Using games to teach reading can be an effective, fun, and engaging way to help children develop their reading skills, regardless of age or reading level. This is why reading games are great for early readers and preschoolers, as they are still learning the basics of reading and need extra support to build their confidence and reading fluency.
This article will share 13 low-prep games to help beginning readers and older children. Read on for great game ideas for your family or classroom!
Game 1 - Memory Match (age 5+)
Memory Match is a classic card game that can be adapted to teach reading skills. To play the game,
you will need a deck of cards with pairs of matching words or pictures, such as three-letter words, sight words, or word families.
Here are the basic numbered directions for the game:
Shuffle the deck of cards and lay them out face-down in a grid.
Player 1 turns over two cards. If the cards match, they keep the cards and get to go again. If the cards do not match, they turn them back over, and it becomes Player 2's turn.
Player 2 takes a turn, turning over two cards and following the same rules.
The game continues in this way until all the cards have been matched.
The player with the most cards at the end of the game is the winner.
Memory Match is a helpful game to teach reading because it helps children develop essential reading skills such as word recognition and visual memory.
Game 2 - Snake and Ladders -with Words (age 5+)
Playing Snake and Ladders with words is a fun and engaging way to help kids develop their reading skills. Kids can practice reading in a fun, low-pressure environment by reading words and incorporating terms into a familiar board game.
To play Snake and Ladders with Words:
Draw a game board with numbered squares like a traditional Snake and Ladders game.
Write a word in each square, using words appropriate for the child's reading level.
Players roll a die and move their game piece to the corresponding number of squares.
When a player lands on a square with a word, they must read it aloud.
If the player reads the word correctly, they stay on that square. If they misread the word, they must return to their previous square.
If a player lands on a snake, they must move their game piece down to the corresponding square.
If a player lands on a ladder, they can move their game piece to the corresponding square.
The game continues until one player reaches the end of the board.
The game can also be customized to match pictures to fit each child and different difficulty levels, making it a suitable activity for early readers and older kids.
Game 3 - Fishing for Sounds (ages 4-6)
Fishing for Sounds is a fun and interactive reading game that can help children develop phonemic awareness skills. You will need a small magnetic fishing rod, magnetic letters, and a container filled with water to play the game.
Here are the directions for the three-letter sound game:
Fill the container with water and add the magnetic letters to the bottom.
Show the child how to use the fishing rod to "catch" a letter from the water.
Once the child has caught a letter, they must say the sound that the letter makes.
If the child correctly identifies the sound, they get to keep the letter and try to catch another one.
If the child does not correctly identify the sound, they must put the letter back in the water and wait for their next turn.
The game continues in this way until all the letters have been caught.
By using alphabet games and practicing identifying and saying the sounds that letters make, kids can build their foundational knowledge of the English language and improve their reading fluency.
Game 4 - Hopscotch Spelling Bee (ages 5-10)
Hopscotch Spelling Bee is an energetic game that can help kids practice spelling and word recognition skills.
Here's how to play:
Draw 26 squares, and write alphabet letters from A to Z in each square.
Choose a word for the child to spell and call it out loud.
The child must then hop on the squares to spell the word, jumping on each letter in the word.
If the child spells the word correctly, they move on to the next round.
The game continues until all participants have had a turn and until one child is left standing as the winner.
Hopscotch Spelling Bee is a fun and educational game that can be played indoors and outdoors, making it a great addition to any child's reading classroom or playtime routine.
Game 5 - Playing I Spy With Words (ages 5-10)
Playing "I Spy" with words and pictures is a great way to help children develop their vocabulary and reading skills by encouraging them to recognize and sound out words in their environment. It also helps children develop their observation and attention skills by searching for objects with visible words and pictures on them.
Here are the basic instructions:
Choose a location or area with various objects with visible words, such as books, signs, labels, or product packaging.
Take turns choosing an object and saying, "I spy with my little eye something that begins with the letter [insert letter]."
