Feber, Jane (2008). Active Word Play: Games and Activities that Build Vocabulary. Gainesville, FL: Maupin House.

Pages: 70     Price: $19.95     ISBN: 978-1-934338-16-2

Teachers know that a day of school can fly by. Meeting standards and objectives leaves little time for fun and games. Therefore, when we get a chance to integrate meaningful learning with fun activities, it can very beneficial to the student. Jane Feber's new book, Active Word Play: Games and Activities that Build Vocabulary, allows teachers the opportunity to make this a reality in the classroom. Feber provides over thirty activities and games that can be integrated into upper elementary and middle school classrooms to help build vocabulary.

The book is setup in an easy to read format. The games and activities are explained in 1-2 pages. Each one has a short description, list of materials, directions, and possible variations and suggestions. The book then provides pictures, diagrams, and templates where needed. Teachers could integrate some of these activities as a one-time fun game. There are others that could be used as a continual part of vocabulary strategy. One of the strengths of Feber's book is that it could be used by a teacher planning over summer break, as well as by a teacher cramming before class starts. The layout is very clear and the objective and description of each activity is easy to grab hold of.

One of the activities presented by Feber is titled "Bumper Stickers." The basic idea is for students to create a bumper sticker that uses one of their vocabulary words as a slogan. Each sticker contains a picture, usually humorous. The example given is "heartrending." The example slogan is: "It's heartrending to think they actually gave you a license." The bumper sticker then shows a car slamming into a stop sign. This is a fun, quick activity that could aid students in understanding new vocabulary words and provide some decoration for the classroom.

A more advanced activity is "Vocabulary Wheels." With this, students write vocabulary words on a construction paper circle with a short definition on the opposite side. It is then attached by a metal brad to a folded piece of rectangular construction paper with cut-out. Students can see the word as they turn the wheel and then see the corresponding definition on the opposite side. This activity is explained in 9 clear steps with a picture displaying the final project.

The games and activities in Feber's book vary extensively. I presented the previous two examples to help display this. The Bumper Stickers could be quickly placed into a normal school day where the teacher is looking for a little extra practice on vocabulary in a short amount of time. Vocabulary Wheels would take a little more time and preparation for both the teacher and the students. An important benefit of this book is that it provides various games and activities that are both simple and complex. It can be used for many different situations and classrooms. For teachers of vocabulary, whether it is language arts or content areas, the ideas in this book provide excellent resources that will be enjoyable for students.

Reviewed by Aaron Lentner, M.A., Azusa Pacific University, and elementary school teacher. His interests include classroom management and moral education.