Letter Slide
Letter Slide
2-4 players • 20 min • 7 & up
Focus: Spelling
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Race against the clock to spell as many four-letter words as you can with the letters on your card! Boost your spelling, vocabulary, and knowledge of consonants and vowels while you’re at it. How many words can you make before time runs out?
Skills: Spelling, Vocabulary, Consonants, Vowels
Game Includes
Game Includes
- 4 Slide Boards
- 200 Letter Tiles
- 87 Word Cards
- 1 One-Minute Sand Timer
- 1 Storage Bag
- 1 Rules Booklet
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How to Play
Educational Standards
Core Standard*: Language
Language
- Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
- Grade Level 1st
Skills
Explore
What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
In Letter Slide, players explore letter tiles to think of letter two letter combinations that can make words on the Word Cards.
How Parents Can Assist Learning
Prompt children to imagine consonants and vowels combinations. What is there already? What could be added?
Learning Implications and Educator Support
Prompt children to imagine consonants and vowels combinations. What is there already? What could be added?
Determine
What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players determine which letters to select to make four-letter words. Also, they need to determine which letters they need to complete their Slide Board.
How Parents Can Assist Learning
Once children start to get close to completing their Slide Board, remind them to look at what letters they need to complete their board. Then, suggest that they try to make words using those letters.
Learning Implications and Educator Support
Children will be learning four-letter spelling with Letter Slide. Educators may want the children to say the words aloud at the end of each round in order to help children with pronunciation, if needed. Educators may also select a subset of the Word Cards to have children focus on certain letter combinations.Once children start to get close to completing their Slide Board, remind them to look at what letters they need to complete their board. Then, suggest that they try to make words using those letters.
Compare
What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players need to compare the letters in the Letter Lagoon to their memory of letter sequences in words.
How Parents Can Assist Learning
Parents can encourage children to think about letters that are frequently found together (e.g. ck, st) and then combine those with the letters on the Word Card.
Learning Implications and Educator Support
To facilitate comparison and support vocabulary review, educators may choose to use a limited set of cards that relate to content being learned in class.
Remember
What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
This is a key skill of the game, namely, players need to remember how to spell words they are thinking of making with the Word Card.
How Parents Can Assist Learning
Parents can encourage children to think about letters that are frequently found together (e.g. ck, st) and then combine those with the letters on the Word Card.
Learning Implications and Educator Support
Letter Slide helps children remember and generate hundreds of four-letter words.
Parents can encourage children to think about letters that are frequently found together (e.g. ck, st) and then combine those with the letters on the Word Card.
Plan
What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players need to select letters that help them fill in their Slide Board.
How Parents Can Assist Learning
Once children start to get close to completing their Slide Board, remind them to look at what letters they need to complete their board. Then, suggest that they try to make words using those letters.
Learning Implications and Educator Support
Once children start to get close to completing their Slide Board, remind them to look at what letters they need to complete their board. Then, suggest that they try to make words using those letters.
Experiment
What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players experiment with letter tiles to try to find letter sequences that fit the Word Card.
How Parents Can Assist Learning
If children are having difficulty thinking of letters to make a word, suggest that they pick any consonant and vowel to try. These letters may help them make a word or may spark their thinking about what other letters will work. Additionally, remind children about rhyming words. For example, if the ending letters -TE are presented, the child can think of words that rhyme, like SATE, LATE, MATE, FATE, etc.
Learning Implications and Educator Support
If children are having difficulty thinking of letters to make a word, suggest that they pick any consonant and vowel to try. These letters may help them make a word or may spark their thinking about what other letters will work. Additionally, remind children about rhyming words. For example, if the ending letters -TE are presented, the child can think of words that rhyme, like SATE, LATE, MATE, FATE, etc.
Practice
What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Each turn is practice for remembering and spelling four-letter words.
How Parents Can Assist Learning
Children will be learning spelling and phonics as they play Letter Slide.Have children say the spelling of their words aloud (ex: "C", "A", "R", "T". That spells "CART"). The combination of visual and auditory repetition enhances memory.
