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Anagrams

Playing Anagrams is a very good way to introduce a new word or concept.  Simply choose a word or phrase that is central to the day's lesson, and convert it into the day's game.  Here's how.

1. Choose a word or phrase with which to work.
2. Scramble its letters until they have no meaning.
3. Check to see what additional words, if any, the scrambled letters form.  If you need electronic aid, you can use one of the following

• Wordsmith's online Anagrams server
• the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary CD-ROM anagrams feature
• Franklin's handheld electronic dictionaries' word builder game

4. Do one of the following

• Write the scrambled letters on the board.  Beneath them, prepare a row of distinct underlines, one for each letter.
• Read the letters aloud and have the students write them out on a piece of paper.  Beneath the letters, instruct the students to prepare a row of blank lines, one for each letter.
• Prepare a copy of the scrambled letters and a row of blank underlines for each student, then distribute them.

5. Review the rules

• The student on whom you call (whether a volunteer or not) is to pick a letter and guess the spot in the word/phrase in which it belongs.
• If the student picks the correct spot for the letter s/he chose, you'll write it on the appropriate blank on the board, or instruct students to do so on their papers.  You'll allow the student to guess again, or move on to allow a different student to try another letter.
• If the guess is not correct, you'll proceed to call on another student (a volunteer or not, your choice).
• You'll proceed as above until the word/phrase is revealed.
• Once the word/phrase is complete, the student who completed it will define it, and explain what it might have to do with the day's class.

6. Play the game according to the rules.

More Anagrams

Anagrams can be used as the foundation for assignments too.  As an example, here is an assignment I gave to one of my classes.  See if you can modify it for your discipline and students.  Here is another example, it is the reverse of the first.

The Anagram Genius Server is an interesting web site.  Give it a try.

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original web posting: Wednesday, December 22, 1999
last modified: Monday, December 07, 2009