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Hangman

Hangman is one of the simplest and most versatile of all word games.  As students of all ages and ability levels love it, it is an ideal way to start almost any class.  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.

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1. The basic game

1. Choose a word or phrase with which to work.
2. Count its letters (include spaces as letters if using a phrase).
3. On the board, draw a row of distinct underlines; one for each letter/space you counted.
4. Review the rules

• The student on whom you call (whether a volunteer or not) is to guess a letter that might belong to the word/phrase.
• If the guess is correct, you'll write it on the appropriate underline(s). Then 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.

5. Play the game according to the rules.

2. A game that is a bit more complex

1. Choose a word or phrase with which to work.
2. Count its letters (include spaces as letters if using a phrase).
3. Give each student a slip of paper with a row of underlined blank spaces, one for each letter and space in the word/phrase; and an alphabet with which to eliminate used letters.

• To view sample slips, click on one of the following links.  When finished, click on your browser's back button to return to this page.

hangman.gif

hangman.pdf  To view this file you'll need the free Acrobat Reader plug-in. 

• To download a Microsoft Word file to use as a template for making your own class sets, click on the link below for the version you want.  Once you have it, edit the file to make the necessary number of underlines for your word/phrase of the day.  Print the number of pages you need, then cut them up so that you have one slip for each student.
  
  When you click on one of the Word links, one of two things should happen.  If you have Microsoft Word installed, it might start and try to open the document.   Otherwise, a small window should open.  One of the options presented should be to save the file.  Click on that option.  You should then be prompted to specify where on your hard drive you want to save the file.  Put it in the folder where you save and open Word documents.  Once the file has completed downloading, the small window will close on its own.

  If you are unable to open documents in any of these formats, e-mail me.  In your message tell me what word processor you have, and what formats you can open.  If I can convert my sheet to one that you can use, I will do so and e-mail the file back to you.

Word 97 (Hang97.doc)

Word 95 (Hang95.doc)

Macintosh Word 5 (Hang_M5.doc)

4. Review the rules

• The student on whom you call (whether a volunteer or not) is to guess a letter that has not yet been tried that might belong to the word/phrase.
• If the guess is correct, you'll tell the group on which line(s) it goes, then instruct all to write it on the appropriate spot(s).  Each should also X out the letter from his/her slip's alphabet to show that it has been used.  You'll then allow the successful student to guess again, or move on to select a different student for the next guess.
• If the guess is not correct, you'll ask each student to cross out the incorrect letter in the alphabet, and will proceed to call on a different student (a volunteer or not, your choice) to try another letter.
• 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.

5. Play the game according to the rules.

3. A game for sophisticated players ready for more complexity

1. Choose a word or phrase with which to work.
2. Count its letters (include spaces as letters if using a phrase).
3. Give each student a slip of paper with a row of numbered, underlined blank spaces, one for each letter and space in the word/phrase; and an alphabet with which to eliminate used letters.

• To view sample slips, click on one of the following links.  When finished, close the browser window that will open to return to this page.

hangman2.gif

hangman2.pdf  To view this file you'll need the free Acrobat Reader plug-in. 

• To download a Microsoft Word file to use as a template for making your own class sets, click on the link below for the version you want.  Once you have it, edit the file to make the necessary number of underlines for your word/phrase of the day.  Print the number of pages you need, then cut them up so that you have one slip for each student.
  
  When you click on one of the Word links, one of two things should happen.  If you have Microsoft Word installed, it might start and try to open the document.   Otherwise, a small window should open.  One of the options presented should be to save the file.  Click on that option.  You should then be prompted to specify where on your hard drive you want to save the file.  Put it in the folder where you save and open Word documents.  Once the file has completed downloading, the small window will close on its own.

  If you are unable to open documents in any of these formats, e-mail me.  In your message tell me what word processor you have, and what formats you can open.  If I can convert my sheet to one that you can use, I will do so and e-mail the file back to you.

Word 97 (Hang2_97.doc)

Word 95 (Hang2_95.doc)

Macintosh Word 5 (Hang2_M5.doc)

4. Review the rules

• The student on whom you call (whether a volunteer or not) is to guess a letter that has not yet been tried that might belong to the word/phrase, and the number of the spot in which it belongs.
• If the both the letter and spot are correct, you'll instruct all to write it on the appropriate line.  If the letter is not used in any of the remaining blank spots, each should also X it out on his/her slip's alphabet to show that it is no longer available.  If it is used in another, as yet unguessed spot, announce that, and ask them to circle the letter.  You'll then allow the successful student to guess again, or move on to select a different student for the next guess.
• If the letter but not the spot is correct, have students circle the letter in the alphabet to indicate that the letter belongs in the word/phrase, but its location is still unknown.
• If the letter is not used in the word/phrase, you'll ask each student to cross it out of the alphabet, and will proceed to call on a different student (a volunteer or not, your choice) to try another letter.
• 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.

5. Play the game according to the rules.

Should you or your students want to play hangman on the world wide web, All Mixed Up has a hangman site.  Give it a try.

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original web posting: Wednesday, December 22, 1999
last modified: Saturday, May 02, 2009