String - A Spelling Activity

This is a quick activity which can be used as a warm-up or as a quick break between two other longer activities. It’s a good way to practice spelling, but also pronunciation, since students need to emphasize and listen for the final sound of each word, except, of course, in cases where the final letter or letters are silent!

I do it:

1. Introduce the idea of a string of words by showing students a string of lights or a string of beads. 
2. Ask students if they can guess what “a string of words” means. What connects the lights or the beads? What might connect words (meaning, spelling, similar sounds, et cetera)?
3. Create a few strings of words on the board to demonstrate the concept.

We do it:

1. Ask the students to provide a word from a recent lesson or activity. Write it on the board as someone spells it and then ask a student to identify the last letter.
2. Ask the class to think of a word that starts with the last letter of the word on the board.
3. Continue the process, creating a string of words in which each word begins with the last letter of the previous word. No word may be repeated.
4. Be sure to include words that end in silent letters, like “bike” or “through.” Students at higher levels can try to trick each other by using more of these words.

You do it:

1. In pairs or small groups, students create strings of words. Encourage them to make their strings as long as possible. Teacher/tutor circulates to assist with spelling. 
2. For students at the advanced level, make the task more difficult by asking them to use the last two letters of each word, for example: great, atlas, assorted, edit, item, empire.