Wondering how to make English Language Arts (ELA) lessons more captivating? How about infusing them with the excitement of games? ELA games offer an innovative approach to learning, but with so many options available, which ones are the cream of the crop? Fear not! In this article, we’ll explore the top 25 ELA games, each carefully selected to engage students across different grade levels. From mastering grammar to honing vocabulary skills, these games are designed to transform learning into an enjoyable adventure. Let’s embark on a journey through the world of ELA games and discover how they can revolutionize education!
1. Scrabble
Scrabble is a timeless word game where players strategically place letter tiles to form words on a board. Each letter has a corresponding point value, and players aim to maximize their scores by creating high-scoring words across bonus squares.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to High School
How to Play:
- Draw seven letter tiles from the bag.
- Form words on the board, connecting them to existing words.
- Score points based on letter values and bonus squares.
2. Sentence Ninja
Sentence Ninja challenges players to correct sentences within a time limit. Players must identify and rectify grammatical errors, enhancing their sentence structure skills in a fast-paced and engaging manner.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to Middle School
How to Play:
- Identify and correct grammatical errors in sentences.
- Earn points by rectifying errors within the time limit.
3. Story Cubes
Story Cubes utilize dice with images to inspire storytelling. Players roll the dice and use the images as prompts to craft imaginative narratives, fostering creativity and narrative skills.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to Middle School
How to Play:
- Roll the dice to reveal images.
- Use the images as inspiration to create a story, taking turns adding to the narrative.
4. Hangman
Hangman is a word-guessing game where players try to decipher a hidden word by suggesting letters. Incorrect guesses result in the drawing of a hangman scaffold.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to High School
How to Play:
- One player selects a word and draws blanks representing each letter.
- The other player guesses letters to reveal the word, with incorrect guesses resulting in the drawing of the hangman.
5. Grammar Gorillas
Grammar Gorillas is an online game where players help gorillas identify parts of speech in sentences. Players click on the gorilla holding the correct part of speech identified in the sentence to earn points.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to Middle School
How to Play:
- Read sentences and click on the gorilla holding the correct part of speech.
- Earn points for each correct answer.
6. Boggle
Boggle is a word search game where players find words in a grid of letters. Players shake and arrange letter cubes into a grid, then race against the clock to find as many words as possible.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to High School
How to Play:
- Shake and arrange letter cubes into a grid.
- Race against the clock to find as many words as possible within the grid.
7. Parts of Speech Quest
Parts of Speech Quest is an interactive game that challenges players to identify nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in sentences. Players progress through levels by correctly identifying the highlighted part of speech.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to Middle School
How to Play:
- Read sentences and identify the highlighted part of speech.
- Progress through levels by answering correctly.
8. Story Starters
Story Starters provide creative prompts to inspire storytelling and writing. Players select a story starter prompt and use it as a springboard to craft an original story.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to Middle School
How to Play:
- Select a story starter prompt.
- Use it as inspiration to craft an original story.
9. Word Bingo
Word Bingo is a vocabulary-building game where players mark off words on a card as they are called out. Players aim to complete a line or pattern for a win.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to Middle School
How to Play:
- Mark off called words on a bingo card.
- Aim to complete a line or pattern for a win.
10. Mad Libs
Mad Libs is a fill-in-the-blank word game that results in hilarious stories. Players fill in blanks with specified word types to create unique and comical stories.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to High School
How to Play:
- Fill in blanks with specified word types.
- Create a unique and comical story.
11. Storybird
Storybird is a digital platform that allows users to create visual stories using provided artwork. Players select artwork and use it as inspiration to write and illustrate a story.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to High School
How to Play:
- Choose artwork from the provided options.
- Use it as inspiration to write and illustrate a story.
12. Word Wall
Word Wall is a classroom activity where key vocabulary words are displayed prominently to facilitate learning. Display vocabulary words on a wall or bulletin board for reference and reinforcement during lessons.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to High School
How to Play:
- Display vocabulary words prominently in the classroom.
- Use them for reference and reinforcement during lessons.
13. Quiddler
Quiddler is a card game where players form words with letter cards in their hand. Arrange letter cards into words to earn points, with longer words and words with rare letters scoring higher.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to High School
How to Play:
- Draw letter cards into your hand.
