• Spelling Activities

    These ideas can be used to make studying for spelling a fun experience!
    Fry's Sight Word List

    Rainbow Spelling-Write your words 3 times each tracing over the words in 3 different colors
    Divide each word into syllables
    Illustrate your words
    I Spy- Draw a picture and hide your words inside
    Trace your words in shaving cream 3 times each
    Use pasta letters to spell your words and glue them to paper
    Write your words in ABC order 3 times each
    Write your words in order from longest to shortest and then shortest to longest
    Make a word search
    Make a crossword puzzle
    Make a picture dictionary using your words
    Make a game using all of your words and play it with your family
    Create a comic strip and write captions using your words
    Look up each word in the dictionary

      60 Ways to Practice Spelling 

    a chalkboard. The words will disappear like magic, leaving the chalkboard clean!

    practice their spelling words in the shaving cream. 

    super scratch n' Sniff when tracing over the letters. 

    4. Adding Machine Tape Spelling- Students get tired of writing their spelling
    adding machine tape. 

    5. Fishing for Words- On 3" x 5" cards print the students spelling words,
    fold in half, and fasten each with a paper clip. Place the cards in a large fish
    The students go fishing for a spelling word to practice. 

    6. Finger Paint Bags- Freezer strength zip lock bags and fingerprint make
    great writing slates. Place a dab of finger paint (tempera paint can work,
    although, not as well. Hey, look! A use for all that semi-dried up paint!) in
    the bag flat on the table and writes the word on the bag with a finger. The word
    will disappear like magic. 

    spelling words. 

    you can spray and watch their words disappear and return. 

    letters to practice their spelling words. 


    11. Word Cubes- Write letters on small wooden blocks and have the students
    arrange them and to spell their weekly words. 

    over the paper with watered down tempera paint or watercolors. Words appear like

    student read the word aloud. The other child must step on the letters to spell
    the word. 

    14. Read and Grow- Encourage flash card practice with this growing flower.

    pieces of paper and places them inside plastic eggs. (Now you know what to do

    keys as flash cards to help them practice the weekly spelling words. On Friday,
    words on the review test they may then tear off the keys to take home. 

    Challenge!" Each student has a Pepsi cup. When Friday's spelling test is
    have our review test, students are re-tested on the same words. Anyone who has a
    Pepsi also for perfect scores on review tests. 

    puzzle back together to form the spelling words. 

    words are erased. 


    spelled words that gave him the win. 

    from inverted milk cartons. The student rolls the dice and whatever the dice
    lands on they write 5 times. 

    one person left. 


    25. Individual Chalkboards- Have the students practice writing their spelling
    words on small chalkboards. They love it! 

    trace over them with crayon.

    27. Wooden Flash cards- Try using pieces of wood as flash cards. The students
    enjoy the change! 

    28. Contact Paper Chalkboards- The teacher needs to make 5" x 7" cardboard
    pieces, cover half the cardboard with the special chalkboard contact paper. (You
    can also do this with chalkboard paint!) Then write the spelling word on the

    29. Magnetic Cookie Sheet- The teacher arranges assorted magnet letters on a
    cookie sheet. Students use the letters to form the weekly spelling words. 

    by using a pair of cards for each spelling word. 

    32. Typewriter Fun- Have the students write their spelling words ten times
    each on the typewriter. 

    their words 5 times each. 

    34. Soft Flash cards- Use wall paper scraps to make unusual flash cards to
    practice the words. 

    35. Carbon Paper Practice- Have the students use carbon paper (yes, remember
    printer that worked great and was a lot less messy. The best part: it was free! 
    36. Close pin Spelling- The teacher cuts out articles of clothing, from
    clothes line with clothespins that have the letters written on them. 


    38. Alpha-Bit Spelling- Students use cereal to reproduce their spelling
    words. Don't forget to have a snack with the words you make. 

    spelling words. 

    word with watercolor marker, (you might want to make sure that this is all right
    spell each other's words. The students can check their spelling by reading each
    other's palms. 

    different twist. Have students write their words in order of difficulty. They

    coffee can lids and 1 pound margarine tub lids are used as slates. The teacher

    for practice. They make terrific flash cards! 

    colors for a rainbow look. 

    to spell the weekly spelling words. 

    46. Round About Flash cards- Have students decorate a paper pate. Cut a slice
    Brad around piece of paper to the back. Then write the weekly spelling words in



    their chains grow! 

    students can really feel their words! 

    51. Pipe cleaners - Children use these to form their spelling words. 

    52. Toothpicks - Same as above. 

    53. Word search - They can pick 10 of their stumper (high frequency) words to
    make up a word search. 

    54. Alphabet Stamps

    55. Word collage - They design a collage using all of their words using
    markers, colored pencils etc. 

    56. Design a word - They pick one word and bubble letter it and design it. 
    57. Magazine letters - They find the letters in a magazine and glue them onto
    construction paper. 

    58. Painting - Paint their words. 

    59. Playdough - I have cookie cutters that are letters of the alphabet. The
    kids also like to form the dough itself into letters. 

    60. Magnetic Letters - I bought at a dollar store. Twist-Tie Spelling - use
    the twist-ties from the store to form letters to spell the words.