35 Fun, Hands-On Spelling Activities to Use With Any Word List

Inside: 35 fun, hands-on spelling activities that get kids actively engaged with their spelling words – thinking, making, creating! Includes a printable version for at home learning.

There’s no doubting that some children (if not all!) learn best when they are actively engaged with thinking, making, creating – DOING. Which is why it can be advantageous to add an active, hands-on element to subjects that more typically rely on rote learning style activities – like spelling.

The 35 hands-on spelling activities included on this list are much more fun and engaging than simply writing out spelling words over and over again (my kids both strongly disliked the ‘Look, Cover, Write, Check’ approach to spelling – and I honestly didn’t see much learning happening with it).

These ideas can be useful as activities for literacy rotations or as homework activities, working particularly well with children in the early elementary/primary grades. Plus, at the bottom of this post you’ll find a handy printable version that can be sent home with families to use for at home learning.

RELATED: Looking for meaningful spelling activities for grades 4-6? Check out our spelling activities worksheets.

35 Hands-On Spelling Activities to Use With Any Word List

35 Hands-On Spelling Activities

1. Make each word with Scrabble letter tiles.

2. Cut some short lengths of yarn and use them to form the letters of each word.

3. Paint the words with watercolour paints.

4. Write words with pavement chalk on the pavement or on the trampoline mat.

5. Make the letters of each word with your body as you spell the word aloud.

6. Build your words with Lego bricks.

Stamping spelling words

7. Stamp your words onto paper with letter stamps.

8. Stamp your words into playdough with non-inked letter stamps.

9. Dot paint each word with a Q-tip or cotton bud.

10. Make your words with letter stickers.

11. Spell your words aloud as you star jump – one jump for each letter.

12. Make letters from chenille stems/pipe cleaners and use them to spell each word.

13. Type your words on a computer.

Sand tray spelling words

14. Write each word with your finger in a sand or salt tray.

15. Make rainbow words, tracing each letter with lots of colours.

16. Thread your words with letter beads.

17. Write your words on the window with a whiteboard marker.

18. Spell aloud and clap for each letter of your words.

19. Spell each word aloud in a robot voice.

20. Make each word with alphabet stones.

21. Write each word with your finger into shaving cream on the shower screen at bath time – or spray a little on a cookie tray to try it when you’re not in the bath.

22. Write your words onto paper plates or circles (one word per plate) and make up a jumping game.

23. Write your words in a fun script – with tiny letters or tall, skinny ones, or try bubble writing!

24. Draw a hopscotch grid on the pavement with chalk. Add a spelling word to each square. As your stone lands on a square spell  the word aloud before hopping.

25. Squeeze a small amount of acrylic paint into a re-sealable Ziploc bag. Seal the top and then use your finger to write each word ‘in’ the paint.

Make spelling words with letter magnets

26. Make each word with magnetic letters.

27. Play Tic Tac Toe with your spelling words – each player chooses a word to use in the place of the ‘x’ or ‘o’ as you play. Choose a new word for each game.

28. Write each word with white crayon onto white paper and then paint over them with watercolour paint for a magic word reveal!

29. Play Hangman choosing the word to guess from your list of words.

Make spelling words with playdough snakes

30. Make each word from playdough or plasticine snakes.

31. Spell each word aloud as you jump on the trampoline – one bounce per letter.

32. Write the letters of each word onto a craft stick (one letter per stick). Jumble the sticks up and then remake each word.

33. Use a laser pointer to ‘write’ each word on the wall.

34. Write your list words onto two sets of index cards and use them to play a memory game.

35. Write each of your words onto a chalkboard with chalk and then use a small paintbrush to paint over them with water.

35. Write each word onto a piece of coloured paper, cut the letters apart and mix them up. Race to unscramble each word.

Printable hands on spelling ideas

How to Print Your Hands On Spelling Ideas Grid


Click here to download: Printable Hands-On Spelling Ideas Grid . Save the PDF to your computer. Open the PDF for full printing instructions.
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Please note: All Childhood 101 printables are for personal use only, you may not use any part of this content for commercial purposes-that includes selling the document, giving it away to promote your business or website, or printing the file to sell. You may not share, loan or redistribute these documents. Teachers may use multiple copies for students in their own classroom.

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Hands- On Spelling Activities