Not applicable.
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for helping children learn to spell and pronounce words. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a word game that incorporates kinesthetic, tactile, visual and auditory learning methodologies for use in teaching children and other learners to spell and pronounce words.
There are many word or spelling techniques that are marketed as “games”. Many spelling “games” intentionally do not evoke winners or losers, but instead are essentially resource materials, which fail to instill the competitive, socialization and entertainment aspects commonly associated with playing a game. One example of a resource-type “game” commercially available from Scholastic Corporation of New York, N.Y. is, “25 Super-Fun Spelling Games: Easy, Reproducible Games That Help Kids Learn the Words on Their Spelling Lists,” which is essentially a paperback book that uses reproducible worksheets. Another example of a resource type game is the, “Spell It Out Game,” commercially available from the Ravensburger Group of Ravensburg, Germany. In this game, one to five players spell words by putting puzzle pieces together without one of the players ever winning the game. In the game, “Alpha Time Spelling,” commercially available from EducationWorld of San Diego, Calif., players write ten words on separate sheets of paper, randomly place these words face down, and then turn them over and put them into alphabetical order within a pre-determined time span, again without a winner necessarily being declared.
There are also many word or spelling games that rely on a single mode of learning, and thus can be ineffective for individuals whose learning preference differs from the methodology of the game. For instance, the “CVC Spelling Board Games,” commercially available from Didax Educational Resources of Rowley, Mass., uses a traditional method of spelling words, which are selected after advancing a game piece around the game board. This type of game lacks true kinesthetic and tactile learning methodology. As another example, in “Quiddler,” commercially available from Set Enterprises, Inc. of Fountain Hills, Ariz., players use cards to form words. While this game employs visual learning techniques, it lacks tactile, kinesthetic, and auditory learning methodology. In the game “Spell Checkers,” commercially available from Wiebe, Carlson & Associates of Fresno, Calif., players move checkers after they correctly spell the designated word out loud, thus relying mostly on auditory learning.
Many games also do not include true socialization with others, but rather have players use computer applications or Internet website pages to play the game. Some examples of non-socializtion games commercially available from Apple Inc.'s App Store of Cupertino, Calif. include: “Spell Tower,” “Spello,” “Spellosaur,” “Spelling City Spellorama,” and “Magic Spell.”
Other conventional word or spelling games on the market fail to incorporate spelling a word in English and providing the foreign language translation broken down phonetically. Breaking down words phonetically improves decoding skills. For example, in the game “Spello,” a picture is shown and a word is spelled. However, no phonetic instruction for spelling the words in the foreign language is provided.
Lastly, many word or spelling games are not grade level specific. Game words are often chosen without ensuring that the words are appropriate for a grade or class of students, being not too easy nor too hard for the learners. Examples of games that are not grade level based include “Spello,” “Magic Spell,” and “Spelling Beez.”
Therefore, there is a need for a learning word game that overcomes the above drawbacks to help children and other learners improve their spelling and word pronunciation skills in a competitive and social learning environment that incorporates multiple learning methodologies at a grade specific level.
The present disclosure overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks by providing an educational grade-level based word game, a family orientated version of the word game and method of instruction that incorporate kinesthetic, tactile, and auditory learning styles for use in teaching children and other learners how to spell in an entertaining manner. The game can correlate grade appropriate words, as well as age appropriate words for the family version of the game, to the common core language arts standards. The game can incorporate a foreign language, such as Spanish, French, or German, as well as American Sign language, finger spelling charts for which are publicly available online. The physical game set may include, but is not limited to, playing cards, one regular numbered game die, one six-sided graphical cube, and a kinesthetic implement, such as a kinesthetic elastic rope or a bouncy ball. The game may be portable and uses direct social interaction between real people.
