Words to Know Activity Options

Before the video, use pictures and/or objects to talk about the lesson’s Words to Know

1. Show participants each picture or object and tell them the word that goes with it and what it means
2. Ask a few questions about the picture or object, like…
   • “What do you see or feel?”
   • “Which picture or object shows _______?”
   • “What’s another word that means the same thing?”
3. Choose one of the following activities to give more practice with the Words to Know

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Scavenger Hunt

Show a picture of one of the Words to Know from the lesson (found in Picture Supports as Step 1). Describe the definition and what you see in the picture. Ask the group if they can find anything in the room that is the same as something in the picture. Repeat this with as many words and pictures as needed. Other variations may include:

• Find something that is the same color as an item in the picture
• Find something that is the same size or shape as an item in the picture
• Find a person who is making the same facial expression as the person in the picture
• And more!

Charades

Write the Words to Know on small scraps of paper, one (1) word per paper, and drop the words into a bucket or hat. Choose one (1) volunteer to come up and grab a word. This person must try to act out the word without speaking or writing. Let the others try to guess the word. Once the word is guessed, repeat this process with different "actors" until all the words have been guessed.

I Spy®

• Show a picture of one of the Words to Know from the lesson (found in Picture Supports as Step 1). Describe the definition of the word. Pick an item in the picture and say, “I spy with my eye something that is…” and give a describing word for that item, like a color. For example, if there is a STOP sign in the picture, you might say, “I spy with my eye something that is red.” Participants can guess which item in the picture is being described.
• To make this more challenging: Show 2 or 3 pictures at a time and follow the same steps for “I Spy”

Pictionary

Instead of acting, players draw the Words to Know! Split the group into two (2) teams. Grab a marker and use a whiteboard or paper. Give one artist a word to draw. The artist cannot say anything or write down words. Allow up to 1-2 minutes for teammates to guess what is being drawn. If a team guesses correctly, award a point. Teams take turns until all the words are drawn. The team with the most points in the end wins!

Go Fish®

• Print pictures of the Words to Know from the lesson (found in Picture Supports as Step 1) or write each of the Words to Know on an index card or piece of paper. (If your group is large, you may want to print or write multiple copies so that each individual has a word or picture.) Pass out the pictures or papers so that different individuals are holding them. Show a picture of one of the Words to Know from the lesson. Pause and ask one of the individuals who is holding a picture or paper if they have this picture or word. The individual can look and compare to see if the word or picture you are showing matches with the word or picture they have. If there is a match, they can say “yes” and show everyone their word or picture. If there is not a match, they can say “Go fish®” and ask a different person if their word or picture matches the one on display. After each person has figured out what word they have, shuffle and play again!
• Object Go Fish® Variation: Play this game with objects instead of pictures! You’ll need at least 2 of each object to represent each Word to Know. For example, for Gardening, gather two (2) watering cans to represent watering plants, two (2) bags of dirt for soil, and two (2) flashlights for sunlight. Pass out one (1) of each object to different individuals, and keep the other set. Show one (1) object at a time and follow the same steps for Go Fish® to play the game. If you’d like to include individuals in a larger group, add more of each object to the game and provide each individual with an object.

Picture Puzzle

• Print a copy of the Words to Know from the lesson (found in Picture Supports as Step 1). If you are only focusing on 1 or 2 words, consider printing multiple copies of the same picture. Cut the pictures in half. Pair up individuals and give each individual one (1) half of a picture. Tell them to make their picture complete by placing the 2 pieces together with their partner.
• Movement Variation: Give each individual one (1) half of a picture. Tell them to find the person who is holding the other half of their picture by moving around the room and placing their half next to another person’s half until they find the half that completes the picture.
• 3+ Puzzle-Piece Variation: Cut the picture into 3 or more pieces instead of in half. Follow the same steps, instructing individuals to find the people with the matching pieces in order to complete the puzzle.

Picture-Object Match

• Show a picture of one of the Words to Know from the lesson (found in Picture Supports as Step 1). Model how to hold an object that corresponds with the word and picture. For example, if the word is toothpaste, then hold up a tube of toothpaste. Add in objects that are not related to the word. For example, add in a cup and a piece of paper along with the toothpaste tube. Ask individuals to match the object with the picture for each word.
• Object-Object Match Variation: You can also match 2 objects rather than matching the picture to an object. This may help those with low vision to identify objects that are the same based on their other senses.

Raise a Card

Write the Words to Know on index cards to make one (1) set per team. Split the group into teams of 3-5 people. Give each team a set of Words to Know index cards. Read one definition to see if each team can find the word that was defined. Once the word is found by the team, one (1) person from each team raises the card up high for you to check. Make this a competition by keeping track of which team raises the correct card first! If you’d like less prep, you can also just give 1 card per group.

Post-It Shuffle

Write the definitions on papers and hang the papers around the room. Write down the Words to Know on post-its to make one (1) set per team. Split the group up into teams of 3-5 people. Give each team a set of Words to Know post-its. Read the Words to Know (and definitions) out loud with the whole group. Tell teams they have to get up and stick each post-it onto the correct paper. Play music while teams walk around and try to match the words and definitions.

Pyramid

Write the Words to Know on post-its to make one (1) set per team. Use those post-its to create a pyramid shape (3 on bottom and 2 on top) on pieces of paper. Split the group into teams of 3-5 people. Give one (1) player on each team a Words to Know Pyramid. The pyramid holder must describe each word by giving hints to teammates without using the actual word. When teammates guess correctly, the pyramid holder can take off the post-it and move on to the next word. The team that guesses all the words first wins!