ELA Activator: Sight Word Fluency Caterpillar
Equipment list
Index cards with previously-taught sight words written on them.
Use approximately 10-15 cards.
Explanation
ELA Activator: Sight Word Fluency Caterpillar
This activity can take place inside your classroom or outside (See variations for outdoor version).
All students line up facing the same direction, standing about 1/2 a meter apart.
The first student in the line chooses a sight word card out of a container placed on the ground at the front of the line.
The student reads the word aloud, then passes the card over their head to the student standing behind them.
The second student reads and says the word aloud, then passes the card through their legs to the student standing behind them.
This over/under sequence continues until all students have read each word aloud.
The student at the beginning of the line continues to read and pass cards until all the word cards have been read aloud by all students in the line.
The teacher is encouraged to observe and listen to all students in the line as this process is completed. Do so by moving up and the down the caterpillar line.
Variation/progression
Outdoor Variation
Increase the amount of physical activity that students complete during this activity, by running this activity outdoors.
Set up multiple word stations with 4-5 words in containers at each station.
The student caterpillar line completes all the words at each word station, and then moves as a group to the next station.
This process continues until all the word stations have been completed.
Longer Variation
To increase repetitive practice of sight words, the student at the end of the line moves to the front of the line and continues the process.
Older Student Variation
Words on cards reflect recently-taught spelling patters (ei. -ight words).
Vocabulary Variation
Word cards contain "boring" words. Students say a synonym for each word as they pass the cards back. Encourage students to share a variety of synonyms for each word card. For example, big = humungous, large etc.
ASK ID 2024-02-28-025-E