• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

What Do We Do All Day logo

  • Start Here
  • Books
    • Classics
      • 20th Century Classics
    • Early Chapter Books
    • Easy Readers
    • Folktales
    • Holiday Books
    • Middle Grade (8-12 years)
    • Nonfiction
    • Picture Books
    • Read Aloud Chapter Books
  • Games
    • Traditional Games
  • Kids Activities
    • Arts and Crafts
    • Literacy & Writing
    • Math
    • Playful Activities
    • Science
    • Toddler
  • Parenting
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Books for kids
  • Games
  • Indoor activities for kids
  • Parenting
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
  • ×
    You are here: Home / Literacy / Funny Flips: A Word Game for Kids

     

    Funny Flips: A Word Game for Kids

    897 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    There can never be enough laughter in the world and this word game for kids will give you and your kids the giggles.

    With sentences such as:

    Kumquats snooze daily.

    Pigs flap loudly.

    Flowers snort nearby.

    But what's the benefit of a nonsense word game other than a few cheap laughs? Can nonsense be an effective teaching tool if it promotes the ridiculous? A few famous authors seem to think so:

    A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men. —Roald Dahl

    I like nonsense. It wakes up the brain cells. —Dr. Seuss.

    Funny word game for kids that teaches parts of speech.

    We invented a word game for kids, "Funny Flips." It is a blend of the Surrealist poetry game Exquisite Corpse, Mad Libs and this simple flip-flap drawing game. (Note: this post contains affiliate links.)

    The gist of the game is to mix and match words to make simple—and ridiculous—sentences. But....

    BONUS!

    It also teaches grammar, especially that tricky, tricky part of speech: the adverb.

    When will this game come in handy?

    • When you are traveling.
    • At the dinner table.
    • When you are waiting for an appointment.
    • When you and your children need a hearty laugh.

    What you need:

    • Paper (we used standard 8 ½ x 11 paper)
    • Pens
    • Scissors
    • Enthusiastic children or anyone who needs a pick-me-up

    word game supplies

    How to create the template:

    • Fold the paper in thirds.
    • Open the paper and cut each side into thirds, stopping the cut at the crease.
    • Decide on a sentence formation. We used the following: Plural noun - Verb (that agrees with a plural noun) - Adverb
    • Write a different noun on each side of the paper in the upper third.
    • Write a different verb on each side of the paper in the middle third.
    • Write a different adverb on each side of the paper in the bottom third.

    Making funny word games for kids

    Now you are ready to flip the funny flaps to make your own Funny Flip sentences!

    TIPS: 

    You can, of course, have one person fill in the Funny Flip all by himself. However, things will get interesting if you try one of the following ideas:

    Have one person fill in the noun section, pass the Funny Flip to another person, and she can fill in the verb section (cover up the previously filled in sections with a piece of paper—no peeking!).  Repeat for the adverb section.

    Have one person fill in a random noun, verb, and adverb and pass the paper around until it is filled.

    Close your eyes and flip the paper randomly so your sentence creation is a surprise.

    Open example of fun word games for kids

    EXTENSIONS:

    Cut the paper into fourths. Add adjectives to the top fourth.

    Try different sentence structures, and divide the template accordingly. How well does it work to create sentences in grammatical agreement?

    Tell others a story that includes your sentence. (My personal favorite.)

    Read and discuss examples of nonsense in literature. A great place to start is the poet Edward Lear.  We looked at Lear's poems in the limerick module of our poetry reading challenge.

    You can also read Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, any of Roald Dahl's books, or the verse novels of Robert Paul Weston.

    alice in wonderland nonsense word sentences nonsense book example  zorgamazoo

    And don't forget you can use the same template to create a silly fun drawing game!

    Easy to make fun word games for kids

    Funny flips word games
    Want Your Kids to Love Being Unplugged?
    Subscribe to our newsletter and as a thank you, receive 10 waiting games kids can play anytime anywhere.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    « Lovely Books for Readers who Like Anne of Green Gables
    Fox and Geese: A Traditional Abstract Strategy Game »
    897 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Susan Lewis says

      February 01, 2017 at 12:18 am

      Awesome! Can't wait for a chance to try this with my students!

      Reply
      • Erica says

        February 03, 2017 at 3:25 pm

        Have fun!

        Reply
    2. POGDOG says

      December 15, 2022 at 12:41 pm

      Very fun! I got "Sofas Skedaddle While eating whiteboards!" Haha

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Erica! I believe parents can stay sane without giving their kids an electronic device. Learn how!

    More about me →

    Newsletter

    Join over 15,000 subscribers who said "Yes! I want to unplug my kids!" We'll send you 10 waiting games your kids can play anytime, anywhere. Join here -->

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About the Site

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and join over 15,000 other families finding ways reduce screen time.

    Other Stuff

    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

    Copyright © 2023 What Creative Media LLC

    Want Your Kids to Love Being Unplugged?
    Subscribe to our newsletter and as a thank you, receive 10 waiting games kids can play anytime anywhere.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Want More Free Activity Ideas?
    Join our email list and as a thank you gift I'll send you a list of 10 waiting games that will make your kids smarter.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Want your kids to love being unplugged?
    Join our newsletter and as a thank you, I'll send you a list of 10 waiting games.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you keep using this website we will assume you are OK with that. Read our privacy policy for more.OKRead more