The Mystery Word Game is a great game to review vocabulary. Give clues and challenge your students to answer with the correct vocabulary until they can guess the mystery word.
I have used this activity in my classes as it only requires some markers pens and a whiteboard (or chalk and a blackboard). It encourages students to use all the vocabulary they have learned so far and to listen to descriptions of the words. This isn’t a new game and there are several descriptions of secret or mystery word games available on the internet.
However, I decided to make a PowerPoint version of this game (limited to 10 letters).
This example uses seven letters, but the text is clear and easy to read. In a large classroom, it can be easier to read from the back of the class and the different colors allow you to use multiple topics if you wanted.
When you begin the activity, none of the words are visible. Students call out a number and the teacher reads out one or more clues that describe the word. If the students guess the word, the teacher clicks on the answer button to reveal it. If the students can’t guess the word, they can pass and choose the next number. The aim of the game is to guess the mystery word contained in the color boxes.
Click on the images above or follow the link below to download the template.
Download The Mystery Word Game template.
The template contains 2 slides – a title slide and one slide that contains space for 10 letters and 10 words. If you wish to play several rounds of the mystery word game, copy the slide as many times as you need to.
Alternatively, you can copy the slide into your own presentation.
Copy the slide.
- Right-click on the slide and click on copy
- Change the window to your new template by clicking on the file open on the taskbar
Alternatively, hold ALT and press TAB to select your new presentation.
- Right-click in the slide view pane on the left-hand side of your current presentation and click on paste (keep source formatting).
Alternatively, press CTRL+V to paste your slide (However, this won’t keep the formatting from the original template).
How to Edit the Template
Watch this tutorial video or read the notes below for information on how to edit the template.
Video tutorial on how to edit the template.
The video run-time is 2 minutes and 2 seconds.
- Download and open the template.
- Copy as many slides as you need.
- Add your mystery word to the slide. One word in each of the color boxes.
- For example: W E A T H E R
- Add the answers. The remaining letters to your list of words.
- For example: (W)ind, (E)arth, (A)utumn, (T)hunder,
(H)ail, (E)nvrionment, (R)ain
- For example: (W)ind, (E)arth, (A)utumn, (T)hunder,
- Delete the parts of the slide that you don’t need.
- For example: Unused text boxes, answer buttons and numbers.
- Move the words into the center of the slide.
- Write any topics or prompts you need in the corner boxes.
How to Edit the Template
Playing the Mystery Word Game
- Divide students into groups of 3-5.
- Ask the groups to think of a team name.
- Nominate one group at random to start.
- The students from that group ask for a number.
- Give the whole class the clue associated with that number.
- Any team can buzz in or attempt to answer the clue.
- If students guess the answer correctly, click on the answer button to reveal the answer. Students can be awarded one point for one correct answer. Give the team an opportunity to guess the mystery word.
- If a team guesses the mystery word, they are awarded points equal to the number of hidden letters.
- For example: Weather is a seven-letter word. If a team guesses correctly from these letters. W T H. Four letters remain hidden, so the team is awarded four points.
- If no team can answer the clue. Pass and move onto the next clue.
- Repeat the game with as many mystery words as you wish.
Using Multiple Topics
The Mystery Word Game can use up to four different categories. In the example above, the categories of people, places, activities and food were used.
This version allows you to review several topics and as a result it is easier to prepare. It can be difficult finding words (that match the letters to your mystery word) that all connect to a central theme. Especially if it is a letter such as Q, W, X or Z.
The game is also played in the same way as the version shown in the tutorial, however, if students call for number 1, they know that the answer is going to be the name of a person.
Teacher-led to Student-led
Once you have modelled the activity with the PowerPoint template, why not ask your students to create their own mystery words and write their own clues.
If the students find it challenging to write their own clues, provide them with some useful structures.
For example:
People – “This person is famous for…”
Places – “There is a(n)… in this place.”
Activities – “People do this when…”
Food – “It’s a(n)… dish.” / It’s a(n) ingredient in…
As a student-led activity, it can be done in pairs, small groups or even as a mingle activity.
That’s it! I hope your students will enjoy playing the Mystery Word Game.
