This game has also been called “Concentration.”

Number of students: The game should be played with groups of 2-4 students

Materials: Life as a Lizard Glossary Words

Preparation: Each student makes two different decks of cards, one set will have a keyword on one side of each card, the other set will have a definition of a keyword on one side of each card. 

How to Play: For the first few rounds players may use their list of vocabulary words. As you improve, try playing without the vocabulary list.

• Each group will use one set of each deck of cards. 
• They will shuffle them together and then lay them out face down on the floor or table. 
• They can lay them out in rows of 5 or 6. 
• The first player will turn over one card and place it face up on the table.  They will read the word or definition that is on the card.  Then they will choose another card and place it face up and read it aloud.  If the one card is a definition and the other a keyword that matches the definition, then the student takes both cards off the table and keeps them.
• If the player successfully matches a word to a definition then they get to continue with their turn.  If the cards do not match, the player turns them back over in the same spot and then it is the next person’s turn.         
• The game continues until all of the cards have been matched and picked up.  The winner (if you want to have a winner) will be the player with the most matches.   

An example of how the game works: if I turned over my first card and the word “lizard” was on it, I would say the word and then pick another card to turn over.  If the second card I turned over said, “using the sense of smell” I would not have a match.  I would flip both of the cards back over and it would be the next person’s turn. Alternatively, if my first card had the word “lizard” on it and the second card read “a type of reptile that generally has 4 legs”, that would be a match.  I would pick up both cards, leave them next to me, and then take another turn. The trick of the game is both to remember what keyword goes with what definition, and also to make matches by remembering where you saw each card.       

Learning Information

• ToL Learner Level:
  • Beginner; Intermediate
• Target Grade/Age Level:
  • All Grade/Age levels.
• Additional Treehouse Type:
  • Fun and Games