Word ladders

Word ladders

In this word game activity, a word must be transformed step by step into a target word. To illustrate the idea, write the word run on the board and explain that the target word is fit. For each turn, only one letter can be changed. See if the class can find a valid sequence together. Some possible sequence are:

run fun fin fit

cat --- --- dog

head ---- ---- ---- ---- foot

gives lives likes lakes takes

Students may need access to a dictionary in order to check if their words are valid. If you want to find possible word pairs, there is a site with a  handy word ladder generator.

Variations:
Put students in pairs and have them create their own word ladders to test their classmates with.