Learning Implications and Educator Support
Children will be learning spelling and phonics as they play Letter Slide.Have children say the spelling of their words aloud (ex: "C", "A", "R", "T". That spells "CART"). The combination of visual and auditory repetition enhances memory. Children can also practice different skills they are learning, such as rhyming words, words with two vowels, blends, etc.
Solve
What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players find letters to make words that will allow them to fill in their Slide Board.
How Parents Can Assist Learning
Adults can encourage persistence and experimentation in order to solve the problems. Try setting a target the child can accomplish, such as find two words, then increase to three words, etc.
Learning Implications and Educator Support
In addition to allowing children to grab multiple Letter Tiles, educators can encourage them to say words aloud as they pop into their mind in order to sound out letters needed.
Also, this game requires persistence in trying to find as many words as possible within the time limit. Provide children with positive reinforcement each time they make a word to help bolster persistence.
Review
What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players may review if encouraged. See How Parents Can Assist Learning and Learning Implications and Educator Support.
How Parents Can Assist Learning
Ask children who are successful to share their thinking about their letters. This may help other children in future turns.
Learning Implications and Educator Support
Ask children who are successful to share their thinking about their letters. This may help other children in future turns.
Demonstrate
What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players may demonstrate if encouraged. See How Parents Can Assist Learning and Learning Implications and Educator Support.
How Parents Can Assist Learning
Help children sound out the word accurately, if needed. In particular, support children in making the proper vowel sound, such as a soft "a" or a hard "a".
Learning Implications and Educator Support
For educators, having children say and spell the word aloud will give you opportunities to identify and remediate any phonics, word construction, pronunciation, spelling or vocabulary issues. For example, help children sound out the word accurately, if needed. In particular, support children in making the proper vowel sound, such as a soft "a" or a hard "a".
*Data compiled from CCSSI ELA Standards, WA Science Standards, and Washington Social Studies Standards
Special Needs
Cognitive
Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Children who have cognitive delays may have difficulty mentally visualizing the two letters on the card combined with two other letters to make a word. Allow the child to find the letter tiles on the Word Card and set them in front of them. The child can then manipulate other letter tiles to go with these letters. When the round is over, the letters matching the Word Card and the letters not selected to go on the Letter Slide go back into the Letter Lagoon.
Allow the child to make 3-letter words rather than 4-letter words with word cards with beginning letters. This will make the game easier. Add the fourth letter as the child increases in skill.
Eliminate the timer for children who are lower level and need more time.
Communication
Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Have children read the words of the player to their right. This gives them additional practice in mentally constructing words.
This game provides an opportunity for building vocabulary. Make sure each word is understood by all the players. One way to do this is to have them use each word they made in a sentence.
Sensorimotor
Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
This game may be too difficult for children with fine motor problem, as they need to quickly manipulate the small letter tiles.
Social Emotional/Behavioral
Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Children with low frustration tolerance may find the timed element to be challengin. The child may be more successful with a partner.
To reduce pressure from the timed element, turn the timer 2 times. Adults and older players must stop after one timer turn.
Vision
Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Letter slide is not recommended for children with vision problems, as a complex visual search is needed for each round.
Hearing
Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Hearing concerns are not an issue.
This game would provide a good opportunity for children who use sign to teach the other players the signs for the words they all form.
*Data compiled from CCSSI ELA Standards, WA Science Standards, and Washington Social Studies Standards
Autism
Autism Strengths & Interests
Short Summary of Strengths & Interests
- Likes and is good at simple spelling.
- Can quickly scan many objects to find the desired few.
- Has a good memory for simple words.
Is good at matching visual items
This game is not appropriate
Has a good memory for sensory details, including visual, touch, taste and smell
Is This Game Appropriate? Yes
Description
Letter Slide involves visual and auditory memory because players need to know the sound letters and letter combinations make, including the sound of 4-letter words. Therefore, children who have a good auditory and visual memory for letters, blends and words will likely enjoy using and enhancing those strengths in Letter Slide.
Has a good memory for words, phrases and dialouge
Is This Game Appropriate? Yes
Description
Children who know a lot of 4-letter words, and like words and wordplay will be able to use those strengths in Letter Slide. Players are trying to make as many 4-letter words as possible in a limited time. First a card is turned over that has 2 missing letters. Players then take as many pairs of letters from the letter 'lagoon' as they can to combine with the card to make 4-letter words.
