The Children’s University of Manchester – Words
(www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/learning-activities/languages/words/introduction/)
Grades 1-7 approximately, children with parental supervision
This fantastic multimedia children’s site from The University of Manchester, offers a variety of well-crafted activities and games to learn grammar and parts of speech, along with an animated timeline of the history of the English language.
Plus you can explore other languages used around the world to encourage understanding of language in general.
When you get to the site you will see an introduction and a menu to the left that includes:
- World Language Map – Click on an animated map to learn about different languages spoken all over the world. As you zero in on a given country, you’ll watch a video of a native speaker saying conversational phrases that are accompanied by English subtitles. Plus, you’ll learn more about the languages and dialects spoken in that country.
- Timeline of the English Language – Discover the evolution of the English language and the influence of the Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Normans, as well as the printing press, English Bible, Greek and Latin root words, Shakespeare, and more.
- Naming Nouns – Explore this interactive lesson that explains what nouns are including common and proper nouns, concrete and abstract nouns, collective nouns and more. Play the “Noun Game” and take quizzes to test your knowledge.
- Adjective Detective – Learn all about adjectives and how to use them including comparative and superlative adjectives. Play the “Adjective Game” and take quizzes to test your knowledge.
- Match the Eponyms – Do you know what an eponym is? Here’s a clue: Do you know the origin of the word “sandwich”? This is a word trivia feast – and lots of fun!
- Borrowing Words – Many English words were “borrowed” from other languages. Play a game and try to match the English word to the language of origin. You’ll learn about the origin of words like score, zombie, bandana, skunk, and many more.
- Idioms Game – Idioms are sayings such as: “The early bird catches the worm.” Match the idioms to their meanings in this informative game.
- And more!
The games are very engaging. Your kids will learn far more than the standard grammar drills we see in most language arts games. They’ll learn historical and cultural information that will enhance their understanding of the English language.
Have fun!
