• Games and activites make English grammar more fun to learn.games image by Ewe Degiampietro from Fotolia.com
  
  English grammar rules are fascinating, for a few. Activities and games can help reinforce grammar concepts for the many who find them boring. You can reuse games, once they are prepared, and modify others periodically so children reinforce the concept they are learning, with new words or examples. Activities let children use grammar rules interactively, making them more interesting to learn.
  
  

Parts of Speech

• This game is suitable for fourth or fifth graders who are familiar with parts of speech. Create, or copy, a blank game board that has squares leading from a starting point to an ending point. Write different parts of speech on each square in small letters. Make 30 index cards that have parts of speech on them and draw a red, yellow, or blue line at the top of each card. Include a few colored buttons that can be used as space markers. Red-line cards move one space, yellow move two spaces, and blue lines move three spaces. Include a dry eraser marker in the game and directions. The first player will choose a card. Depending on the card he chooses, he must write examples of the part of speech he has chosen on a whiteboard. For example, if a player draws a verb card with a red line, he must write one verb and may move one space. If a player does not correctly write an example, she must move back one space. Regardless of the color line on the card, a wrong turn moves back only one space. The first player to get to the end of the board wins. Leave a description of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs with examples so students can check their work.
  
  

Contraction Match

• First or second graders will enjoy this grammar game. Create cards with contractions. Make another set of cards with the corresponding, full-out, words. Tell students to shuffle the cards and place them face down in rows. Let children match the contraction to the corresponding words. The child who matches the most pairs wins the game. Cards can be changed periodically so students become familiar with different contractions.
  
  

There, Their, They're

• Students typically have trouble using there, their and they're properly. Review their meanings, spellings and the correct circumstances for using each word. Then give each child a large piece of construction paper folded in thirds width-wise. Have students write one word in each section. Then instruct them to cut out a magazine picture that helps them remember the meaning. Tell the students to write a sentence in each section that refers to the picture and uses the correct word form.