Kangaroo Words

Kangaroo Words is a game I created from an idea presented at a smmer workshop, Making Reading Games, held at Youngstown State University in 1996. I'm always on the lookout for activities to help strengthen and develop my students' vocabulary skills. This game is fun, challenging, and a good way to practice working with synonyms. It can be played by individual students, in a small group, or with the whole class.

Directions:

1. From heavy card stock, oaktag, or poster board, make a set of flashcards, approximately 2" by 4".
2. On one side of the card write the starting word, the longer of the word pair.
3. Place an asterisk in front of this word indicating that it is the starting word.
4. On the back of the card, write the kangaroo word, the shorter of the pair.
5. The word pairs:
   
   

   Starting Word	Kangaroo Word
   slithered	slid
   perimeter	rim
   indolent	idle
   prattle	prate
   evacuate	vacate
   encourage	urge
   prosecute	sue
   calumnies	lies
   rapscallion	rascal
   perambulate	amble
   pinioned	pinned
   joviality	joy
   container	can
   rampage	rage
   curtail	cut
   matches	mates
   regulates	rules
   splotches	spots
   diversified	diverse
   respite	rest

   
   
6. To play:

   Read the first word. Find a synonym for it by using some of the same letters as in the first word. Start with the first letter, and like a kangaroo, hop over letters that you don't need.

When making the flashcards, I like to print the words on self-sticking labels using a database and label making program. The cards look more professionally made. I like to laminate all the cards for durability also.