Kids Running - Ready Set Spell

READY, SET, SPELL !
Spelling can be magical. With a bit of order, letters turn into words. Then with some finesse words turn into sentences, and through sentences you can tell a story, express an emotion, or plead your cause.

LET'S PLAY
by Carol Goodrow
words

MATERIALS NEEDED:
-clipboards
-crayons
-crayon bins labeled with runners' names

SETTING:
-gym or field
(You can play a walking version in the classroom.)

GETTING READY:
Create a starting line. The crayon bins and crayons are placed at equal intervals along the starting line. The runners stand next to their crayons.
Create another line about 25 meters away. Place the clipboards and blank papers (with children's names) directly across from each child.

kids

PLAY:
The teacher calls our a color, a spelling word, and yells, "Ready, set, SPELL!" The children run to their clipboards, write the word, and run back to the start to wait for another word.

When all the children return to the start, the teacher calls another color and word and they run again!

JOURNAL:
On completion of the game, children write a journal entry telling all about, "Ready, Set, SPELL!"

MAKE UP YOUR OWN VERSION
This is a simple but fun game with many adaptations. Here are a few:

1. Substitute walking for running, particularly if you are playing in the classroom.

2. Call off the type of locomotion along with the color and spelling word. Ex. Teacher calls out, "Skip, red, have".

3. Kids run to the clipboards and walk back to the finish line.

4. Instead of spelling the word called, the students write a word which rhymes with the word that was called.

5. Kids write a sentence for the word that was called.

6. If children are on individual spelling lists, they can keep a list in their crayon bin and write their own words after the teacher calls out the color. My children are on individual lists but they have their words memorized, so they could play this game without a list. I vary the directions with each run. I call out, "Write one of your spellling words," and they run and write. Then, "Write a word that rhymes with one of your spelling words, " and they run and write, etc.

7. Spread picture-vocabulary cards by the clipboards. Kids simply run, choose a card, copy the word on the clipboard, and run back. 8. Use a big piece of chart paper. Kids write words on chart paper. Later display their finished masterpiece in the classroom!

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A version of Ready, Set, SPELL! by Carol Goodrow was published in Instructor magazine along with other active-kid suggestions, March 2003. It was part of a special report: Kids' Health "Up & At 'em" by Denise Willi.

"Classroom" art is by Adam, "Girls with Blue Spelling Papers" are by Taylor.

carolgoodrow@verizon.net