- Arrange them into words to earn points.
14. Poetry Magnets
Poetry Magnets are sets of word magnets that can be arranged to create poems. Arrange word magnets to form poems, experimenting with language and imagery.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to High School
How to Play:
- Arrange word magnets into poems.
- Experiment with language and imagery.
15. Similes and Metaphors Game
This game helps students understand and differentiate between similes and metaphors. Match sentences with either similes or metaphors, discussing the meaning and function of each.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to Middle School
How to Play:
- Match sentences with similes or metaphors.
- Discuss the meaning and function of each.
16. Literary Jenga
Literary Jenga is played with Jenga blocks featuring discussion prompts related to literature. Pull blocks from the Jenga tower and discuss or answer the prompts written on them.
Recommended Grades: Middle to High School
How to Play:
- Pull blocks from the Jenga tower.
- Discuss or answer the prompts written on them.
17. Grammar Bingo
Grammar Bingo reinforces grammar concepts through a bingo-style game format. Mark off grammar terms on a bingo card as they are called out, aiming to complete a line or pattern for a win.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to Middle School
How to Play:
- Mark off grammar terms on a bingo card.
- Aim to complete a line or pattern for a win.
18. Word Association
Word Association is a game where players connect words based on shared associations or meanings. Say a word aloud, and players take turns saying related words, forming a chain of associations.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to High School
How to Play:
- Say a word aloud.
- Take turns saying related words, forming a chain of associations.
19. Writing Prompts Jar
Writing Prompts Jar contains slips of paper with creative writing prompts for inspiration. Select a prompt from the jar and use it as a starting point for a writing exercise.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to High School
How to Play:
- Select a prompt from the jar.
- Use it as a starting point for a writing exercise.
20. Book Bingo
Book Bingo encourages reading by challenging players to complete reading tasks on a bingo card. Mark off reading tasks on a bingo card as they are completed, aiming to complete a line or pattern for a win.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to High School
How to Play:
- Mark off reading tasks on a bingo card.
- Aim to complete a line or pattern for a win.
21. Spelling Bee
Spelling Bee is a competition where participants spell words orally. Take turns spelling words provided by a moderator, with each correct spelling earning points.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to High School
How to Play:
- Take turns spelling words provided by a moderator.
- Each correct spelling earns points.
22. Word Scramble
Word Scramble is a game where players unscramble letters to form words. Rearrange scrambled letters to form words within a time limit, earning points for each correct word.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to High School
How to Play:
- Rearrange scrambled letters to form words.
- Earn points for each correct word.
23. Grammar Race
Grammar Race is a competitive game where players race to identify grammar errors in sentences. Identify and correct grammar errors in sentences as quickly as possible to outpace opponents.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to High School
How to Play:
- Identify and correct grammar errors in sentences.
- Race against opponents to do so quickly.
24. Vocabulary Charades
Vocabulary Charades is a game where players act out words to convey their meanings. Act out vocabulary words without speaking, challenging others to guess the word.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to High School
How to Play:
- Act out vocabulary words without speaking.
- Others guess the word being acted out.
25. ELA Trivia
ELA Trivia is a quiz-style game where players answer questions related to English Language Arts. Answer questions correctly to earn points and demonstrate knowledge of ELA concepts.
Recommended Grades: Elementary to High School
How to Play:
- Answer questions related to English Language Arts.
- Earn points for each correct answer.
Discover WuKong ELA: Empower Your Child’s Learning Journey
In today’s dynamic world, it’s essential to provide children with modern and engaging educational experiences. WuKong’s ELA courses, including interactive ELA games, are designed to enhance your child’s critical thinking, reading, and writing skills. Tailored for students from kindergarten to grade 6 worldwide, these immersive English classes bring fresh ideas and fun to the forefront, ensuring a captivating learning experience.
Course Highlights:
- Live Instruction by Experienced Instructors: WuKong’s classes are led by elite educators who have graduated from top-tier universities. These teachers are dedicated to nurturing critical thinking, creativity, and language proficiency in students.
- Blended Classes: The program includes interactive small-group sessions online, providing a balanced mix of instruction and interaction.
