Free Choice Language Arts Games

Instead of using Work Stations so I can run interventions with my fifth graders this year, I've come up with Free Choice Language Arts.  I'm still experimenting with it so I'm not going to go into detail about it now.  One of the free choices is Language Arts Games.  I've recently purchased three games that I want to briefly discuss.

 

1. Tell Tale by Blue Orange:  This is a story telling game.  It comes in a circular metal tin and contains 60 double sided picture   cards.  The included directions explain 4 different games.  I'm going to summarize all 4 with one version.  You pass out some of the cards to each game participant and you use the pictures on the card to make up a story.  Students could just tell their stories orally or they could record them if they wished. 
2. Spell It! by Blue Orange: This is a spelling game.  It comes in roundish metal tin and contains 5 dice with a different letter on each die (it does not contain the entire alphabet).  It also comes   with 28 scoring disks.  Students are asked to roll the five dice,   and then using at least three of the letters that turn up spell a word that is at least 4 letters long.  The first person to spell a word gets the points. Students can score points for words ranging from 4 - 10 letters.  Depending  on how you play the game, students may be asked to spell words that fit certain themes, or you could just spell anything.  Once again, the game does not require students to record anything but students could write the words down if they wished. 
3. Rory's Story Cubes by Gamewright:  This is also a writing game.  The game comes in a sturdy box and contains 9 dice with a different picture on each side of each die.  There are no repeats.  Students roll the die and then use the pictures to create a story.  Students are not required to record their story but they can if they wish.  I've already used this game in my class.  Some students have rolled the dice and told stories to their partners.  Other pairs have rolled the dice and used them to create a picture book together.  I like the picture book ending the best but don't require it. 

In addition, Spot It! by Blue Orange is a cool matching game that I've played with my 4 year old son and 15 year old nephew.  There is also another version of Rory's Story Cubes called Rory's Story Cubes-Actions that I haven't ever seen in person.