Loopy is a vocabulary game which is good for helping students to learn the meaning of key academic vocabulary words. Loopy allows multiple opportunities for students to reuse vocabulary and to understand the difference in meaning between words that may be quite similar. Usually the vocabulary selected is related to the current unit of work being studied.
The teacher prepares a set of loopy game cards, enough for everyone in each group to receive one card each. Each card is split into two parts. In the first section the teacher should write “Who has …. (Insert the chosen vocabulary word)?” In the second section write a definition for one of the other vocabulary words that you are using in the game. (Every vocabulary word used in the game needs a matching definition written on one of the other paying cards.) One of the cards created should be marked as the starting card. Also mark the finish card, the vocabulary word on the finish card will match the definition written on the starting card.
To Play
Deal out the cards between the players. The person who has the “Start” loopy card begins by reading the vocabulary word on that card aloud e.g. Who has endangered? They then place the card in the middle. The person who has the Loopy card that has the matching definition calls out “loopy” and then reads aloud the matching definition on their card and places it in the middle on top of the start card. E.g. I have a species that is at risk of dying out. They then read aloud the first section on their card. E.g. Who has eradicate? The game keeps going until the card with “Finish” written on it, is placed in the middle.
Watch this short video to see Loopy being played by a year 7–8 science class
Teaching and learning sequence examples:
Primary level:
Published on: 19 Jan 2018
