Spell Maker
Lets play a word game! You can play it on this site or on the Scratch website. Choose 'quick game' to start.
Move the ancient runes around on the table by holding down the 'd' key and moving the mouse. Use other runes by dragging them onto the table. They will swap with any letter you drag them over.
Select the words by holding down the 's' key and moving the mouse. You will gain a point for each letter of each word you find.
If you are playing a game with the whole class, select 'class game' and enter the letters set by your teacher.
Terrible Letter Set
Think of a group of nine letters that would give you a very low score. You may only have 2 of any letter. Could you make a set of letters that your friend could not make any words from? Write them down.
You can test out your letter list by selecting 'class game' and entering your letters. Why do your letters make it so hard for your friend?
Hints:
- What are the two types of letters?
- Do some letters come up in words more often than others? Which ones?
Wonderful Letter Set
Next, think of a group of nine letters that could give you a very high score. Again, you may only have 2 of any letter. Test out some ideas using the 'class game' mode above. You could have a partner/class competition setting your own letters.
Explain what is so good about your letter list.
Hints:
- What common combinations of letters do we see in short words?
- Do some letters come up in words more often than others? Which ones?
- Do some letters have special functions in words?