One of the best ways to help your child learn and remember sight words is to play a sight word game. One day, as I watched my boys eagerly race two Matchbox cars at a time down their track, I was struck with an idea: With one simple twist, their playful competition would become a motivating sight word game!  Sight Word Drag Racing was born.

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Sight Word Games

Getting Ready

Before inviting Big Brother to play the sight word game, I gathered a few supplies:

    • 8 small cars. {Cars with flat roofs stick to the labels best.}
    • 8 small labels.
    • A marker.
    • A race track. {I used my boys’ ramp but you could also make one out of cardboard.}
    • A printout of the Drag Racing Bracket available here.

I wrote one sight word in the middle of each label and stuck it onto the hood of a race car.  Note: When choosing the sight words to work on first, many teachers use the most common English words in print. The first 20 words on that list are: {a, I, it, the, and, in, of, to, he, is, that, was, look, you, said, for, up, go, we, play}.

Super fun, active way to teach children sight words. {Playdough to Plato}

Sight Word Drag Racing

I helped my son write one sight word on each line of the Drag Racing Bracket. The left hand column looked like this:

Super fun, active way to teach children sight words. {Playdough to Plato}

The two words in the blue box raced in the first round. In this example, the cars labeled {my} and {he} were assigned to Heat One. The two sight words in the green box raced next, and so on.

Then came the fun!! My son placed the cars that were racing in Round One at the top of the ramp. After counting down in my best announcer’s voice, he launched them down the track.

Sight Word Games: Sight Word Drag RacingSince the {my} car crossed the finish line first, it was the winner. I helped my son write it on the line next to the blue bracket.  We continued racing and writing until the {me} car sped its way to the winner’s circle.

Super fun, active way to teach children sight words. {Playdough to Plato}

Find More Sight Word Games

If you loved this sight word game, check out our 30 EDITABLE Sight Word Games. Kids and teachers love them!!

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26 Comments

  1. I love this race car idea! it’s steam, too! Math and science, and, if they make their own track and score sheet, engineering and and art. I will use those little pull back and let go cars to make it technology, too. Two thumbs up for this one!

    1. Yes! Love the way you think, Nancy!
      Can’t wait to hear how it turns out!
      Warmly,
      Ashley // Happiness Ambassador

  2. Super idea! It’ll help us ease back into learning after our Christmas break. My son will love it. Thank-you!

  3. YAY! That is wonderful to hear! I am so glad that you are a part of our community!

    1. So thrilled you like it, Laura!
      Sarah // Playdough to Plato Team

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