Assignment #2

• Game: Whizz Words
• Goal: To make as many words as possible in two minutes, focusing on one of eight categories. The goal is ultimately to eliminate all eight categories with the highest score possible.
• Link: http://www.shockwave.com/gamelanding/whizz-wordz.jsp

Lesson: 

1. Grade:4-5
2. Standards and Outcomes:                                                                          Students will learn and practice how to spell and gain new vocabulary , all the while focusing on time management and efficiency as well.
3. Instructional Activities:                                                                              This game allows for students to utilize their vocabulary words and to have fun doing so. The lesson can begin as a regular vocabulary and spelling class. The words that are being taught can be reviewed so students will be prepared for a test for later on. The students can then test their own vocabulary by playing Whizz Words, which will make them use words in all categories, such as three,four,five and six-plus letter words. Once they complete a category, they must go on to the next until all eight are finished. There are different goals to this game and students need various skills to play. Once this fun but educational exercise is over, students can compare and discuss results with their peers. This will allow the students to learn from each other and perhaps further expanse their vocabulary. Once discussion is over, the teacher can go back to the lesson and assess the student's vocabulary and spelling.
4. Assessment:                                                                                             Firstly, the students' scores from the game can give the teacher some idea of where they are holding. Second, a class discussion , including some individual small-group discussions, will also give the teacher an idea when she hears what the students came up with during the exercise. The teacher can also give a quiz listing the words discussed in class, which will have to be written and defined correctly.
5. Debriefing:                                                                                      During oral discussion, teachers allow students to reflect on their gaming experience, and share skills and knowledge learned from the gaming process with peers.Students can also write a list of new words used during the game and then they can compare with their peers and gain another learning experience while doing so. This words should also be reviewed in with the class as a whole.
6. What cognitive skills do this game help to cultivate?:                                  Students need to know how to spell to play this game and they need to have a sufficient vocabulary in order to complete all categories. Time management skills are important to this game as well,as they have to complete each round in under two minutes, so students need to prove adequate spelling, vocabulary, efficiency, and generally have to use their brains  to know which category they will be able to eliminate and they can then proceed to do so. 
7. What new literacies skills do this game help to cultivate?:                            Using a computer, firstly, to expand a students vocabulary is already using technology as a teaching tool. Students also become literate game players, which means they are able to recognize the game’s rules and generate strategies to meet the goal of the game.