Sight Words Game – Nerf Gun Target Practice.
Some kids have the ability to sit down and read lists of sight words, or look at flash cards and name the sight word, one after another. Some kids have the attention span and focus to learn sight words, whether they enjoy it or not, they just seem to do it. Other kids though, like my little boy Dimples, aren’t interested in sitting down and learning sight words the “traditional” way and would rather be shooting Nerf guns, jumping around, playing, singing, chatting and having fun. That’s why I came up with this active Sight Words Game. Because some kids are stubborn learners and don’t really care about sitting and reading sight words, they prefer to DO & LEARN things that are interesting to them.
Sight Words Game ‘Shot the Target word’.
It was windy and miserable, Dimples had way to much energy and did not want to do anything but play with his Nerf guns. So I grabbed the white Board and wrote up some sight words, we called them “target words” and I told him I had this cool new target practice game that I think he would be really good at. Depending on what stage of learning your child is at, this could be adapted using any words they are learning.
Lets Play.
- Grab a few Nerf guns. (We found the best ones for this sight words game were ones hat had arrows or the round disc bullets).
- Write some sight words up on a White board. Leave a little room for error in between them.
- Get your child to read the words out with you, as you point to them one by one. (Just to make sure they are familiar with them).
- Tell them to listen carefully, keep their eyes on the board and get ready to shot the target word you call out.
- Call out a target sight word. (Try using silly voices and whispering, to make it more fun).
- Clap and carry on as they get it right.
- Get them to rub it off, after they shot it.
- Encourage them to reload quickly and keep their eyes on the target words.
- Once they are all gone. Re-write them in a different order. Then do it all again… This time grab a stop watch and tell them they need to beat their last score.
Lets Learn.
By learning sight words in an interesting and fun way, children enjoy it, making for a much more memorable experience.
Combining auditory, visual and physical components means a child is more engaged and focussed.
As you read through your sight words at the beginning you are allowing them to become familiar with the words.
By reading a target word out loud your child is hearing the words and then visually searching for it; connecting the word they heard to the visual word.
Aiming and shotting the word requires visual and motor coordination with focus and attention.
The concept of a ‘game’ establishes that learning the target sight word is the goal. Therefore, learning is the goal.
Rubbing the target word out, creates a sense of achievement and success, while again, reinforcing the target sight word visually.
I hope your children enjoy this as much as we did. Join me on Facebook for more play based parenting ideas & inspiration.
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Nae xx
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My kids would have so much fun with this activity. I love that the kids are learning and having fun.
What an awesome idea! I think I could adjust this to practice math facts, too!
Oh, this would be so fun! Practicing sight words can be so boring. My kids would definitely love this!
Great idea! My boys just love nerf guns and definitely have a short attention span as well so we will have to try this!
Thank you Melanie. It really grabs their attention better than traditional sight word games.
Well this is pretty much the best thing ever. My twins just started kindergarten so we are only 3 words into our school career but we will be doing this when they have a longer list. So much fun.
This is a great idea to keep kids eyes on the word, they have to look at it to aim. I probably can use it for some other learning activities that need them really focus on the object.
Can’t beat shooting and learning to read at the same time. Love this idea!!!
This is brilliant! Who wouldn’t want to learn their sight words, or math facts, or spelling this way? Awesome idea!
Thank you. Yes it definitely could work for lots of things.
This makes learning SO much fun!!!
Now this idea would be such a hit for my son!
Now that’s a super fun way to learn sight words!
Thanks Penny 🙂 so fun.
We have had fun using Nerf guns for learning at home. Using Nerf guns to practice sight words is always a hit here. I love your idea of using different voices to make it even more fun.
Great!
Different voice definitely made it more fun LOL
This would be the sort of thing that my boys would have LOVED when they were little. We used to do it with cups and the foam nerf bullets.
Love it! My first grader would LOVE this sight word game!! We’ll give it a “shot”! Ha!!
haha – Thank you Colleen. Hope it goes well 🙂
This would be a total hit in my house-great idea
Whoa, great idea! My son would love practicing sight words — and reading in general — this way. He has a Pikachu toy that shoots foam discs, so we could even practice while we do pretend play Pokemon!
Not only a great activity for active learners but also good hand/eye coordination practice too!
What a great idea! My oldest has the patience to sit down and study but my youngest s another story. I have to try this game with him!
My boys would LOVE this! Such a great way to learn and practice something that’s not necessarily the most fun to do.
Heh it’s always nice to find a way to make learning fun. I want to try this someday.