18 FUN Dictionary Activities for Practicing Skills

Are you looking for some fun activities for National Dictionary Day? It’s October 16th, which was Noah Webster’s (the father of the American dictionary) birthday!

Hopefully, you’ve got dictionaries, maybe even a class set. They are, of course, great for looking up words and you will use them to teach dictionary skills, but there are also other great things you can do with these rather large volumes of words. Here are just a few ideas:

Independent Practice

• Dictionary Scavenger Hunt
  • Send your students on a scavenger hunt with a list of items to find in the dictionary.
• Word of the Day Challenge
  • Select a challenging word each day and display it in the classroom.
  • Encourage students to use the word in sentences throughout the day.
  • Reward students who use the word correctly.
• Alphabetical Order Race
  • Give students a list of random words.
  • Challenge them to put the words in alphabetical order as quickly as possible.
• Create Dictionary Art
  • Have students create art projects using words and definitions from the dictionary.
  • Illustrate the words or create collages.
  • Display the artwork around the classroom.
• Dictionary Storytime
  • Create a Story: Pick 5-10 random words and write a short story using them.
  • Dictionary Mad Libs: Fill in the blanks with random words from the dictionary to create funny stories.
• Collect New Words
  • Each student keeps a notebook of new words, writes the word, definition, and an original sentence, and shares it with a classmate.
  • Download a word booklet for free with a MIBU guest pass!
• Create a Trendy Terms Dictionary
  • Ever hear your students using words you’ve never heard before? Start a class Trendy Terms dictionary to collect all those buzzwords and slang from TikTok that only the young kids know. Stay in the know and keep your classroom language up-to-date!

Fun Dictionary Activities for Small Groups

• Speed Word Search
  • Give each student or pair of students a dictionary.
  • Call out a word, and the students must find it as quickly as possible.
  • The first person to call out the correct page number wins the round.
  • Bonus: Choose words from an upcoming vocabulary test.
• Mystery Word
  • Give a series of clues, and students search for the mystery word in the dictionary.
  • Example Clues:
    • I begin with the fourth letter of the alphabet.
    • My second letter is an “o.”
    • I am three syllables long.
    • I come before “dog” in the dictionary.
    • My last letter is “t.”
• Dictionary Dig
  • Similar to Mystery Word, but with broader clues.
  • Students find multiple words that fit the clues.
  • Example: Find a word that begins with “s,” is two syllables long, has double letters, and is an adjective.
  • Get a set of 32 Dictionary Dig Task Cards.
• Synonym and Antonym Hunt
  • Synonym Search: Find synonyms for a list of common words.
  • Antonym Challenge: Find as many antonyms as possible for a given word within a set time limit.
• Dictionary Charades
  • Write down difficult or interesting words on slips of paper.
  • Students take turns drawing a word and acting it out while classmates guess the word.

Fun Dictionary Activities for the Whole Group

• Make Up New Words
  • Each student makes up a new word and definition.
  • Write the word and definition on a Post-It and place it in the dictionary.
  • Make a class list of new words and definitions.
  • Challenge the class to use the new words in everyday conversation.
  • Pair with the book Frindle.
• Dictionary Relay Race
  • Add excitement with a relay race.
  • Download the game for free with a MIBU guest pass, project it on the whiteboard, and let students write their answers as they move through the relay.

• Play Fictionary
  • One student chooses an obscure word and writes the real definition.
  • Other students write fake definitions.
  • Students vote on the real definition.
  • Similar to the game Balderdash.
• Estimate and Measure
  • Stack dictionaries into one tall tower.
  • Have students estimate the height and record guesses.
  • Measure the tower to see whose guess is closest.
  • Alternatively, line dictionaries up end to end across the classroom.
• Line Them Up Like Dominoes
  • Line up dictionaries like dominoes.
  • While it’s not the best use for dictionaries, it’s fun and can be tied into a physics lesson.
• Dictionary Board Game
  • Design a board game that incorporates dictionary skills.
  • Create game cards with challenges like finding a word, defining it, or using it in a sentence.