Editable Make Your Own: Vocabulary Grab Bag Game

Vocab Grab Bag is an interactive learning and review activity that focuses on academic vocabulary. This activity can be a part of your sheltered instruction toolbox and is great for both ELLs and native English speakers.

Now you can make your own Vocab Grab Bag activities!

Simply download the templates as a Power Point file, or convert into Google Slides. Then you can type directly into the provided text boxes or insert your own text boxes. You will need to use your own fonts.

Happy creating!

How to make your own Vocab Grab Bag Game:

1.Pick 6 vocabulary words that you would like to target. Use the Vocabulary Cards Template and record the words. Copy enough sets so that each group has a set of 6. If you open the slides in Power Point or Google Slides, you can type into text boxes to record your words. You could also print this resource and just hand write the words into the boxes.

2.Create a Cheat Sheet Template if desired. I have found the cheat sheets to be helpful for students. They allow students to learn to help themselves and not be so dependent on the teacher for answers. The cheat sheets might be helpful for students who are learning English.

3.Cut the vocab cards and place them in some sort of bag, envelope, or container.

4.Cut out the job cards to fit the number of students you have in each group. I like to print multiple versions for each group type in case there are absences or unexpected numbers of students.

5.Create an alphabetizing mat key so students can double check their work themselves.

This Vocab Grab Bag resource contains

-Vocabulary Cards Template; you will need one set of cards per group.

-”How to play vocab grab bag” text instructions to project or print for students.

-Cheat Sheet Template: For your words and definitions

-Job cards for groups of 3, 4, or 5; you will need one set of job cards per group.

-(Optional) Alphabetizing Mat; if you use this additional activity, print one mat per group.

-Answer Key Template for Alphabetizing Mat

You will need to supply your own bag, envelope, or container for the word cards.

How to play Vocab Grab Bag

1.Cut out the vocab cards and place one set of cards in each bag, envelope or container that you are using.

2.Organize students into groups of 3, 4, or 5. I have found that groups of 4 seem to be optimal.

3.Give each student one Job Card.

4.Students go in order, starting with Job 1 until they have completed one round. Do not return the used words to the container.

5. After each round, students rotate jobs, passing the Job Cards in the order you designate.

6. Continue until the teacher stops the game.

7. Alternate option #1: When all word cards have been used, transition to putting the words in alphabetical order, using the Alphabetizing Mat.

8. Alternate option #2: If all word cards have been used, return all the cards to the container and start over again.

Teacher tips

•Do not skip the praise step, it is important and surprisingly fun!

•If you have a student in the very early stages of learning English, consider letting them keep Job 1 or Job 2 for the entire game.

Project the instructions at the front of the room for students to refer to while playing.

1 PowerPoint file.