Has a good memory for pictures, numbers and patterns
Is This Game Appropriate? Yes
Description
Children who recognize letter patterns that comprise a number of words (such as mail, pail, fail, rail, etc.) will be able to generate numerous words for different letter sets.
Likes to put things in order or a sequence
Is This Game Appropriate? Yes
Description
Children who enjoy sequencing, especially spelling words from the correct sequence of letters, will like playing Letter Slide. To do this, they must visually search a large letter 'lagoon' to find the letters they need and sequence the letters correctly in front of them. Children need to be able to visualize the complete word to know if they are correct
Learns through visualizing or "replaying" actions in their mind
Is This Game Appropriate? No
Description
Likes activities with rules, such as math and phonics
Is This Game Appropriate? Yes
Description
In Letter Slide, each turn starts with a 4-letter Word Card being turned face up. Either the first or last two letters are missing. Players then look at all the letter tiles in the 'lagoon' for possible pairs to add to the Word Card to make as many words as possible. Children who know the rules for combining letters, can do rhyming, and know other phonics rules will be able to generate more words than players who generate words randomly. Recognizing that it is a word, however, requires comprehension. This is more difficult for some children with autism.
Is very concrete and literal
This game is not appropriate
Learns in small "chunks" (for example, phone numbers are 3 chunks of number xxx-xxx-xxxx that are combined together)
Is This Game Appropriate? Yes
Description
Letter Slide is actually a game of "small chunks." Children who play the game frequently will increase their skills for recognizing patterns or chunks that form parts of many common words.
Is good at nonverbal reasoning and logic
Is This Game Appropriate? Yes
Description
For certain, Letter Slide requires knowledge and interest in words. If children have this, they may also enjoy playing the game for its non-verbal reasoning. At the end of each round, players decide about which letter(s) to pick from their letter tiles in order to fill their Slide Boards the most quickly. They nonverbally demonstrate their reasoning by placing the tiles on the correct spots on their Slide Board.
Likes spatial problem solving
This game is not appropriate
Can read well with good vocabulary, though may not fully comprehend content
Is This Game Appropriate? Yes
Description
Children who are good at spelling, sounding out and constructing words, especially 4-letter words, will do well with Letter Slide. Since the game does not require definitions, reading comprehension and vocabulary is not a strength that is needed. However, Letter Slide can be a good game for adults to help children learn the definition of the words they are constructing.
Likes to use and has good fine motor skill
Is This Game Appropriate? Yes
Description
Throughout the game, players are looking for, picking up, arranging and rearranging small letter tiles. Provided that they enjoy wordplay, children who also enjoy fine motor activities will be able to use those skills to their advantage.
Likes established routines or set ways of doing things
This game is not appropriate
Likes manipulating, constructing or building things
This game is not appropriate
Likes to use and has good musical abilities
This game is not appropriate
Likes to use and has good drawing skills
This game is not appropriate
Autism Special Considerations
Appears to ignore other's communication and/or has difficulty giving eye contact to a communication partner
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Players can play by only attending to their Letter Slide, but they can be encouraged to look at the words formed by others as well.
Has difficulty understanding complex verbal directions
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
The directions are slightly complex as the child has to do two different steps, make words and use letters to fill the slide. They therefore have to understand two different goals within the game. Explain the game directions by demonstrating one round step-by-step.
Uses vocabulary inaccurately or demonstrates echolalia (repeating another's speech)
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? No
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Children with echolalia often have difficulty generating their own words independently. Unless the child has a fixation on the alphabet and spelling this game is probably inapropriate.
Gets stuck repeating a verbal topic or physical actions and/or has difficulty attending to others' actions or topic.
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Children don't need to be aware of what other players are thinking. The concern for children with this issue is whether they can shift their thinking from one word to another within a round and across word cards. If they are able to do this, the game can provide good practice in mental visualization of words. Allow the child to find the two letters on the card, if it helps them shift their thinking to the new letters and words needed. Help them attend to others by saying, "Listen to the other player's words. See if they have the same or different words as you."