Do you have any suggestions for using the Mystery Word Game in class?
Please leave a comment if you have any ideas you would like to share or if you have any questions about the template.
Alternatively, you can send me a message on my Facebook page or on Twitter.
Thanks for reading and take care!
The Mystery Word Game was designed with Microsoft PowerPoint 2016. Animations and sounds may differ when opened in other presentation software.
Microsoft® Office® is a copyrighted product of the Microsoft® corporation. All images are for educational purposes only.
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Word Dominoes is an old favorite in the ESL classroom. It is an activity that allows students to practice the language in small groups. This article suggests how to run the activity and offers some advice on how you can create your own customized dominoes.
Vocabulary is easier to learn when it is relevant and when you can make associations or mental links to it. Word links is a great activity to build these connections.
If you want your students to start thinking more outside the box, this fun mystery word ESL game can get them there while also building their vocabulary based on a particular theme or topic that you are covering in your class.
Student Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Age Group: Kids, Adults
Mystery Word ESL Game Preparation:
You could prepare a few vocabulary concepts for this game before class. On the other hand, simply improvise and think of a few concepts in class as you go. The idea of the game is relatively simple so not much preparation is required at all.
Mystery Word ESL Game Guidelines:
To start the activity, draw a circle on the board with a question mark at the center of it.
Next, extend a number of lines from the circle so that it looks like a bug with four legs. At the end of each “leg,” put a word at the end that relates to the mystery word in the center. Add more legs with words for more hints depending on the students’ levels if you wish. Though, four word hints should be enough for most classes.
Use a simple example to start with so that everyone understands what to do. For instance, for the first “bug” you could put the words “toothbrush,” “mirror,” “shower,” and “shampoo” at the end of each leg. Elicit the answer “bathroom” from the class so they get the aim of the activity.
Do another example that is more difficult so that they can get other ideas for what to do for the exercise.
After modeling the task, arrange the class into teams and have them all think of three to five different “mystery word bugs” with the words at the end of the “legs.” You can have them create more if time allows.
Encourage them to think of funny and entertaining ones based on your lesson’s theme. This will engage them more in the activity. Set a time limit for completion and monitor them as they create their “bugs.” Help any group that needs some suggestions for words etc.
Put the team names on the board to award points for the groups that guess the correct answers.
The first group goes first. Have them call out the four word hints at the end of each “leg.” The first team that shouts out the correct answer from the hints gets a point.
All of the following groups take turns calling out their word hints until everyone has finished. Complete the next rounds until all of the groups have finished with their last words.
Add up the points on the board and award the winning group of the mystery word game with a prize.
Follow-Up ESL Activities:
For follow-up activities, you could practice using the words in either a discussion exercise, like the 4 Corners Speaking Activity, or in a related writing activity based on any of the different themes that the students came up with.
More ESL Vocabulary Games for Kids and Adults:
- I Spy
- No Harm No Vowel
- To Be
- Halloween
- Comparatives
- Prepositions
- Body Parts
- Toilet Paper
- Have You Ever
- Tic Tac Toe
- Word Whack
- Hangman
- Hot Seat
- Simon Says
- Pass the Marker
- Memory Race
- Board Race
- Word Chain
- 20 Questions
View the vocabulary games archive.
View more ESL activities.
Related ESL Resources Online:
- Vocabulary Games on ManyThings.org
This week we played a REALLY fun word game that targeted LOTS of describing skills. I even found a way to adapt it for some of my articulation students. Word games for kids are the best way to get engagement with vocabulary building. When you say “game”, the kids feel like they are having fun and not realizing how much thinking they are doing! This word game also incorporates inferencing and critical thinking skills.
Word Games For Kids- Mystery Word
I used picture cards from my HedBanz Game (amazon affiliate link) to help my younger students think of a noun for the mystery word. There are also these really cool Learning Resources Basic Vocabulary Photo Cards (amazon affiliate link included for your convenience) that would be awesome to use as well! For my older students, we just brainstormed without pictures.
I made a detective game board to keep track of each player’s points. You can assign one of the students to be the “points keeper”. These Reusable Dry Erase Pockets are amazing because I only have to print one game sheet to use over and over.
