”
If you can’t come to a consensus in that moment, you can put an asterisk near the word and investigate later.
Variations
Supports:
For students who struggle with reading or don’t know a word, they can read aloud the letters
Students can take the responsibility of holding the bag or placing the cards
Distinguish affixes by writing them in different colors (i.e. replanting)
Prior exposure to the base and/or word family in the form of a story, song, activity, etc.
Include pictures with the word cards or have students draw their own symbols
Sky-write the letters while spelling out loud
Establish a movement to go along with the students’ decision, i.e. whole arm gesturing forward for “in” and backward for “out”, Hokey-Pokey style
Extensions:
Have students show the base and affixes on their hands (fist for base, 2 fingers for affixes)
Students can be challenged to write or spell the words themselves, or generate new words to add to the family
Have students write out the cards themselves for a later activity, or for another group of students
Use a more complex base, i.e. bound bases, bases with final, non-syllabic <e>, bases with final <y>, etc.
Build a word web or matrix with the words
Word Family Examples:
Call: calls, called, calling, caller, recall, recalled, recalls, recalling, callers
Distractors: uncall, phone, all, can
Plant: plants, planter, planted, planting, planters, plantation, replant, replants, replanting, replanted, transplant, eggplant
Distractors: unplant, plane, flower, tree
Cover: covers, covered, covering, uncover, uncovering, uncovers, uncovered, discover, discovered, discovers, discovering, recover, recovered, recovers, recovering, discovery, recovery
Distractors: coverly, miscover, clover, over
Watch Fellowship Director, Lindi Shepard, teach the word bag game with <bird>!