Has difficulty producing speech/communication
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Children need to read or show the words they made with their letters. However, children with this characteristic may have limited vocabulary. The concern for children with this issue is whether they can shift their thinking from one word to another within a round and across word cards and also generate multiple words. Modify the game by working in teams or by playing the simpler version suggested in the directions, which only requires coming up with one word per card.
Has difficulty sequencing multi-step actions and/or doing complex abstract tasks
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Reading is an abstract task. Letters represent sounds that represent parts of words. Letter slide requires players to use two letters and mentally create words and then physically add letters to make those words. The child then has to pick a letter from each word formed to add to the Letter Slide. This requires matching and strategic choice. This sequence makes the game a little complex. The child can play if supported through this sequence by an adult or more capable player. The key is not to do the sequence for the child, but to introduce each step to help the child focus on the task.
Take the letter tiles for the letters on the card and place them before the child. Now ask the child to find letters to make a word. Then encourage the next step. For example, "That's great! You added -K, -E to make RAKE. Look at the RA again. What other letters can you add to make a new word?" If the child says nothing or says, -K-E again. Say, "What if I add a -C?" Once time is up, have the child look at blank spots on the Letter Slide before choosing a letter to put on the slide.
Demonstrates difficulty initiating and maintaining social interactions
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Social interactions are not essential to the game. If the child understands and can play the game, just encourage listening to and watching the other players' results during a round.
Acts out or demonstrates avoidance behaviors when frustrated, overwhelmed, or needs more sensory input.
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Many children will not feel comfortable with alphabet or reading activities. If this is not an interest area, the child may avoid the game; or get upset when it is introduced or they have difficulty understanding the game.
Children may be able to stay with the game if you prepare the game by picking letter combinations (particularly first letters) with which the child is familiar. Start with doing one word. When the child feels comfortable see if they can do two different words. Provide a fidget toy or break for activity every few minutes.
Has short attention span for non-preferred activities
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
If reading is a non-preferred activity, break the game down so the child can be successful. Children may be able to stay with the game if you prepare the game by picking letter combinations (particularly first letters) with which they are familiar. Start with doing one word. When children feel comfortable see if they can do two different words.
Provide a fidget toy or break for activity every few minutes. If the child has an interest such as space or spiders, pick cards out ahead of time that can be paired with the topic. For example, if the child's interest is animals, the adult may choose cards such as LA__ (LAMB), __ER (BEAR), __sh (FISH), etc. before the game begins. This helps the child focus on one topic to help maintain attention.
Needs sameness or consistent routines and/or has difficulty with transitions from one activity to another
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Although play is conducted in the same way with each turn, the child needs to shift their thinking to a new set of letters with each turn. It may help some children focus on the game if only one letter changes with each card. Prior to playing the game, arrange the cards in sets. For example, BI__, LI__, FI__ DI__ may help some children think with a minor mental shift.
Another option is to let the child pick the card for other players. When doing this, ask the child to pick a card to place down when they have one or more words in mind. Tell them to see if any of the other players think of the same word. This alternative encourages children to think of at least one word, but also reinforces the child's attention to other players responses.
Has difficulty understanding others' feelings, intentions, and the reasons for others' actions.
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Players do not need to understand what others are thinking in this game.
*Data compiled from CCSSI ELA Standards, WA Science Standards, and Washington Social Studies Standards
Extended Play
Extra Ways to Play the Game
To make the game more challenging, take turns doing the following: Player turns over Word Card and the Timer. Then make a word using the Letter Tiles. Next, make another word, but it must relate in some way to the previous word. If the other players vote down a word for not being related, the player puts the Letter Tiles back and continues to try to make a new word until the Timer runs out.
Alternatively, do not use the Timer. Player 1 turns over a Word Card and makes a word. The next player turns over a new Word card and makes a word, but it must relate logically to the prior word. However, words can have more than one meaning, thus shifting the relationship. For example, "band" can be a group of musicians or a ring. A new card is drawn after each round, with the relationships continuing until a player cannot make a related word or gets voted down by the other players. Play resumes by having the next player turn over a new Word Card to start a new sequence of related words.