How to play the game
To play this word game, the clinician and/or one of the students in the groups is in charge of choosing a mystery word. Pick a word and write it down where the students cannot see it.
Then, give clue #1 to the group. So if we picked “donut”. Clue #1 would be “dessert group”. Each student can take a guess of the mystery word item. Praise the students who make a “smart guess” for guessing a word that is in the correct category. Quiz the students if a guess such as “pizza” would be a smart guess and why it would or would not be a smart guess. Give clue #2 such as “You eat it. You can deep fry it. You can put frosting on it.” Allow for students to make a guess. If a student’s smart guess is correct, then they would earn 4 points. Continue giving clues until someone in the group guesses correctly.
The person with the most points at the end of the session wins! Have the student describe the noun in complete sentences after the mystery word has been revealed!
I adapted this game for my students working on /s/ by having them say the carrier phrase “I guess the item is……….” to work on final /s/. With my /r/ students, I only picked words that contained /r/! How could you adapt this game to make it funcitonal for your mixed groups? Share in the comments.
Use this Speech Therapy Language Game in Teletherapy
You can also use this game digitally in your teletherapy sessions using the Google Slides™ presentation included in the free download (click the pink button above to grab.)
You can use the Mystery Word Game as your weekly warmup lesson. Pick a word of the week and students can what the word is based on the clues. Or, you can create many mystery words and have it last as a digital game for weeks!
The Google Slides have linked buttons, so it is easier to navigate the Clue slides during the game. If you are wanting techy tips on how to use Google Slides, check out this YouTube tutorial with all the tips!
Watch the YouTube video below to see how to add images to the Google Slide presentation.
I would love to see your games in action! Make sure to tag me on Instagram @thedabblingspeechie
This game should increase that engagement in your sessions and you don’t have to feel guilty that you are playing a game because it is working on their goals!
Looking for more Google Slide Game Templates? My digital speech and language Google Slide templates include as a Memory, Tic Tac Toe, and 4-in-a-row templates so that you can customize for your caseload. Check it out in my TPT store (there are also templates included to help you plan therapy, organize your materials digitally, and make digital speech and language folders for your students.
| No. of Players: | 2+ |
| Type of Game: | written and spoken |
| What you need: | pen and paper |
Goal
To find a word by solving clues to its letters.
How to play
The gamemaster writes down a long word and puts numbers below each letter. The other players are told the number of letters in this mystery word and they draw that many dashes on their own paper with numbers below each dash. The gamemaster then gives clues to words that can be made from letter combinations in the mystery word, referencing these letters by their numbers. As players solve the clues, they write the letters of the answers on the appropriate numbered dashes. In this way, the mystery word slowly reveals itself. The first player to correctly guess the mystery word becomes the gamemaster for the next round.
Example
Angelo tells the other players the mystery word has twelve letters, so they each draw twelve dashes and number them sequentially like so:
The first clue Angelo gives is ‘They love their teams’ which he tells them references letters numbered 6, 7, 12 and 1. Blair and Christina both correctly solve this clue as fans and they write its letters on the appropriate dashes:
No player can guess what this word is, so Angelo gives another clue: ‘A play is divided into these’ which references letters numbered 2, 8, 3 and 5. Blair and Christina again both correctly solve this clue as acts and write down its letters:
But Christina is quicker than Blair in identifying the mystery word as satisfaction, which she shouts out loud. She thus becomes the gamemaster for the next round.
Did you know?
If you ask most people to name their favorite detective, they invariably say Sherlock Holmes. And if you further ask them to name the first thing that comes to mind with this fictional character, they usually give you a half-serious look and say «Elementary, my dear Watson.»
But while this famous phrase is universally attributed to Sherlock Holmes, it actually doesn’t appear in any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 60 stories. The closest Holmes comes to uttering these exact words is:
- «Elementary» in «The Adventure of the Crooked Man»
- «It was very superficial my dear Watson» in «The Adventure of the Cardboard Box»
- «Exactly, my dear Watson» in three other stories
More Word Games
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In this post I’m sharing low-prep, engaging sound wall games to help students develop phonemic awareness, including my own Mystery Words resource ideal for kindergarten, first and second grade students. These games were designed to compliment my Sound Wall Resource, but can be used by anyone!
