6 Dictionary Games to Boost Students’ Vocabulary Skills

Vocabulary knowledge fuels better reading, stronger writing, and deeper thinking. For students in grades 3–6, dictionary games make building word knowledge both fun and empowering. These hands-on, engaging learning activities are great for English language arts classes and turn traditional vocabulary work into something kids actually look forward to.

1. Word of the Week Challenge

This activity became a weekly highlight in my classroom—and a fun, low-pressure way to strengthen vocabulary skills over time. Each Monday, I’d unveil our Word of the Week, by either flipping to a random dictionary page or choosing a word connected to our current theme or reading. Sometimes I’d pick the word, but other times a student was given the honor—which made it even more exciting.

Students were challenged to look up the word, read the definition, and then bring it to life throughout the week, by using it in sentences, spotting it in their independent reading, or even acting it out for the class. We’d revisit the word each day with quick check-ins or creative prompts, which kept it fresh in their minds.

By the end of the week, students weren’t just memorizing a definition, they were owning the word. This routine brought vocabulary into daily conversations and gave students time to truly connect with each word. Plus, the mix of structure and creativity made it something they looked forward to each Monday.

2. Dictionary Scavenger Hunt With Clues

Scavenger hunts are educational, engaging, and perfect for building dictionary skills. This dictionary game was a hit with my upper elementary students but can be easily adapted by changing the specific clues you provide.

Instead of providing a list of words, I gave students clues that challenged them to search for words by meaning, part of speech, or spelling. For example, I gave my sixth graders this clue: “Find the page number of a word that means ‘cold’ and starts with the letter F.” Once they found the correct word, such as “frigid” or “frosty” in this case, they earned another clue. This kept the activity fast-paced, engaging, and full of energy.

This dictionary game encourages exploration and helps students become familiar with definitions, pronunciation, and grammar. It also helps boost elementary students’ spelling skills while strengthening vocabulary, research skills, and critical thinking.

3. Dictionary Telephone

This creative twist on the classic game of Telephone brings vocabulary practice to life—and all you need is a dictionary. It’s a low-prep, high-engagement way to build listening skills, memory, and vocabulary comprehension.

To play, students sit or stand in a circle or line. The first player chooses a word from the dictionary that’s unfamiliar to them and that has a short, clear definition. They then whisper the word and its definition to the next person in line—just once, with no repeating or clarifying allowed. The message continues around the group, one whisper at a time, until it reaches the final student. That student says the word and definition out loud, followed by the original player revealing the correct version.

The results are often hilarious. Along the way, words get misheard, meanings get muddled, and students have a great time comparing what they heard to the original. Best of all, this playful game gives students repeated exposure to new words and reinforces the importance of careful listening and clear communication.

4. Dictionary Detective

My fourth-grade students couldn’t get enough of this dictionary game, and I appreciated how it sneaked in practical, real-world skills while keeping the energy high. I’d give each student (or small group) a list of tricky or unfamiliar words and challenge them to become detectives, racing to uncover specific information about each one. Their first task was to alphabetize their word list, reinforcing that often-overlooked but essential skill.

Then came the real challenge: using a physical dictionary (no digital shortcuts!) to locate each word. Once the words were found, they’d record the part of speech, break the word into syllables, and write down the definition in their own words. To level up the activity, I often had them use a thesaurus to find one or two solid synonyms for each word.

You could feel the excitement as students raced through dictionaries, double-checked definitions, and collaborated like a team of language sleuths. It was a fantastic way to combine vocabulary building with hands-on exploration, all while boosting their confidence using a reference tool in a meaningful way.

5. A to Z Dictionary Hunt

It didn’t take long for this activity to become a regular request from my students. In small groups, they were given a theme—like weather, emotions, animals, or things you find in the classroom—and challenged to complete an A to Z list of words that matched the theme, using an alphabet scavenger hunt printable to guide their search. The catch? They had only 10 minutes to find one theme-related word for each letter of the alphabet, using a physical dictionary.

Instead of simply copying definitions, each group had to write a short, student-friendly definition in their own words for each word on their list. This extra step encouraged a deeper understanding of the words while fostering creativity and collaboration. Once time was up, teams shared their word lists, and I often awarded points for originality, accuracy, or the most words collected.

6. Recognize Guide Words

Guide words are the two words found at the top of each dictionary page, and they’re also the first and last words listed on that page. Despite their value, guide words are often overlooked when teaching students how to navigate dictionaries.

This activity brings the magic of dictionaries to life by showing students how guide words can support faster, more accurate word searches. I’d give students a list of random words—five for beginners, 10 for more advanced learners—and ask them to look each one up in a physical dictionary. Once they found a word, their task was to write down the guide words from that page. It’s a simple but effective way to build confidence and reinforce how dictionaries are organized.

By the end, students weren’t just using dictionaries, they were navigating them with confidence. They understood how dictionaries are structured, could locate words more efficiently, and strengthened their grasp of alphabetical order.