In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a word game for learning to spell and say words is disclosed. The word game includes a game set including a numbered die having multiple sides in which each side bears number indicia representing a different number. The game set also includes a graphical die having multiple sides bearing indicia of different graphics and a plurality of cards having spelling words corresponding to the numbers of the numbered die. A kinesthetic implement for use by players of the game is also provided. The game set is used by players of the game to complete a first action in which the player performs an audible response of spelling a designated spelling word in whole or in part. The designated spelling word may be the spelling word on one of the plurality of cards corresponding to one of the different numbers on the numbered die. The game set is also used by the players of the game to complete a second action including an additional audible response, a kinesthetic response or a tactile response. The second action includes spelling the designated spelling word in whole or in part while using the kinesthetic implement, and the second action is correlated to one of the different graphics on the graphical die. One or both of the first and second actions are assigned a point tally and the player achieving the highest tally within a period of play wins the word game.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure a method for teaching learners to spell and say words using a word game is disclosed. The steps of the method include rolling a numbered die having multiple sides in which each side bears number indicia representing a different number and rolling a graphical die having multiple sides bearing indicia of different graphics. One of a plurality of cards having spelling words corresponding to the numbers of the numbered die is drawn. A first action is then performed in which a player performs an audible response of spelling a designated spelling word in whole or in part. The designated spelling word may be the spelling word on the drawn card corresponding to the rolled number on the numbered die. A kinesthetic implement for use by players of the word game is also provided. A second action is performed that includes an additional audible response, a kinesthetic response or a tactile response. The second action includes spelling the designated spelling word in whole or in part while using the kinesthetic implement, wherein the second action is correlated to the rolled graphic on the graphical die. A point tally may be assigned to one or both of the first and second actions, wherein the player achieving the highest tally within a period of play wins the word game.
The foregoing and other aspects and advantages of the disclosure will appear from the following description. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which there is shown by way of illustration an example embodiment of the disclosure.
This disclosure provides an educational grade-level based word game and method of instruction that incorporate kinesthetic, tactile, and auditory learning styles for use in teaching children and other learners how to spell and speak words. The object and game play of one or more exemplary game sets and game formats are described below.
Referring now to
Prior to playing the word game 10, at least three players 40, as shown in
The first player simultaneously rolls the numbered die 16 and the graphical die 20. The number 19 (i.e., one through six) rolled on the numbered die 16 determines the player's first action. The first action includes an audible response where the player orally spells one of the spelling words 28 on the card 26. The number 19 rolled on the numbered die 16 corresponds to the number 30 on the card 26, thereby indicating a designated spelling word 29, as shown in
The plurality of cards 26 described above may include spelling words 28 for players of various school grade levels, thereby providing a word game 10 that is appropriately challenging for the players 40. For example, as shown in
In an alternative form of the word game 10, a family version is provided where the spelling words 28 may be appropriately challenging for players 40 ranging from a first grade level to an adult. The family version of the word game 10 includes spelling words 28 on the plurality of cards 26 that are both grade-specific and age-specific, thereby providing a word game 10 that is appropriately challenging for the players 40. The plurality of cards 26 for the family version of the word game 10 may also contain spelling words 28 that include commonly misspelled words and homonyms 48, for example, as shown in
Turning now to
Referring now to
The sequence of jumping (e.g., in, out, left side, right side, both feet on, left twist, right twist, etc.) using the Chinese jump rope as the kinesthetic implement 32 should be determined prior to starting the word game 10. In addition, the sequence of jumping may be more complicated for different players' grade levels. For example, the “in/out” sequence of jumping described above may be a first grade specific pattern. A second grade specific pattern may include, for example, an in, out, left side and right side sequence of jumping.