The other player(s) take turns guessing which object is being referred to until someone correctly identifies the object.
The person who correctly identifies the object gets to choose the next object and starts the game again.
You can keep going and identify as many words as you like. This is also a great game to play on the go.
Game 6 - Reading Relay (ages 5+)
Playing Reading Relay effectively improves children's reading fluency, comprehension, and teamwork skills. By making reading fun and competitive, kids are motivated to read accurately and quickly while working together to achieve a common goal.
Here are the basic instructions:
Divide the group into two teams and have them line up behind a starting line.
Place a pile of books or reading materials at a set distance away from the starting line.
When the game starts, the first player from each team runs to the pile, chooses a book, and reads a predetermined amount of text out loud, such as a paragraph or page.
After reading, the player returns to their team and tags the next player in line, who then runs to the pile, chooses a book, and reads the next section of the text aloud.
The game continues in this manner, with each player taking turns reading and running until all members of one team have had a chance to read.
The team that finishes first and has all players sitting down is declared the winner.
Reading Relay can also be customized to suit different reading levels, making it a suitable activity for early readers and older children.
Game 7 - Mind Meld Word Association Game (ages 7+)
This word association game is especially fun for a large group.
Here are the rules:
The group stands in a circle, and the first and second players turn toward each other.
The first two players then count simultaneously: one, two, three. Then, after three, they both say a random word. For example, player one says "angry," and player two says "dog."
Then, player two turns toward the next person in the circle, and they both try to think of a word that connects "pineapple" and "dog." So they would say one, two, three...Then, one might say: "growling," and the other might say "teeth."
The players keep going around the circle until two simultaneously say the same word. For example, the game would be done if the following two players said "wolf" simultaneously.
This game could be played with a family with as few as two to four players or as many as a full classroom. It's a unique word game that allows a family or class to think outside the box about how words relate.
Game 8 - Vocabulary Story Chain (ages 6+)
This game is a fun way to encourage students to use new words in context and to practice their storytelling skills.
Here's how it works:
Choose a vocabulary word to start the story. For example, "enchanted."
Ask the first student to start the story using the word. For example, "Once upon a time, there was an enchanted forest filled with magical creatures."
Ask the next student to continue the story using a different vocab word. For example, "In the forest's heart, there lived a mischievous imp who loved to play tricks on unsuspecting travelers."
Continue the game, with each student adding another vocab word to the story.
Encourage students to use descriptive words, synonyms, and antonyms to make the story more exciting and engaging.
By working collaboratively, students can build a shared vocabulary and develop a deeper understanding of how words work together to create meaning.
Game 9 - Rhyming Rap (ages 6+)
Rhyming Rap is a fun and interactive game that can help children develop their phonological awareness and language skills while promoting language development, creativity, and teamwork.
Here are the basic instructions for the game:
The first player starts by saying a one-syllable name, such as "Ben." Then the student turns it into a rap line: "I have a friend; his name is BEN."
The second player then comes up with a word that rhymes with the previous word and continues the rap, for example, "He loves his pencil and his PEN."
The third player continues with a word that rhymes with the previous word, such as "He counts his fingers one through TEN."
The game continues in this manner, with each player taking turns coming up with a word that rhymes with the previous word.
If a player can't develop a new rhyming word, you can play elimination, where they are out of the game, or you can have the whole group start over with a new one-syllable name.
The game can continue for as many rounds as desired, with players taking turns coming up with the initial word.
Playing Rhyming Rap is a fun game that develops phonological awareness and language skills. This unique game also promotes teamwork and creativity.
Game 10 - Storytelling Game (ages 5+)
The storytelling game is a great way to help students develop their creativity and storytelling skills while practicing reading and language skills.
Here's how it works:
Provide students with story prompts, such as a character, setting, and conflict. For example, "A brave knight in a haunted castle searching for a lost treasure."
