Homemade Word Games for Language Arts Homework Practice

Hello my Omschooligans! Teacher Omi is thinking today about ways to keep all the good stuff you learned is school fresh over the long summer vacation. A few days ago, we made a math facts practice kit. And now we're going to make a language arts practice game to boost spelling, reading and writing. This lesson plans does double duty for teachers as a game plus craft project! And as always, in the Omschool, we focus on cheap or free, homemade and recycled. 

Make this DIY word game with emergent readers all the way up to high school age kids. It's based on the word games Boggle and Scrabble in which players make words from random letters. Both Scrabble and Boggle are superb games for spelling and reading practice. My version of this word game combines the scoring of Scrabble with the letter mix-up of Boggle. So students get even more value added with multiplication and math facts practice. I call my version "Scraggle!" 

What you need to make a Scraggle game 

• 12 dice: Recycle die from old games like Kismet or Yahtzee. Dice can be purchased at almost any store for under $2).
• Paint pens or permanent markers
• Blank stickers (round or square white stickers are best)
• Note pad (made of recycled scrap paper)
• pencils
• watch or timer (reuse the little "hour glass" type ones from games. They measure one minute.). 
• small box 
• dictionary to check spelling

To make your Scraggle word game

• Affix a sticker to each of the six sides of the die.
• Label each die side with a different letter. With 12 dice times six sides you will have room for 72 letters. Since some letters are more popular, label dice this way. It makes no difference where on the dice you put which letters, Just be sure to get this many letters in.
• four times each, letters: A, E, I, O, U, R, S, T, L, N
• three times each letters: B, C, D, F, G, H, M, P
• one time each, letters: J, K, Q, V, W, X, Y, Z
• Place letters in the small box. 

To play Scraggle

1. Distribute pencils and pads. 
2. Players take turns shaking box with letter dice, to rearrange. 
3. Player opens box and makes sure all dice are flat and showing letters.
4. Time players for three to five minutes, to see how many words they can make with letters showing.
5. Letters may only be used twice if two dice are showing the letter. 
6. Players should check each others words for accuracy.
7. Scoring rules for older kids to practice math facts.
1. 2x for every use of A, E, T, O
2. 3x for every use of I, H, N, S,
3. 4x for each use of  R, D, L
4. 5x for each use of C, M, U
5. 6x for each use of F,G,W, Y
6. 7x for each use of B,K,P,V
7. 8x for each use of J, X,Q, Z
8. Scoring is as follows for younger children

• 3 letter words = 5 points
• 4 letter words = 10 points
• 5 letter words = 20 points
• 6 letter words = 50 points
• 7 letter words = 100 points
• 8 letter words = 200 points
• 50 bonus points for using any two of these letters in the same word (J, K, X, Y, Z in one word)

This Scraggle word game is easy to make, fun to play, has endless variations and is adaptable. It can be played in the car, at the store, on a place, while waiting in line; anywhere you go it goes. I recommend bringing this and your math facts homework kit on long car rides you take this summer! 

Fun Fact: The most commonly used letters in the English language, ordered from most frequent to least frequent, are:

1. E

2. T

3. A

4. O

5. I

6. N

7. S

8. H

9. R

10. D

11. L

12. C

13. U

14. M

15. W

16. F

17. G

18. Y

19. P

20. B

21. V

22. K

23. J

24. X

25. Q

26. Z