Who said sight word practice has to be boring?
What’s the best way to practice sight words? Turning it into a game! When learning feels fun, students stay engaged. When students remain engaged, they learn. This interactive sight word game keeps students on the tips of their toes and creates some friendly competition too!
Give Showdown a try 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 teaching tools in one time-saving spot.
Game SetupÂ
The set up for this interactive sight word game is simple – all you need are blank index cards and markers. You likely already have those in your classroom!
Pick five or six sight words and have students write each one on a separate index card. Don’t forget to teach your sight words by phonics skill to maximize reading growth!
Ready to Play
Showdown can be played as a whole class activity but also works great in literacy centers or partner work at students’ desks.Â
To play, every student spreads out their own stack of sight words on a flat surface like their table or floor so they can easily read them.
Player One secretly picks a card from their collection and reads the word aloud. Then, the second student quickly reads through all of their cards to find the word their partner read. When they find it, they pick it up and hold it against their chest to show they are ready for the last step.
Partner One then calls out “1-2-3 showdown!” and both partners hold up their cards. If the words match, the round is complete. If they don’t match, the students work together to find the correct card and practice sounding it out together.
Showdown is simple, fun, and works with any words under the sun!
For more sight word game fun, snag our best selling 32 EDITABLE Sight Word Games on TPT or in The Science of Reading Formula membership! You’ll just type the words once and they’ll automatically load into every single easy prep, fun to play activity.
Ready for more?
 Request an invite to our VIP teaching membership, The Science of Reading Formula, so you can teach reading the easier, brain-friendly way.