So you’ve got yourself a sound wall- Hooray! It looks great up on the wall and you’re beginning to explicitly teach your students the sounds one by one! Double-Hooray!
These are great things! But in order for your sound wall to really become a powerful tool that will help your students read, spell, and write more confidently they must have LOTS of opportunities to interact with it.
In my last blog post, I shared details about the Sound Wall Teacher’s Guide that provides you with explicit and systematic lesson plans and student activities for introducing and using a sound wall.
These lessons and activities are a wonderful way to help you establish instructional routines for your sound wall. But research tells us that quality instruction must also include cumulative practice. This means once a student moves forward with a new concept, they must continue to review the skills they’ve already learned.
One highly engaging way to provide students the review they need for mastery is through games! Today I am excited to share with you 4 sound wall games students can play to develop their phonemic awareness skills.
These games follow the essential, evidence-based principles of quality instruction. They take what we know about how students learn to read and put it into practice.
The games offer students practice that is explicit, engaging, and multi-sensory. They also provide the cumulative review we know they need for mastery. These sound wall games require minimal prep from you and your students will love them!
Go Fish
The classic game of Go Fish is a great way for students to practice phonemic awareness. Simply print two sets of the small sound cards from the Sound Wall Resource. Put students in small groups and have them deal five cards out to each player. Leave the remaining cards for the draw pile.
If player one has the O card, they would ask their partner, “Do you have the card that makes the /o/ sound?” If they do, they hand it over and player one makes a match, if not, player one draws a sound card from the pile and it is now the next person’s turn to ask for a match!
Tip: To get the cards the right size, I printed the smaller sound spelling cards (2 on one page) four pages on 1 page. You can do that in your printer settings, select print multiple pages. It looks like this once printed!
Memory
Using the same double set of sound cards used in Go-Fish, students can also play the classic game of Memory. They simply shuffle the cards, place them face down and take turns flipping the cards, trying to make a match! When they make a match they can say (for instance) “the sound /d/ is represented by the letter D.”
Articulation Gestures
Think of this game like charades but with sounds! All you need is a pile of mouth articulation cards. You can use the mouth photos included in the sound wall resource or create your own by taking photos of your students forming the sounds with their mouths.
To play, one student picks a mouth articulation card from the pile and creates that gesture with their own mouth. The other student/s then guess what sound they are forming! Encourage your students to reference the sound wall for help!
Mystery Word Games
The Mystery Words resource is a game I created to help your students develop their phonemic awareness skills. In the game, students identify and tap the beginning sound of each picture and then blend those sounds together to form the Mystery Word!
Once they’ve identified the Mystery Word they confirm they are correct by finding a picture of the word and placing it in the empty box. If they were able to match the word with one of the pictures they know they got it correct! This provides students with immediate feedback and helps to keep them engaged and motivated!
Each game mat focuses on one specific phonics skill. The skills include blends, digraphs, long vowels, CVCe, R-controlled, and diphthongs. You can use one entire page for your explicit instruction and guided practice for each skill.
Once students have received your direct instruction and are ready for independent practice, simply cut the pages into strips, mix them up and use them as a center activity. This is a great way to give students the cumulative review we know they need for mastery.
The resource includes picture sound charts that can be used if you don’t have a sound wall in your classroom.
While this resource was designed to be a phonemic awareness task, not a writing task, I did include a recording sheet where students can write the mystery word if you’d like them to do so.
Finally, you’ll love this Mystery Word Game Resource because it is NO PREP for you! Simply make copies of the game mats for your direct instruction and guided practice! Cut the mats into strips and you’ve got yourself an engaging, literacy center that will last all year!
I hope the games I’ve shared today will help to keep your students interacting with the sound wall and practicing the important skills you have taught them in an engaging way! Looking for more ways to get students excited about the sound wall? Take a peek at this post where you’ll find 5 More Ways to Use a Sound Wall and free downloadable lyrics to a sound wall rap you can teach your students!
What are your favorite ways to get students engaging and interacting with the sound wall? I love to learn and hear about all the amazing things you do in your classroom, so share them below!
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