Have the first student start the story with a sentence or two using the prompts. For example, "Sir Arthur, a brave knight, arrived at the old, abandoned castle, his heart racing as he thought of the treasure that lay hidden within its walls."
Ask the next student to continue the story with a new sentence, building on the previous student's words. For example, "Sir Arthur heard strange noises and saw shadows moving in the corners of his eyes as he explored the castle."
Continue the game, with each student adding to the story with their sentences, using the prompts provided.
Encourage students to be as creative and imaginative as possible and to use descriptive language and details to bring the story to life.
Students can build on each other's ideas bringing stories together and creating a unique and engaging story by working collaboratively.
Game 11 - Mystery Character Interview (ages 5+)
Mystery Character Interview is a fun and interactive game that can help children develop their comprehension skills while promoting creativity and critical thinking.
Here are the basic instructions:
Choose a character from a book or story the kids are familiar with but keep a secret from them. It can also be from a book you're studying as a class.
Ask them to write down a list of questions they want to ask the mystery character. Remind them to consider what the character might know or be interested in.
Gather the questions and choose some appropriate and exciting ones for the game.
Role-play the character and answer the children's questions without revealing the character's identity.
After a few questions, ask them to guess the character's identity based on the answers they received.
Once the character's identity is revealed, ask them to discuss the clues and how they helped them guess the correct answer.
You can also have them take turns playing the characters and interviewing each other.
Mystery Character Interview is a great way to help students develop their comprehension and writing skills by using stories and asking them to think critically about the character's personality, motives, and experiences. By asking questions and listening to the character's answers, students can practice their listening, speech, and comprehension skills while learning to think critically and creatively.
Game 12 - Discussion Competition (ages 10+)
A Discussion Competition is an effective way to encourage students to read and analyze literature critically while developing their communication and critical thinking skills.
Here are the basic instructions:
Divide students into small groups and assign each group a text or topic to discuss.
Explain the game's rules: students will engage in a structured discussion about a given text, each earning points for using textual evidence and asking deepening questions.
Other students can then ask questions, challenge the claim, or provide additional evidence to support or refute the argument.
Points are awarded for using textual evidence, asking insightful questions, and responding thoughtfully.
The discussion continues until all students had the opportunity to present their arguments and engage in the discussion. You can also set time limits for each round.
By emphasizing textual evidence and deepening questions, students are challenged to think critically about the assigned text or topic and engage in a meaningful discussion with their peers.
Game 13 - Reading Bingo (ages 5+)
Reading Bingo effectively teaches and reinforces sounds, sight words, sequence letters, or vocabulary. By creating a bingo card that includes specific sounds or words to read aloud, students are encouraged to practice and memorize them.
Here's how it works:
Create a bingo card with words, sounds, or vocabulary words you want your students to learn.
Give each student a Bingo card and a set of bingo chips or markers.
As the caller reads the words or sounds, the children can mark them off on their bingo cards.
When a student has marked off a row, column, or diagonal, they shout "Bingo!" and earn a prize.
Because bingo is a game that most students are familiar with, it creates a fun and engaging learning environment. This game can be adapted to suit the needs of students of different ages and skill levels. For example, you can create a bingo card with simple sight words for early readers or a more complex vocabulary for older children.
A Game for Every Child
Reading games offer an engaging and interactive way to help children develop their reading skills. Games such as Memory Match and Fishing for Sounds effectively teach phonics, while Mystery Character Interview and the Storytelling Gae can help children learn reading comprehension.
Reading Relay and I Spy With Words are great for improving sight-word recognition. Bingo games can be tailored to focus on specific sounds or words. Finally, a Discussion Competition can encourage creativity and critical thinking.
By incorporating games and stories into the learning process, children can be motivated to practice their reading skills and develop a lifelong love of reading!
If you'd like to get some more specific ideas to improve reading comprehension, check out our Cool Reading Comprehension Activities Post.
