Word Jam

Explore vocabulary by defining words via movement. Your students will perform a series of zany movements -- each representing a new vocabulary word -- in a fast-paced sequence of keep up. Throughout play, you’ll learn new words and have plenty of time to explore definitions. You can even play Word Jam with your own custom content!

Objectives

• Explore new age-appropriate vocabulary.
• Help students get vigorous exercise.
• Use physical activity to engage your classroom.

When to Play

• At the start or finish of a reading or writing lesson.
• After recess, when transitioning back into learning.
• As a start or end to the school day.
• When reviewing for a test or quiz. 

Why This Matters

• Developing a strong vocabulary promotes reading comprehension and improved communication between students and teachers.
• Students need multiple and various exposures to a word before they fully understand that word and can apply it. 

Quick Play Instructions

1. Ask students to stand and get ready to move.
2. Click Play!
3. Choose your grade.
4. Choose Built-In or Custom mode. Built-In gets you playing right away. To create custom vocabulary lists, see Adding Custom Content to Word Jam below. 
5. Click Start The Jam!
6. Copy the movement on the screen and connect the definition to movement.
7. Continue through the levels, with each adding a new word and quicker transitions.
8. Review the summary of words at the end.

About the Vocabulary

Word Jam was designed with ELA experts to help teachers explore and expand vocabulary using kinesthetic learning. 

Research shows a high correlation between vocabulary and academic success. Students who have a broader vocabulary tend to be better readers, and better readers tend to have more academic success. Word Jam explores vocabulary in a unique and memorable way that your students will love.

Word Jam includes more than 600 vocabulary words, with K-8 grade appropriate content. The selected vocabulary intentionally includes a high percentage of Tier 2 or academic vocabulary words to support the expansion of student vocabulary across disciplines, many of which are multiple meaning words. The remaining Tier 3 or domain-specific vocabulary words reinforce key vocabulary in mathematics, science, and social studies. The Common Core State Standards stress the importance of vocabulary acquisition and fluency, especially in the Language Standards.

When played in Built-In mode, Word Jam will present words based upon your grade selection until your class has seen all grade appropriate words, at which point future plays will randomize the words you’ve already played.

Adding Custom Content to Word Jam

You can also customize Word Jam with your own custom vocabulary lists! In Custom Mode, the movement is not shown for the class. Instead, the class defines the move. We suggest teachers use one of the following methods:

• Agree on the move in advance. Before each round of play, Word Jam shows the word and definition. This is an opportunity for the class to review the word and define a movement for that word as a group.
• All-class Freestyle! Alternatively, the teacher might let students create their own movement to the word in the natural course of play. Every kid in the class may define a word via movement differently. On the review screen at the end of the game, the teacher can facilitate a class discussion about the movements they created for each word.

Create Custom Lists

1. Click Play!
2. Choose your grade.
3. Choose Custom.
4. Click Create a New List.
5. Name your list. Add your custom vocabulary words and definitions.
6. Click Save.
7. If you want to play with your new content immediately, click Play. If not, click Back to return to the custom lists page.

Edit or Delete Custom Lists

1. Click the list you want to edit or delete.
2. Click Edit.
3. Edit as desired, then click save.
4. Click the delete button to delete.

Resetting Word Jam