Half Term Teaching Fun

Three games with the words: 'HALF TERM'

Here are three word games for stretching children's language through play, either at home or in the classroom. They also offer an absorbing way of filling time on a dull day at home or spare time at school.

1. Words out of the words

Write 'H A L F  T E R M' across a sheet of paper, landscape way, with generous gaps between the letters. Underline it, and draw vertical lines down between each letter to make columns under each for listing words starting with that letter.

How many words can your children (and you?) make out of those two (apart from half and term) ?

For at least two players, of similar reading/writing level, or one being a supportive, non-competitive adult.

Method

Help children to follow a consistent method. The best way is to start with the first letter, H, and list below it all the words they can think of beginning with that letter that can be made from it and the other letters. No letters can be used twice in one word.
If ability levels of players range considerably, challenge abler players to find words of 3 (or 4) letters or more.

Allow 5 to 10 minutes. Then players count up their lists and total them to see who has found the most. 

Take turns to read out a column each. The other players must shout 'Snap!' when a word corresponds with one on their list and all parties with the word have to cross it off. 

Finally, everyone counts up the words they have left on their lists, i.e. the unshared, uncrossed off ones. Whoever has the most is the winner. 

Examples

Here are some word examples to guide strugglers towards: 

Hat,    Art,     Leaf,    Tram,     Elf,     Raft,      Me
Heat    Arm    Lame     The       Eat      Realm    Melt

2. Mix and Make Nonsense

This is a light, amusing game in which players switch the letters 'HALF TERM' around all different ways (using some or all) to make new, make-up words. 

To make the game easier, and more fun, write out the letters, large and clear, once for each child, colour-coded for each, on squares of card, cut them out and let the children line them up whichever ways they like, presenting their new words on table or floor.



Examples (using all the letters)

LAFTHERM
MELFRATH
TRALHEMF
FLATMEHR

But what do they mean? Ah, that's for you and the kids to decide.

3.  Nonsense poem

And now, what about a nonsense verse, to include one or more of those crazy creations in game 2? It might start along these lines, perhaps:


The Laftherm lived in a tralhemf tree.
He...


Enjoy!


Kate