In an alternative form of the word game 10, the kinesthetic implement 32 may be a bouncy ball, for example. Using the same example above (e.g., the player rolls the number 19 five on the numbered die 16 and a green star 24 on the graphical die 20), after the player completes the first action, he or she performs the second action 38 using the kinesthetic implement 32. For example, the player may spell each letter of the designated spelling word (e.g., “teacher”) while bouncing the bouncy ball to the other players 40, thereby incorporating a tactile and kinesthetic response into the word game 10. The player begins by orally spelling the first letter of the designated spelling word (i.e., “t”), followed by bouncing the bouncy ball to another one of the players 40. The player who receives the bouncy ball then orally spells the second letter (i.e., “e”), followed by bouncing the bouncy ball to another one of the players 40. The next player then orally spells the third letter of the designated spelling word (i.e., “a”), and so on. The players 40 continue to bounce the bouncy ball while orally spelling the designated spelling word, until the designated spelling word is completely spelled. Each player remaining after correctly spelling the designated spelling word receives one tally. However, if one player misspells the designated spelling word, that player is eliminated and does not receive a tally. The player holding the card 26 orally says the designated spelling word again, and the remaining players 40 continue the second action 38 of spelling each letter of the designated spelling word (e.g., “teacher”) while bouncing the bouncy ball to the other players 40. This process repeats until only one person is remaining. If no errors are made, however, while spelling the designated spelling word, each player receives one tally.
Returning now to
If a purple star graphic 24 is rolled, for example, the second action 38 may require the player to perform a tactile response, for example, writing the designated spelling word, as shown in
If an orange star graphic 24 is rolled, for example, the second action 38 may require an audible response where the players 40, excluding the player holding the card 26, take turns orally saying the letters of the designated spelling word in succession to spell the designated spelling word. For example, if a player rolls the number 19 one on the numbered die 16 and an orange star 24 on the graphical die 20, the designated spelling word becomes “five” as shown on the card 26 in
If a red star graphic 24 is rolled, for example, the second action 38 may require the player to perform a tactile response, for example, spelling the designated spelling word using the American Sign Language (ASL) Alphabet, for two tallies. For example, if the player rolls the red star graphic 24 on the graphical die 20 and the number 19 three on the numbered die 16, the player performs the first action of orally spelling the word “hopped” from the list of spelling words 28 on the card 26, as shown in
Alternatively, if a red star graphic 24 is rolled, the second action 38 may require the player to perform a tactile response, for example, clapping his or her hands. Using the above example (i.e., the player rolls the red star graphic 24 on the graphical die 20 and the number 19 three on the numbered die 16) the player performs the first action of orally spelling the word “hopped” from the list of spelling words 28 on the card 26, as shown in
Lastly, if the blank side of the graphical die 20 is rolled, for example, the second action 38 may be chosen by the player who rolled the graphical die 20. The player may choose any of the above described second actions 38 corresponding to the graphics 24 (e.g., blue star, purple star, orange star, red star, green star, etc.) as shown on the second action card 36 in
A summary of the game play for the above-described example word game 10 is provided in Table 1 below.
Once the predetermined length of time that was determined at the beginning of the word game 10 expires, the last player receives his or her final turn. The tallies are added up for each of the players 40, and the player with the highest number of tallies is the winner.
In yet another alternative form of the word game 10, one of the players 40 can choose one of the plurality of first action cards 34, as shown in
The word game 10 could be played with other variations of kinesthetic actions shown on either the plurality of first action cards 34, as shown in
The word game 10 could be played with other variations of tactile actions shown on the plurality of first action cards 34, as shown in
In addition to providing a game set and rules of play, the present disclosure also presents a method of instruction for teaching children and others to spell words in an entertaining manner. And by incorporating movement and touch the game and method of instruction improves and enhances cognitive learning, memory and information retrieval while motivating the individual to learn. Phonetic and other forms of instruction methodologies can be provided directly on the game cards, chips or game-play instructions, for any of the forms of language employed in the game, for example, English, non-English (foreign) and sign languages.
Further, in addition to the example spelling words on the cards, the above description gives examples using example colors and graphics to represent certain types of responses. However, it should be noted that any color or graphic could be used to represent any of the above described (or other) types of responses. Additionally, the above described tally allocation could be modified as defined. Further, the kinesthetic and tactile responses could vary from that described above. Various other alternatives and embodiments are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the disclosure.
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/707736, filed September 28, 2012.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61707736 | Sep 2012 | US |