Spelling & Geography Games

Location Spelling Games

• Test student's ability to locate and spell a variety of locations. You can play a location spelling game with states and capitals, countries and capitals or continents and oceans, or any other combination you want. Ask your students to stand up in a line, and go down the line asking students to identify and spell the location you point to on a map. Students remain standing if they get the location and spelling correct, or sit down if it is incorrect. You can modify this game as you study new locations, or use it to review world geography.
  
  

Map Quest Game

• Teach students how to read maps and give directions by asking students to find the quickest route from point A to point B. You can choose locations pertinent to your unit and get creative by adding pit stops. Have students work individually, or with a team, to outline the route on a map, and then write out their directions. Students need to map out the fastest route, either by miles or time, and spell their directions correctly for full points. Deduct points for misspelled directions, and explain the importance of correct spelling in getting to the correct destination.
  
  

Matching Games

• Learn how to identify and spell locations by matching locations to a clue. For example, list the states of the United States as a clue, and ask students to write the capital for each state. You can also play this game by using a world map and numbering locations on the map. Number 10 locations on the map and leave 10 numbered lines blank for students to write in the correct name of the location. Time students on how many locations they can identify and correctly spell in set time intervals. The student with the most locations, correctly spelled wins.
  
  

Culture and Region Games

• Geography encompasses more than location identification. Use games that identify cultural and regional characteristics. Consider having students create flash cards identifying different animals and where they are found: pandas in China, kangaroos in Australia, and lions in Africa. The same can be done for languages; students can create a flash card with common words or phrases in English on one side, and the language you are studying on the other side. Common words and phrases include "Hello," "Goodbye" and "What is your name?" You can set students up in teams and ask them to quiz one another on the correct answer and spelling.