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Puzzles
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I enjoy incorporating puzzles in my classes, especially when I have students who are logical/mathematical learners. Generally speaking, students enjoy puzzles. Just make sure they have a purpose because some students may view them as busy work. While puzzles are typically reading activities, I have found some clever ideas to turn them into listening activities.


Puzzle Activities

    Crossword puzzle
    1. Give students a sheet to fill in without the clues. 
    2. Read out a clue.
    3. Students listen to the clue and fill in the answer. 
    4. Once students have discovered the answer fill in the puzzle on the overhead. 
    5. You could include a word bank depending on the level but it isn't necessary.  In fact, I have had students figure out the entire puzzle without listening to the clues after we completed several clues.  Keep this in mind as you create your puzzle. 

    Puns
    1. Read out puns with vocabulary students are studying or have studied.
    2. Students guess the answers.

      Example:

      In Chinese, I am a type of sauce.  In Spanish, I am a verb.  What word am I? 

      Answer: Soy


    Word Problems
    1. Read out word puzzles
    2. Students solve them.
    3. Review the correct answer.

      Example:

      Students illustrate and solve the problem based on their prior knowledge of vocabulary and geography.

      Hay cinco estudiantes en Madrid.  Hay diez estudiantes en Barcelona.  Hay cuatro estudiantes en Guadalajara. ¿Cuántos estudiantes hay?  ¿Cuántos estudiantes hay en España?  ¿Cuántos hay en México? 

    Word Search
    1. Assign a word search but without a list of words.
    2. Dictate the words or the definition of the word.
    3. Students check the spelling as a class.
    4. Students then look for the words in the word search.

     

Resources
Teach-nology - You can create free crossword puzzles and word search puzzles on Teach-nology's website.

Discovery Education's Free Online Puzzle maker - You can create and print customized word search, crisscross, fallen phrases, letter tiles, cryptograms, hidden message, and math puzzles using your own word lists.

Juego de Palabras - This site has tons of puns, puzzles, jokes, and word plays. 

¡Hablo Español! 800 Wacky Puns by Sue Fenton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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