Comprehension Card Games

Introduction
veryone agrees that the best way to build children’s reading
E comprehension is to have them read, read, read. But that doesn’t

mean it’s the only way. Enter 10 Reading Comprehension Card
Games! The games in this book help boost and reinforce essential reading
skills—by giving students the kind of practice they’ll enjoy doing over and
over again.
As students play these super-fun games, they gain an understanding of
main idea and plot, making inferences, sequencing, logical reasoning, drawing
conclusions, cause and effect, and much more. Honing these skills leads to
better comprehension, which is the cornerstone of successful reading,
understanding, and studying skills.
Setting Up the Games

ost of the games require nothing more
M than the cards provided. Simply photocopy
the game cards on cardstock, cut them apart,
and store them in a plastic zipper bag along
with a copy of the game instructions. Label
the bag with the name of the game and store
the bag in a filing box for easy access.
For a slightly more competitive twist, we
also provide two generic game boards that can
be used with any of the card games. Let students
decide which game board to use for a particular
game. (You might even invite students to create their
own game boards.) Photocopy the game boards on
regular copy paper then glue the pages to the inside of a manila folder,
carefully aligning both sides of the game board. You could also photocopy
the game board on cardstock and tape the two sides together. Consider
laminating the game boards or covering them with clear plastic to keep
them clean and sturdy for repeated use.
5
What’s What?
Given four words, players name the category in which they belong.
In some cases, there may be more than one correct answer.
Objective You’ll Need

To help students understand main idea ● What’s What? cards (pages 8–13)
and generalization, and use expressive
language to describe categories Optional Materials
● Game board (choose one from
Players pages 64–67)
1 to 4 players (Single players can write ● Game markers (buttons or coins
their answers on a sheet of paper.) work well)
● Number cube (die)
How to Play
Scholastic Teaching Resources

1. Shuffle the “What’s What?” cards and stack them facedown between the players.
2. Players take turns picking a card from the pile. On each turn, a player reads aloud the four
words on the card and decides in which category the words belong. For example, if the
words on the card are desk, bed, chair, table, a correct answer might be furniture.
3. If the player answers correctly, he keeps the card. If not, the next player can try to guess
the answer. If she answers correctly, she keeps the card and takes another turn.
4. Continue taking turns until no cards are left. Players then count how many cards they’ve
10 Reading Comprehension Card Games
collected. The player with the most cards at the end of the game wins.
Playing With a Game Board

Each player places a marker on START. Play the game as described above. If a player
answers correctly, he rolls the number cube to see how many spaces to move along the
board. If the player doesn’t answer correctly, he cannot move. Place used cards in a discard
pile. The next player takes a turn. The first player to reach FINISH wins.
7
What’s Not?
Players decide which word (out of four words)
on a card does not belong and why.
Objective You’ll Need

To help students differentiate between ● What’s Not? cards (pages 15–20)
like and unlike objects, and use
expressive language to explain logic Optional Materials
● Game board (choose one from
Players pages 64–67)
1 to 4 players (Single players can write ● Game markers (buttons or coins
their answers on a sheet of paper.) work well)
● Number cube (die)
How to Play
1. Shuffle the “What’s Not?” cards and stack them facedown between the players.

2. Players take turns picking a card from the pile. On each turn, a player reads aloud the
four words on the card and decides which three words belong together. She then
explains why the fourth word doesn’t belong. For example, if the words on the card are
pie, cookies, cake, ice cream, a correct answer might be ice cream because even though
all the words are desserts, ice cream is the only one that is not baked.
3. If the player answers correctly, she keeps the card. If not, the next player can try to guess
the answer. If he answers correctly, he keeps the card and takes another turn.
4. Continue taking turns until no cards are left. Players then count how many cards they’ve 10 Reading Comprehension Card Games
collected. The player with the most cards at the end of the game wins.
Playing With a Game Board

Each player places a marker on START. Play the game as described above. If a player
answers correctly, she rolls the number cube to see how many spaces to move along the
board. If the player doesn’t answer correctly, she cannot move. Place used cards in a
discard pile. The next player takes a turn. The first player to reach FINISH wins.
14
1 Same/Different 7 Same/Different
wool satin hill mountain

(2) (1)
Sunday January carrot radish

(2) (1)
excited anxious cottage mansion

(3) (2)

president king sometimes always

(2) (2)
page 22
ankle wrist ladder stairs
(1) (1)
toy game harbor ocean

(1) (1)
1 Some t i me s , A l way s , Neve r 7 Some t i me s , A l way s , Neve r
Ferris wheels rotate. A waterfall has a rainbow.
It rains when it’s cloudy. Mothers are women.
People have freckles. Women are mothers.
4 10

Some t i me s , A l way s , Neve r Some t i me s , A l way s , Neve r
Keys open locks. A dictionary has definitions.
Shoes have zippers. Apples are sweet and red. page 54

A suit comes with pants. Bottles are made of wool.

Lose a turn.
Take
another turn.
Go Go back
ahead 4 spaces.
2 spaces.
Go back 1 space.
Go back
3 spaces.
START
page 66
10 Reading Comprehension Card Games Scholastic Teaching Resources

Go back
1 space.
Lose a turn.
Go ahead
FINISH 2 spaces.
Go ahead
3 spaces.
page 67

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Introduction

veryone agrees that the best way to build children’s reading

E comprehension is to have them read, read, read. But that doesn’t

Setting Up the Games

Objective You’ll Need

Scholastic Teaching Resources

Playing With a Game Board

Objective You’ll Need

Scholastic Teaching Resources

Playing With a Game Board

wool satin hill mountain

Sunday January carrot radish

excited anxious cottage mansion

Scholastic Teaching Resources

president king sometimes always

toy game harbor ocean

Ferris wheels rotate. A waterfall has a rainbow.

2 Some t i me s , A l way s , Neve r 8 Some t i me s , A l way s , Neve r

It rains when it’s cloudy. Mothers are women.

3 Some t i me s , A l way s , Neve r 9 Some t i me s , A l way s , Neve r

People have freckles. Women are mothers.

Scholastic Teaching Resources

Keys open locks. A dictionary has definitions.

5 Some t i me s , A l way s , Neve r 11 Some t i me s , A l way s , Neve r

Shoes have zippers. Apples are sweet and red. page 54

6 Some t i me s , A l way s , Neve r 12 Some t i me s , A l way s , Neve r

A suit comes with pants. Bottles are made of wool.

10 Reading Comprehension Card Games Scholastic Teaching Resources

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