Geometry Word Games

Looking to improve your geometry vocabulary through some fun and educational geometry word games? Luckily, you have come to the right place. The Internet is a wonderful learning tool for information on all school subjects, but you have to know where to look. For years, word games have been a time tested tool for helping students incorporate complex, technical terminology that is not used in every day life into their vocabulary in an easy and effective manner.

The Benefits of Word Games

The problem with learning new terminology in a subject like geometry is that, in most cases, students have never heard the words before. While vocabularies of younger people naturally develop based on the overhearing of adult discussions, certain vernaculars are not usually included in mainstream conversational English language.

As most people can attest to, the terminology of geometry is generally limited to the classroom. For example, when was the last time you discussed isosceles triangles over dinner? Because students only hear these terms in school, the learning channels that work for other aspects of their language development are not as accessible to them. Thus, the learning process is often reduced to rote memorization. Both boring and ineffective, memorization is not an enjoyable method for learning new information.

Word games can help bridge the gap. Students are still engaged in an artificially constructed activity to learn words that they might not use in everyday conversation, but games make the process more enjoyable and much more effective. Teachers can incorporate prizes and awards for the winners of class contests to increase the excitement of learning.

Where to Find Geometry Word Games Online

The following Web sites have been researched and specifically selected to provide you with useful, educational, and challenging resources for geometry word games:

• Geometry Word Search - This site from Jefferson Lab provides a downloadable .pdf file of a 32 term word search based on geometry terms.
• Soft Schools – Soft Schools has an online word search generator that can be customized by the instructor. Words can be added to the word search through a comma separated list, the rows and columns can be adjusted to make the puzzle as big or small as you like, the complexity can be adjusted from easy to complex, and even the font and font size can be modified. When you have the information set the way you like, simply click the "Generate PDF" button to have a .pdf of your game created to share with your students.
• QUIA – This excellent site from QUIA offers four different geometry word games to choose from: matching the word with its definition, flashcards, concentration, and a word search.
• Word Search Fun – The nine geometry words angle, axiom, cone, crystal, plane, polygon, pyramid, sphere, and symmetry are hidden in this fun and easy word search.
• Word Game Boards – In addition to downloadable word game boards for English, social studies, and science, this site also has a game board based around geometry. Rules of play, flash cards, and even paper dice are all available for download.

Who Can Benefit From Math Word Games?

Obviously, much of this material is geared towards younger students who are coming to the subject of geometry for the first time. However, older ESL students can also make use of many of these ideas.

While these students will likely know the concepts of geometry from their studies in their native language, these games can help them with their learning of the equivalent English terminology. Depending on the age group, some of these activities may need to be modified to keep the students engaged and to prevent them from feeling like they are spending their time doing "kids stuff." With a little preparation, however, older ESL students can have the same fun and educational experience with geometry word games as younger students.