Bananagrams Word Game - Fun For All Ages

For ages word games have been known to provide entertainment, sharpen ones mind and help improve ones vocabulary.

Bananagrams is a modern day fun and fast word game that still does all these things. It is well liked because it is small, easy to carry and great for travel.

Banangrams can help teach children that words can be fun and for adults it can keep their mental skills sharp.

The banana like pouch is referred to as the "BUNCH" and it is filled with 144 letter tiles which are used to play the game. To start the game the tiles are dumped on a flat surface and each is turned face down. Then each player draws a certain number of tiles. How many is drawn by each player depends on the number of people playing the game at that time. A one game set is built for 2 to 8 players.

Once the tiles are drawn, one of the players calls "SPLIT" and then each player begins to form their own collection of connecting and intersecting words.

Words created may be vertical or horizontal, reading left to right. All players are playing at the same time, independently of each other.

Type: Game
Target: Any vocabulary
Materials: None
Procedure: Students say a vocabulary word and do an action to go with it. The student beside them must copy exactly the action and word that the student said. They then say a new word and make up a new action which the next person copies. Continue until all have had a turn.
Comments: You can vary this game to focus on intonation by having the students mimic each other’s intonation and tone of voice while saying the word or even a sentence.

1.Title: 2 min Speed

Type: Concentration Game

Target: Any vocabulary

Materials: Timer

Procedure: Set a timer for 2 mins. Challenge the students to see how many times they can recite the vocabulary words in 2 mins. For example, if you are learning the months of the year, see how many times the students can say all 12 months in 2 mins.

Comments: Good for practicing fluency and retention. Can change the time limit depending on needs.

Content: Integers Negative Positive Zero Pairs

Goals: The students will be able to add integers tanging from -10 through -10 without manipulates by the end ot the class period. Students will be on task and working the entire time.