- Clear Grading and Progression: Students benefit from a structured grading system that ensures they understand their progress and areas for improvement.
- Global Availability: Classes are available in all 24 global time zones, making it convenient for students from over 2000 cities worldwide to join.
- WuKong English (ELA) Resources: These resources include a variety of ELA games and activities designed to make learning enjoyable and effective, helping students build strong language skills through play.
Course Benefits:
- Seven-Stage Development Plan: WuKong’s Advanced English Reading and Writing Course is divided into 7 levels. This structure aligns with North American CCSS and European CEFR teaching systems, allowing seamless entry and steady progression for students from pre-school to grade 6.
- Critical Thinking Focus: At the heart of WuKong’s ELA courses is the development of critical thinking skills, a fundamental aspect of English Language Arts.
- Double the Support: Each student is paired with a dedicated English teacher and an assistant tutor, providing comprehensive support for academic growth.
- Flexible Class Times: With classes available globally, students can choose from flexible schedules that fit their needs.
- Inquiry Learning and Project-Based Learning: WuKong incorporates these methods to spark creativity and develop a deeper understanding of topics that interest your child.
- Engaging Activities: The program includes seminars, competitions, debates, and more, all designed to enhance global cultural understanding and confidence in sharing ideas.
FAQs about ELA Games
Q1. What are ELA games?
ELA games are educational tools designed to make learning English Language Arts fun and interactive, helping students improve reading, writing, and comprehension skills.
Q2. How can ELA games benefit students?
ELA games engage students in a playful manner, enhancing their vocabulary, grammar, and critical thinking through interactive activities and challenges.
Q3. Are ELA games suitable for all grade levels?
Yes, there are ELA games tailored for various grade levels, from elementary to high school, ensuring age-appropriate content and skill development.
Conclusion:
In this article, we’ve explored how ELA games can make learning fun and effective for children. WuKong’s ELA courses are designed to improve critical thinking, reading, and writing skills for students from kindergarten to grade 6. With live classes led by top educators, interactive small-group sessions, and flexible schedules, WuKong provides an engaging and modern learning experience. Their Seven-Stage Development Plan and extensive resources ensure each child can progress at their own pace. Try WuKong ELA to see how their innovative methods and ELA games can enhance your child’s education and foster a love for learning.
List of Top 25 ELA Games
| ELA Games | Recommended Grades | Is it Free to Use |
| Scrabble | Elementary to High School | Yes |
| Sentence Ninja | Elementary to Middle School | Yes |
| Story Cubes | Elementary to Middle School | Yes |
| Hangman | Elementary to High School | Yes |
| Grammar Gorillas | Elementary to Middle School | Yes |
| Boggle | Elementary to High School | Yes |
| Parts of Speech Quest | Elementary to Middle School | Yes |
| Story Starters | Elementary to Middle School | Yes |
| Word Bingo | Elementary to Middle School | Yes |
| Mad Libs | Elementary to High School | Yes |
| Storybird | Elementary to High School | Yes |
| Word Wall | Elementary to High School | Yes |
| Quiddler | Elementary to High School | Yes |
| Poetry Magnets | Elementary to High School | Yes |
| Similes and Metaphors Game | Elementary to Middle School | Yes |
| Literary Jenga | Middle to High School | Yes |
| Grammar Bingo | Elementary to Middle School | Yes |
| Word Association | Elementary to High School | Yes |
| Writing Prompts Jar | Elementary to High School | Yes |
| Book Bingo | Elementary to High School | Yes |
| Spelling Bee | Elementary to High School | Yes |
| Word Scramble | Elementary to High School | Yes |
| Grammar Race | Elementary to High School | Yes |
| Vocabulary Charades | Elementary to High School | Yes |
| ELA Trivia | Elementary to High School | Yes |
Elaina Zetts, a teacher from League City, Texas, majoring in Elementary Education, has a master’s degree in K-12 Literacy. Serves as an ELA teacher in a public school in Friendswood, Texas. Has taught ELA for 15 years and is good at teaching elementary aged students how to read, write and spell. Teh teaching profession is her heart and soul and wat brings her the most joy in life. She hopes dat her love for Literacy shines through and that children grow in their love for reading and writing while in her classes.