Teaching Terminology

Program Contact

Autumn Britt, 4-H Program Manager
509-588-7817 • autumn.britt@wsu.edu

Preparation

Many terminology games can use the same set of hand-made matching cards. Print or write the term or concept you want youth to learn on a notecard or piece of paper and the definition of that term or concept on another to create a matching set. This can be done with images as well if youth need to learn to identify animal breeds or tools related to their 4-H project.

Don’t Forget! It’s better to end a game while it’s still fun — “Oh man! I want to keep playing!” — and then come back to it later in the meeting if you can or at another time than run it so long that the youth grow bored of it.

Games

Flip and Match

A classic matching game. Place all the cards face-down and have the youth take turns flipping two in order to find a match. Youth can work in pairs or flip more than two if there are a lot of cards to match.

Below is an example of a card set for a 4-H Visual Arts project.

an example set of mix and match art term and definition cards

Miggle and Match

Pass out one card to each youth. Ensure that each card has a match; have adults play if you need event numbers or more players. Players will mix and mingle with one another until they find their matches, then take turns sharing their terms/concepts with the club.

Heads Up

Divide youth into pairs or small groups. Within the pair or small group, the youth take turns holding a term/concept card to their forehead (no peeking) while their teammate/s give them descriptive clues without using any words on the card to help them guess what their card says. The youth providing clues can use the matching definition card for ideas. Take turns as time allows.

Pictionary

Pair the card matches together. Have youth take turns grabbing a card set (term/concept and definition/description) and then draw the term/concept while the other club members guess! This can be done in small groups with regular paper or with the whole group using a large paper pad or whiteboard.

Relay Race

Divide youth into teams and assign each team a concept (e.g., Team 1: egg-producing chicken breeds, Team 2: boilers/meat-producing chicken breeds, Team 3: dual-purpose chicken breeds). Place a pile of cards related to the teams’ concept on the other side of the room or location (ensure that running between the teams’ starting point and the pile is free of obstacles). If there are four youth per team, then there should be at least four cards related to each team’s concept in the pile so that each youth has a chance to find a card that matches their concept. Leaders can add duplicate cards or distracting cards (incorrect ones) to the pile. Have each team line up; on “GO” the first member of each team runs to the pile and grabs a card that matches their concept, returning to their team and going to the back of the line so that the second team member can go. If a team decides a member grabbed an incorrect card, it can be returned to the pile. Play until all the correct cards are found or until a previously set time or turn limit.

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