Letter Bingo

Letter Bingo.xls

This variation of the popular social game is perfect for Kindergartners and special education students who are learning to recognize the upper and lower case letters of the alphabet.

To create the game boards, go to LetterBingo.xls. You can either print the game boards online, or save the Excel file to your harddrive and use whenever you choose. You can choose to print the game boards on white, or colored paper. If you plan to reuse them from year to year, you may want to print them on cardstock. You should cut the pages in half to make two game boards each. Print enough game boards for 1-3 per student. If you prefer to use a different font (perhaps you have the Kidsprint font on your harddrive), email me apembert@erols.com and I will tell you how to do it. Or, you could ask the techie in your building, if you have one!!!

After printing the game boards, print out a set of the LetterTiles.html. You can use either the upper or lower case letters. Print them on sturdy paper (cardstock or construction paper cut to fit in your printer). You need only one set of the letter tiles. Put the set in a bowl or basket. Between games, you can store the letter tiles in an envelope inside the folder with the game cards.

You will need some markers for the students to place on the board when they find the letter. I like to use dried elbow macaroni. Between games, store them in zip-loc bags in a container sealed against mice and roaches (a holiday tin works well). You can also use any other small pieces that the students can handle easily and will not roll out of place. Each student will need 25 markers for each game board they are playing.

To play the game, pass out the game boards to the students. To begin with, give each student one game board. Advanced students may want to play with two or three game boards at a time. Make sure that they have enough markers. Some students will want a new game board every two or three games. Some will want to trade the one they have to someone else who has a "lucky" game board.

Pass out the zip-loc bags of markers, one set of twenty-five markers for each game board a student is playing.

Proceed through the game by pulling a Letter Tile out of the bowl or basket, calling it out, reminding the students that if they have that letter on their board, they should put a marker on it. Lay the used letter tile in a pile. Pull the next letter tile.

Continue to call the letters until a student calls out "Bingo", or you see that they have filled all the spaces in a row or a column, or on one of the diagonals on the board. Write the winner's name on the blackboard. Let students change game boards as desired, and move on to the next round of the game.

Continue until it is time to clean up and move on to another activity. While students are putting their markers in the zip-loc bags, you can make a fuss over those who won the games.

Letter Bingo can be played during recess when the weather does not permit the class to go outdoors, or it can be scheduled into learning time. It is also a good filler when you have a few minutes between activities or waiting to go to lunch or the bus home. It is also a good activity to play when some of the class is out of the room, so that those missing do not miss out on important lessons. After your children are familiar with how to play the game, it can be left for a substitute teacher.

After your students have mastered the letters of the alphabet, you may want to continue with other bingo games to learn to recognize the numerals, or to recognize sight words. These are, or will soon be available on this website.

Happy Learning!

Links for this lesson:

Letter Bingo Game Boards (you must have Excel on your computer)" LetterBingo.xls

Letter Tiles: LetterTiles.html

Page created October 6, 2007. Anne Pemberton. Updated Saturday, August 2, 2008 . AP.

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