Turn Learning Into Playtime with This...

Students will giggle with delight while playing this sight word game!

Editable sight word games are my jam because they make it *so* easy to differentiate. I can print one version of a game for my struggling readers and a completely different version of the same exact game for my highest readers. 

From far away, they might look identical, but up close they’re actually practicing entirely different words!

There are just two words to describe it: game changing. 

Snag this playful sight word game below, and then join the priority list for our VIP teaching membership, The Science of Reading Formula, so you can unlock access to all of our print-and-go teaching tools in one time-saving spot.

Paper trash can with the sight word zone. Record sheet for student to write down the words for the sight word game.Paper trash can with the sight word zone. Record sheet for student to write down the words for the sight word game.

Sight Word Game Prep

To prep this sight word game, type in words  that align with whichever phonics skill your students are learning. For instance, if you are teaching the CH digraph in your phonics lessons, have students play the game with words like CHIP, CHAT, and CHUM. Or if you are working on the blend TR, play with words like TREE and TROT.

Hot tip: Are you making multiple versions of the game for differentiated practice? Print each version on different color paper or use a marker to draw a different colored star in the corner of each set. Color coding makes it so simple to figure out who the words belong to! 

Print off a copy of the record sheet for every student and then have them crumple up each of the sight words to make individual pieces of “trash”. To step up the silly excitement even more, throw the crumpled papers into a plastic bin so it really feels like they are picking through garbage. (Cue the giggles!)

Sight Word Trash Game

This sight word game is extremely simple! 

Students grab one piece of trash at a time, un-crumple it, and read the word out loud.

Student is holding piece of paper for the sight word trash game with the word zone. The record sheet is on the table and sight words are written in blue marker.Student is holding piece of paper for the sight word trash game with the word zone. The record sheet is on the table and sight words are written in blue marker.

Then, they write the word on their record sheet and grab the next one in their pile.

Student is writing different words for the sight word game in blue marker on the record sheet.Student is writing different words for the sight word game in blue marker on the record sheet.

Your students will have *so* much fun working their way through their trash bin!

(It’s not every day that you get to dig in garbage, right?!) The sight word game will be a huge hit!

Trash cans printed on blue paper with different words for the sight word game. Student is writing the words on the record sheet.Trash cans printed on blue paper with different words for the sight word game. Student is writing the words on the record sheet.

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