3 Topple Blocks Reading Game
Caroline Massaro
Strategy Overview
- Topple Blocks (a twist on Jenga) is a reading game that will get students engaged and having fun, while practicing their reading and comprehension skills.
- This game works to builds students’ comprehension skills which is an essential part of the “ NYS Big 6” skills & competencies. The act of understanding what you read and write is crucial for students to grasp at an elementary level.
- Teachers can use this game in the classroom as a reinforcer for reading comprehension skills. Because this is used as a game, students will play the game, a take on Jenga, and engage with a group of students.
- This game relates to research on the “Big 6” skills & competencies because it engages with “the complex process and ultimate goal of reading that involves constructing meaning from and interpreting texts” (Lesaux & Carr, 2024, p. 3).
Strategy in Action
The teacher would implement this game as either a center station or a fun Friday activity. A group of students would play the game like normal Jenga, except with a twist. The game is used after an interactive read aloud or reading a book club text. Open- ended text based questions are written on small post it that are stuck to some of the Jenga blocks. hen a student pull out a Jenga block, they have to answer the question. This requires students to practice talking and thinking about texts.The goal of the game is still like Jenga, to not have the structure collapse, but it adds a layer of literacy practice as well!
Related References
Lesaux, N.K., Carr, K.C. (2024). Brief 1: Science of reading: What is it? New York State Education Department.