Materials Needed
No extra materials needed.
Developmental Benefits
Making the words connect in some way adds another thinking skill. Namely, players have to not only determine a word but also analyze potential words for possible relationships.
Extra Ways to Play the Game
Make this a non-competitive game. Use one Slide Board. Turn over a card and work together to make as many words as possible before the timers is empty. See how quickly, or how few rounds they need to fill the letter slide.
Materials Needed
No extra materials needed.
Developmental Benefits
Working cooperatively will push children, as they will generate common words first. Once these are exhausted they then need to alter their strategy to experiment with the different letters to make less familiar words.
*Data compiled from CCSSI ELA Standards, WA Science Standards, and Washington Social Studies Standards
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How to Play Video & Transcript
In this session, we’ll join the Buddies for a super-fast ride down the water slide as we learn how to play Simply Fun’s A to Z Letter Slide.
Cards with partial words are turned over layers then rush to grab letter tiles and try to spell as many words as they can on the letter spaces before the timer runs out. The first player to cover all the spaces on his slide board wins the game!
You can play Letter Slide with 2 to 4 players, ages 7 and up.
Every Letter Slide box contains four slide boards, on which Tibbar, Pickles, Bubbles and Beary slide down the water.
There’s also a one minute sand timer that players race against to spell the most words.
You’ll also find 87 word cards with various letters you’ll use to create four-letter words. There are 47 cards with the first two letters of a word, and 40 cards with the last two letters of a word.
Additionally, there are 200 double-sided letter tiles players will use to fill in the missing letters and complete the words on the word cards.
All tiles can be kept in this handy storage bag.
Letter Slide helps young players build vocabulary and sharpen their word identification skills based on clues from the word cards. All words are 4 letters long, so Letter Slide is great for early spellers. Each word card has multiple word possibilities, and because some words have first-letter clues and some have last-letter clues, players can practice thinking up words from different perspectives. Consonant and vowel tiles are color coded for easy identification.
To set up the game, spread all 200 letter tiles face-up on the table in reach of all players. Make sure none are overlapping. This forms the Letter Lagoon!
Each player then selects a slide board and places it in front of himself.
Place the sand timer in the middle of the lagoon, making sure it doesn’t cover any letter tiles.
Finally, shuffle all the word cards and place them face down in a single pile near the letter lagoon.
Letter Slide is played in rounds with every player participating in every round. To begin a round, flip over the top Word Card from the deck and show it to all the players.
Once everyone has seen the word card, flip over the sand timer and the game is on!
Players begin grabbing letter tiles that can be used to fill in the missing letters on the word cards to create correct four-letter words. Players should try to make as many words as possible by grabbing different letter tiles before time runs out and the round ends. NOTE: Letter tiles may be used only once and can not be used to make multiple words.
For each correct word a player makes, he can choose ONE of the two letter tiles used to make that word and cover a corresponding letter space on his slide board. The remaining letter goes back in the Letter Lagoon and play continues.
If no letter space on the slide board is available for either Letter Tile because they’ve already been covered, BOTH tiles go back in the lagoon.
After the unused letter tiles have been returned to the letter lagoon, the player with the most correct words for that round flips over a new word card and the next round begins.
Note: if a player has made a mistake by misspelling a word or making a word that does not exist, that player must return both letter tiles to the lagoon, and neither can be used to fill a letter space on the slide board.
The game ends when the first player covers ALL the letter spaces on his slide board and wins the game.
There are a couple variations of Letter Slide that can be used when younger players are playing.
Option 1 is to play the game without the sand timer. Have each player grab two letter tiles to create one correct word, based on the word card drawn. Players can then place BOTH letter tiles on the slide board, if spaces are available.
Option 2 is to sort the word cards based on whether they have two starting or two ending letters. For younger players just learning to spell by sounding out letters, only play with the word cards that have the starting letters to make the game easier. As young players become ready for more of a challenge, use the word cards with the last two letters.
Simply Fun’s A to Z Letter Slide is a fast paced trip down the water slide board. Just make sure you don’t “slide” past the tiles you need to spell, score and win!
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