Alphabetical Associations

Game Designer / Creator

 * Created by Melissa Hargadon (mmh11@hampshire.edu)

Game Summary
Given a topic, players must name common associations of the topic using progressing letters of the alphabet. The first player must name an association starting with the letter “A,” the second player must name an association starting with the letter “B,” etc. For example, if “basketball” is the topic, then the first player might name “airball.” The second player might name “basket” while the third “court,” etc.

Players / Moderators

 * Age range: 6 -12.
 * A whole class full of players.
 * Moderator helps select the topic and determines the order of the students’ responses.

Game Set-up and Construction

 * No set up, other than gathering a group of people within earshot of the moderator.
 * You need cards each showing a letter of the alphabet, so players know what letter each one has.
 * The cost of 26 index cards, one for each letter of the alphabet.

How to Play / Game Rules

 * Moderator hands out index cards with a letter, so each player knows which letter they are assigned.
 * Moderator either asks students to think of a topic or chooses a topic they have recently studied in school.
 * After the topic is selected, moderator gives players a few seconds to think up related words beginning with the correct letters.
 * Players recite them in alphabetical order.
 * Any player unable to think up their word gets a strike, but remains in for the next round (i.e., the next topic).
 * After all players get a chance to share their words on the topic, players exchange their letter cards so every players gets a different letter for the next topic.
 * Moderator facilitates the selection of a new topic and steps #3 through #6 are repeated.
 * Players with the least number of strikes are considered to be the better players.

Templates / Diagrams

 * NA

Related Web Links

 * NA

Other Details
This game helps students explore and strengthen the network of concepts related to a particular topic.