KABOOM

This is the game that can be used for so many things. 
Teachers of upper elementary and middle school: keep reading because this one is for you as well! 

It is a pretty common game that even has other names. Teachers use it for a variety of content. I first learned about Kaboom! from a Pinterest pin for this website.  In her blog post, she suggests using it for content beyond math….and I thought “why that is a fantastic idea.”  So I did! 
Here are my takes on this super fun game!

First, here is what you will need:

• Popsicle sticks

• A cup

• Permanent marker to write content on the sticks

I chose to use foam popsicle sticks, because I am a texture sensitive person and do not like the feeling of a popsicle stick. I also like the foam option because they come in different colors, so I could create various sets based on the concept I wanted to review. The colors make it easy to organize! You can find the popsicle sticks at your local craft store or on “A-ma-zon” as my husband calls it (because it is amazin’ what you can find…..and how quickly that cart adds up….yikes).  CHECK IT OUT.

You may see teachers use this game for non-phonetic (sight) word practice.  I use it for this as well.  I opted to put them on the red stick since I sometimes refer to my sight words as “red words.”  I do this to remind students we need to stop and think before reading.  These words are the words that cannot be sounded out and we need to use a strategy to help us read them.  I only put sight words that my student has been introduced to so that the game can be a review tool.  Here are the steps I use to add an extra layer of kinesthetic reinforcement.  

1.  The student pulls a stick and reads the word.

2. The student traces (while saying) the letter names on the table.  When they get to the end of the word, they blend their fingers underneath to read the whole word.

For example:  “ w, a, s   was”  “w, a, s   was”  “w, a, s  was” 

3. The student can pull as many sticks as they want, but if they pull a Kaboom! they have to put back all of their sticks.

I also like to use this game to review concepts that we have been working on.  I have a syllable set that contains different examples of syllable types my students have learned. I like to add an extra review step to this as well. 

Here are those extra ways to add another layer to the game:

1. The student pulls a stick and reads the word.

2. The student names the syllable type.

3. Either at this point or at the end when everyone has pulled all of the cards, I have the student sort the syllables.  You can have a quick discussion of the patterns of the syllable type, expected vowel sounds, and even have them read again for review.

This is also a fun game to review other generalizations such as when to use g vs. dge.  I might use this as a quick warm-up to review the new learning from the previous day.  It is a great way to open the file for learning so students are ready to apply new material. In the pictures below, the students are using the g vs. dge set.  

1.  The student pulls the stick and reads the word.

2. The student tells why the g or dge is used.

3.  Either at this point or at the end when everyone has pulled all of the cards, I have the student sort the examples. 

For the older student, you can use the game for morphemes (prefixes, suffixes, and roots).  In my own training and in the training courses I lead, we code suffixes in blue, prefixes in yellow, and roots in green.  I used this same color coding system for the foam sticks.  I have used just the set for suffixes for review (and the same for the prefix set and the root set).  I have also combined the sets for  mixed review. 

Here are the steps I use for Kaboom! with prefixes, roots, and suffixes.  

1.  The student pulls a stick and reads the prefix, root, or suffix.

2. They give the meaning and part of speech (suffixes only).

3. They can pull as many as they would like, but if they pull Kaboom! they have to put all of the sticks back.

Once the student has a bigger bank of prefixes, suffixes, and roots that they know, we play the game and then at the end we practice combining them to make real words. Using their knowledge of the morphemes, they can discuss the meaning of the word and the part of speech. You can also take the words you create and switch out a different prefix or suffix to see how the meaning of the word changes.

So why take a whole blog post to talk about one game?

I like to offer ideas that I have used that my students really enjoyed. My students were engaged, smiling, excited, and willing to share what they know. I like to offer ideas that are affordable, easy to make, and easy to reuse. As you can see this can be used with multiple concepts. I like to offer ideas that have multiple purposes. It would make a great literacy center, partner activity, warm-up, ticket-out-the door, or review activity. I also like to offer ideas that I like to use myself… hey this is a pretty enjoyable game to use in a tutoring session or to lighten the mood in our homeschool day. I think games, if used with purpose, can build student confidence, motivation, and interest. Plus, we all need a good laugh, smile, and way to spread a love of learning. As you can see below, fun was had by all.

Give it a try and leave a comment below about ways you were able to use it.  We can all learn so much from what works (and doesn’t work) in our classrooms.  Thanks for reading!

---

This information is the intellectual property of ©2021 The Instruction Hub.  Do not use or repurpose without expressed permission from The Instruction Hub.  Please give The Instruction Hub an attribution if you choose to use, reference, or quote/paraphrase copyrighted materials.  This includes but is not limited to blogs, social media, and resources.