What are Compound Words?

Compound words are made by joining two or more words; the combination creates a new word. They can be formed using two nouns, e.g. basketball, two non-nouns, e.g. blowup, or a noun and non-noun, e.g. sunrise. It is important to note that the words do not always keep their original meaning, e.g. breakfast.

There are three types of compound words:

• Closed compound words,
• Open compound words, and
• Hyphenated compound words.

List of Compound Words

Closed compound words

Closed compound words have no spaces. Our list contains hundreds of compound words, so we organized them in alphabetical order. Click on a letter below to obtain a list of those compound words.

Open compound words

Open compound words have a space between the words. The following are open compound words:

Hyphenated compound words

The following are hyphenated compound words:

Source: Fry, E.B., Ph.D. & Kress, J.E., Ed.D. (2006). The Reading Teacher’s Book of Lists 5th Edition. San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass.

Musical chairs is another fun game that keeps children active. This classic game can be slightly altered to include sight words and the ABC song to make it both fun and educational.

How to Play Sight Word Musical Chairs

This game is played just like musical chairs except for one twist; a child must recognize the sight word to remain seated. Consider playing the alphabet song or similar songs to increase the educational value.

• Count the number of children (or adults) participating in the game.
• Obtain chairs; you will need one less than the number of players.
• Arrange the chairs in a line, alternating the direction of each chair.
• Select the person in charge of playing the music.
• Begin the game by having each player walk around the chairs while the music is playing.
• When the music stops, each player must race to sit on a chair.
• Each child must say the sight word located on his chair to remain seated.
• Any player standing is out of the game. Remember to remove the appropriate number of chairs.
• Continue the game by playing the music and walking around the chairs.
• The last player sitting is declared the winner!

Make Sight Word Musical Chairs

Incorporating sight words with the game of musical chairs helps a child develop a sight word vocabulary. Print out the sight words noted below. Cut out each card and tape it to a chair. You could also use sticky notes and write the sight words that are appropriate for your children or students. You could also use our blank template noted below.

Musical Chairs – Sight Words	Musical Chairs – Sight Words	Musical Chairs – Blank

Please visit our sight word games section for additional ideas.
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Sight Word Game: Tape the Tail on the Donkey

This birthday activity can also be used in a classroom or at home to introduce or review sight words. What better way to obtain a sight word vocabulary than with a donkey and blindfold! We prefer to use tape over a pin when attempting to attach the tail to the donkey.

Make Pin the Tail on the Donkey Sight Word Game

This fun game can incorporate sight words in a number of ways. A word can be displayed on the donkey or each tail can contain a sight word instead of a name or number.

Donkey – Blank	Donkey – Sight Word
Donkey Tails - Sight Words	Donkey Tails - Blank

Play Tape the Tail on the Donkey (Sight Word version)

This classical birthday party game is ideal for young children.

• Using the templates above, print out a donkey and its tails.
• Mount the donkey image to the wall, preferably at a child’s eye level.
• Cut out each tail and put a piece of tape on the end.
• The youngest player goes first.
• Spin the blindfolded player around in a circle three times.
• Make sure she is facing the donkey and then set her free.
• The player whose tail is closest to the bullseye wins.

Instead of using a blindfold, consider converting an old pair of sunglass by covering the lens with construction paper. For more game ideas, visit our sight word games section.

Simon Says … SIGHT WORDS

Simon Says is another classic game that can be slightly altered to incorporate sight words. This game is great because it reinforces sight words using a fun game that keeps children moving. It can be played in a classroom or at home with a few children.

Make Simon Says Sight Words

This game can be played a number of ways. Using index cards and yarn make sight word necklaces for each child playing the game. If you are short on time use self-adhesive name tags. You can play with many sight words or limit the game to include just a few ones (ideal for children just beginning to learn sight words). You can randomly select sight words or create a simon says spinner. All you need is paper and a paper fastener. Select a template below and put a hole in the middle. Cut out an arrow and fasten to the template using the paper fastener.

Simon Says Spinner	Simon Says Spinner – Blank

Play Simon Says Sight Words

Prior to playing the game, review each sight word. Gather the children into a circle and make sure each child has a sight word necklace or name tag. Explain the rules: They should only obey your commands if you first say the words “simon says” and they have that sight word (via necklace or name tag). If they follow an order that did not begin with “simon says” or they did not have that sight word, they are out. For example, you say, “Simon says sight word the touch your toes. Simon says sight word and hop on one foot. Stop.” You can also select sight words using the spinner.

This game can be played a number of ways; create the game play so that every child benefits and learns to recognize sight words automatically. For more game ideas, visit our sight word games section.

Turn the Question Around

TTQA is an acronym for turn the question around and was introduced to both of my children in their primary grades. It’s a writing strategy that helps children respond intelligently to a question.

• Step 1: Read the question (I like to state the obvious).
• Step 2: Remove the question words (the five Ws and how).
• Step 3: Answer the question by turning it around.

For example,

Q: What is your favorite book?
A: My favorite book is …

Q: Who was the main character?
A: The main character was …

Q: Where did the story take place?
A: The story took place …

Learning to automatically recognize sight words can occur in many ways, e.g., flashcards, books and even outdoor games. When applicable, learning to read should be fun so what better way to learn sight words than through a game of hopscotch.

Make Sight Word Hopscotch

All that is required for this fun game is a few sight words and sidewalk chalk. Using chalk, create a hopscotch pattern. Below please find four common patterns. On rainy days, consider using masking tape on a floor and write each sight word on a piece of tape or index card – just make sure your child does not slip on the index card while playing the game.

Sight Word Hopscotch Patterns

There are many ways you can make a hopscotch pattern. These are just a few. Consider adding numbers in the upper right corner to aid a child in the order they should hop.

Play Sight Word Hopscotch

The youngest player goes first and begins by tossing his marker, e.g., a pebble or beanbag, into the first square. The marker must land in the square without touching the lines. If the marker does not land in the first square, his turn is over. If the marker lands in the first squares, he must hop over the first square and then continue hoping through the hopscotch pattern saying each sight word as he lands on that square. When he gets to the last square, he must turn around and hop back saying each sight word again. He must pick up his marker without touching the first square and then complete the course by hopping on it. If he successfully completed the course, he would proceed to the next square by tossing his stone to the second square and continue hopping as stated above. He must do this for each square.

A player must hop on one foot on the single squares and straddle the double squares. If a player does not hop with the proper foot, hops on the lines or looses balance while picking up her marker, her turn is over. She would begin her next turn on that square. The first player to complete the course wins the game. For younger players, consider adding a neutral square, e.g., home and allow players to rest at the end of the course. While resting they can recite the alphabet.

Please visit our sight word games section for additional ideas.
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