“Eigh or Ei?” is a fun and interactive game designed to help children practise the different ways to spell the long /a/ sound in words, focusing on two common patterns: “eigh” and “ei.” This engaging spelling game sharpens players’ skills and boosts their confidence in identifying and using the correct spelling.
National Curriculum Objective:
Year 3/4 Spelling Appendix – ‘Words with the /eɪ/ sound spelt ei, eigh, or ey’
What You Need:
Post-it notes labelled with “eigh” and “ei”
A selection of 10 words that contain the /a/ sound, with 5 words for each player
A dice for taking turns
A game board setup created using the Post-it notes in a path from start to finish
How to Play:
Prepare the Game Board:
Write out 10 words with the /a/ sound, leaving the spelling of the /a/ sound blank. Divide the words into two sets—five for player one and five for player two.
Create a game board by arranging the Post-it notes in a path or a “board game” style with a clear start and finish line.
Start the Game:
Players take turns rolling the dice and moving along the game board by counting the number of spaces rolled.
When a player lands on a Post-it note, they must remove it and decide whether the word should be completed with “eigh” or “ei” to correctly spell the /a/ sound.
Correctly Spell the Word:
Once the player makes their choice, they place the correct “eigh” or “ei” spelling into the blank to complete the word.
For example, player one lands on a Post-it with ‘eigh’ and they have the word “____t,” they can correctly adds “eigh” to complete the word “eight.”
Continue Taking Turns:
The next player then rolls the dice, moves, and selects another Post-it note. They must also decideif the spelling they have collected can complete the word. For instance, they may land on “v__n,” and correctly add “ei” to form the word “vein.”
Make a Correct Guess:
If a player does not have a word they can add their Post-it note to, they must return it to the board and wait for their next turn. The game continues with each player trying to correctly spell all their words.
Winning the Game:
The first player to correctly complete all five of their words using “eigh” or “ei” wins the game.
Educational Benefit: “Eigh or Ei?” is a hands-on spelling game that makes learning spelling patterns engaging and fun. By practicing with common words and alternating turns, players improve their understanding of spelling rules while enjoying friendly competition. This game is a great addition to any classroom or home learning environment, offering an exciting way to reinforce spelling skills!
