| Most adults, whether we play the game or not, | | | | with words (often chosen from lists such as the |
| know how to play the game of bingo. Moreover, it's | | | | Dolch Sight Word list), and students must find the |
| the kind of game that even relatively young children | | | | square containing the word called by the teacher. |
| can learn and enjoy as well. These things, along with | | | | * Vocabulary Bingo - The cards are printed with |
| the fact that bingo can be played using only relatively | | | | words, and students must find the word matching a |
| cheap materials such as pen, paper, and perhaps | | | | definition called out by the teacher. |
| counters, make it an ideal game for adapting for use | | | | * Parts of Speech Bingo - The cards are printed with |
| in education and as a classroom teaching tool. | | | | words, and students are asked to find a noun |
| One particularly common use of bingo is in | | | | beginning with "t", a verb beginning with "e", etc. |
| introductory reading and English classes. Young | | | | The common element in all these situations is of |
| children can have a lot of fun - but they're learning at | | | | course a set of bingo cards containing the items |
| the same time. The key ingredient is that the teacher | | | | chosen by the teacher. It is possible to buy |
| acts as the bingo caller, and the students use bingo | | | | preprinted bingo cards perhaps containing some of |
| cards printed with letters or words selected in | | | | the items that teachers want, but this could soon get |
| advance by the teacher. There are quite a few | | | | expensive if you need to buy a lot of different bingo |
| different variations that can be played: | | | | cards, and the cards may not contain the exact |
| * Phonemic Awareness Bingo - The bingo cards are | | | | items required. The alternative is for the teacher to |
| printed with letters (they can be capitals or small | | | | prepare the bingo cards themselves in advance of |
| letters). The teacher says a word, and the students | | | | class - either by hand (which we can of course be |
| must find the square with the matching initial letter. | | | | very time-consuming) - or by using a bingo card |
| * Sight Word Bingo - The bingo cards are printed | | | | maker computer program. |