Twisting Things Up
You probably have this game tucked down deep inside your basement storage, or perhaps underneath all the cobwebs up in the attic…at least that’s where I found my Twister game! I believe this was a gift from my mom for the twins, and the last time we played it was about six years ago when they were five. How I loved this game when I was younger…did you? It was all the rage back in the 80’s and early 90’s. Every sleep over, family party, and friend get together had this hilarious game. I mean it’s genius. Gather a bunch of people you like, intertwine your bodies with them, and hope you don’t fall down or hit each other in the face. What’s not to love?
Well, this oldie is truly a goodie when it comes to learning. It’s time to reimagine what this game can be used for; language and literacy games are what we will be discussing today.
So, to begin…in case you forgot how to play I am hear to remind you. The traditional game box consists of a large plastic mat with twenty-four colored circles, red, blue, yellow, and green. There is also a cardboard spinner. This spinner indicates where you place each hand and foot.
You can play the game in a group of two, three, or more. In this case, all players spread out on the mat and one player calls the moves. The game I have has two purple spots on the spinner where the spinner can make up a move for the group and one “cloud” spot that if you land on it, you have to put a body part in the air and not on the mat, which is fun.
The players move their body parts to the color indicated by the spinner. The goal is to keep your knees and elbows from landing on the mat….and you can’t fall over or you are OUT! The last player standing wins!
The following are adaptations for this game to incorporate a kinesthetic language learning experience with your children or students. I prefer to play with just two players…..so that they can take turns with the movements, as there will be some recalling and learning taking place. This game can be enjoyed as a center in the classroom for a small group of students to play on their own, within a small tutoring office, homeschool environment, and also the home. For learning purposes, it can be played solo as well.
The ideas below detail games, from simple to more complex as the children get older. The purpose is for them to have fun while learning and recalling information. It’s also fun to have students make up games with the twister mat as well…using bean bags, and dry erase markers. You can write on the plastic mat, then just take some windex or a wipe and it disappears quite easily. So enjoy these learning games below. Feel free to email me if you have used this in another way! Enjoy and have fun!
NOTE: You can adapt these games to just stand on the circles, rather that intertwine with both hands and legs. Do what you and your students feel comfortable with.
Alphabetic Order /Letter Recognition/ Beginning Consonant Sound- There are 24 circles, so write 24 letters of the alphabet inside the circles and two letters somewhere on the blank space. Using the spinner have them place their hands and fee accordingly picking two circles to recall the letters where they are placed. Then ask them, which letter comes first in the alphabet?
With all the letters written on the mat unorganized, have students toss a bean bag to the letters in alphabet order, recalling the letter names in order as they go.
Letter Sounds-Without using the spinner, call out two letter sounds for the first student. Have them place their hands on these letters or simply their feet. Allow students to repeat the letter sounds back to you and identify a word beginning with these two letter sounds. Do the same for the other student, until all letter sounds on the mat have been identified.
Have students stand on the edge of the mat. Call out a letter sound to one student. Have them toss a bean bag to the correct letter sound. If identified correctly, they receive one point. Repeat with the other student. Whomever has the most point wins.
Vowel Sounds- Write words you are studying in class regarding short and long vowel sounds. When students land on a word, have them identify whether the vowel is short or long. If you are studying two different vowel sounds, mix up various words on the mat so students can practice differentiation between these vowel sounds. For example, short e/ long e words, long a/short a words, etc.
Word Families/Rhyming Words-Write down various word family endings within in each circle. (Examples include: ack, an, aw, ick, ing, op, ink, ail, and, a, ice, ink, or) Calling out or using the spinner, direct the students in two commands. Have them identify a word that ends with their two specific word endings.
Write twenty-four words using word family endings you are studying. Call out the commands and have students tell you a word that rhymes with that word they landed on.
Sight Words- Write twenty-four sight words within each circle. Call out words for students to stand on or use the spinner, have them place their hands and feet there and then they must tell you what the words read.
Vocabulary- This can be used for LA content words, math, social studies, and science. It’s a great and fun way for students to study! Write a vocabulary word in each circle, when students land on a word, they must recall the definition.
Homophones- Write a variety of homophones on the circle. When students land on two circles, they must identify its homophone pair, in correct spelling and then define its meaning.
Synonyms/Antonyms- Write newly studied words within each circle. Have students identify its synonym or antonym when they land on it.
Figurative Language- Write the letters O or A within each circle on the mat. If the students land on an O…they have to say an onomatopoeia word, if they end on an A they have to say a phrase or tongue twister using alliteration, beginning with a letter you indicate.
*Adapt these games and the movements used on the mat accordingly. So many options and so many ways to reinvent this beloved game! Have fun!
Purchase your Twister Game Here.
Word Family & Rhyme Twister
