Is your child, your spouse, or your whole family excited about the Super Bowl? Are you worried that the big day will be filled with too much TV and not enough learning? These Super Bowl learning activities build language, reading, and spelling skills before, during, and after the game. Regardless of who you are rooting for, they are sure to be a win in your household.
Super Bowl Learning Activities to Do Before the Game
Make a Sight Word Football
First, cut a football shape out of brown construction paper. Next, cut out white stripes and write a sight word on each one. Finally, glue the stripes across the football and hang it near the TV. Then practice the sight words during commercials. To get the whole family involved, have each person make a football. They can use the same words your child is learning, or they can write their favorite players’ names on the stripes.
Get Outside for a Spelling Toss
Before the game starts, head outside and toss a football back and forth. This game combines movement with practice of vowel sounds, sight words, and spelling words. Here is how to play the spelling version with a partner.
- Choose a spelling word, such as “stop.”
- Person one says the first letter, “s,” and tosses the football.
- Person two catches it, says the next letter, “t,” and tosses it back.
- Keep going until the whole word is spelled, then pick a new word.
For an extra challenge, one player can give a wrong letter on purpose. See if your child catches the mistake.
Language Activities During the Game
Name the Players
Between 3 and 4 years of age, children start to recognize letters and make some letter-sound associations. As a result, during the game, talk about the names of the teams and specific players. For younger children, practice saying each letter in a team name and the sound it makes. For older children, ask them to visualize and spell out the names.
Play Super Bowl Trivia
This game takes a little preparation. However, kids will have a blast and learn a lot. Write football facts on notecards. Then divide the players into two teams, and choose one person to ask the questions. Teams take turns answering, and the team with the most points wins. Here are a few sample questions.
- What does NFL stand for? (National Football League)
- What are the poles in each end zone called? (Goalposts)
- Which team won the first Super Bowl? (Green Bay Packers)
Reading Games to Play After the Game
Recreate the Game With a Football Reading Game
After the game, play your own. This time, your child is the player. Use this game to practice vowel combinations or sight words.
- Draw a football field on poster board, or print a field.
- Write a vowel combination or word on each side of every yard line with a dry erase marker.
- Start at the other team’s 10-yard line and work your way up, saying each sound or word you land on.
- If you make a mistake, you must punt the football from that yard line.
For example, to punt, hold a paper football up with the index finger of one hand and flick it with the other toward the goalposts. See if your punt goes through!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some Super Bowl learning activities for kids?
Try a sight word football, a spelling toss, football trivia, and a yard line reading game. Each one builds reading or language skills and keeps kids moving.
How can I build language skills during the game?
Talk about team and player names, practice letters and sounds, and ask your child to describe what is happening. In addition, trivia gives kids a chance to answer questions out loud.
Can these games work for older kids?
Yes. Older children can spell and visualize player names, take on harder spelling words, and write their own trivia questions.
How ETLC Can Help
If your child needs extra support with reading, spelling, or language, our team is here to help. Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center has locations in Johnston and North Liberty, IA, with virtual services also available.
Learn more about reading and spelling support at ETLC or schedule a free consultation to talk with a member of our team.
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About the Author
Sonia Strueby, M.A., CCC-SLP, is the founder of Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center. With over 25 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist, Sonia has dedicated her career to helping children overcome complex communication and academic challenges. She has advanced training and a special focus on treating dyslexia and childhood apraxia of speech, and she is passionate about providing families with a clear path to success.
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