Combine learning and fun with this twist on a classic game.
Teaching sight words can often feel like a repetitive chore that doesn’t spark joy in your classroom. But, there is a simple solution! Sight word games make learning fun and engaging. Help students memorize sight words by playing a twist on an old classic: Tic-Tac-Toe. This sight word game is great to use as a literacy center or word work station. The best part? You can use it to help students recognize alphabet letters and sounds too!
Grab your set below and then join the priority list for our VIP teaching membership, The Science of Reading Formula, so you can unlock access to all of our teaching tools in one time-saving spot.
The Set Up
The rules of this version of Tic-Tac-Toe are the same as the original. Students take turns saving a square by writing in it. The first student with three squares in a line (either across, down or diagonal) is the winner.
Print and cut apart the sight words that students are currently learning. This sight word list is organized by phonics skill to give you the biggest bang for your teaching buck!
After the words are printed and cut, you can choose to laminate them for extra durability (and to have them prepped and ready to use year after year!). Place the cut up words in a cup or bin.
The Game
Once you have the words cut up, you’re ready to play the sight word game! Divide students into pairs. The first student shakes the cup to mix up the words and then reaches inside to pick a card. The student reads the card aloud and writes the word in a space on the Tic-Tac-Toe board. The second student then takes their turn.
Students repeat this process until one student has three in a row of the same word on the game board.
Bonus Tip
Are your students working on alphabet recognition or letter sounds instead of sight words?
You can play this Tic-Tac-Toe game with those skills as well!
Grab Your Sight Word Game
Click the blue button below to grab your freebie and then request an invite to our VIP teaching membership, The Science of Reading Formula, so you can teach reading the easier, brain-friendly way.
Where can you download the ABC tic tac toe? I cannot find the link anywhere and I would love it 🙂
Hi Katie!
Thank you for letting me know about the missing download link! I just fixed the problem on the post and am copying the direct link here so you have easy access. Just click the “Download Here” blue button at the bottom of the page.
https://www.playdoughtoplato.com/teach-letters-and-words/
Enjoy!!
Appreciatively,
Malia
I also cannot actually download the ABC tic tac toe, OR the sight word one. It says to click and download..but not possible 🙁
Hi Beth,
Thanks for reaching out. I’m sorry you’re having trouble downloading. We never want that. Please check out our troubleshooting video HERE for help. You’ll also want to make sure you have the most recent version of Adobe Reader Other and that you’re allowing pop ups from our site. If you still can’t get it to work, you can email me at hello@www.playdoughtoplato.com
Warmly,
Ashley // Happiness Ambassador
Great minds think alike! This was on my “to-do” list. Now, I can take it off. 🙂
No blue button to download the tic-tac games.
Hi Linda,
Thanks for reaching out. You should be able to find the blue DOWNLOAD NOW button at the very bottom of the post, below the image for the pirate sight word game.
Please check to be sure you’ve enabled pop-ups from our site. Even if you’ve been able to download before, the site was recently updated and you may need to do so again. We also recommend using the Chrome browser. For instructions on how to enable pop ups in Chrome, you can check out THIS ARTICLE.
You can also check out our troubleshooting video HERE for help. If you still can’t get it to work, you can email me at hello@www.playdoughtoplato.com and I will get it to you.
Warmly,
Ashley // Happiness Ambassador
I am a resource/reading teacher and I am trying to put together a kit of sight word activities that I can use with my students and share with the grades primary to two teachers at my school. I love your sight word tic-tac-toe sheet. Would I have your permission to include the sheet in my kit?
Hi CW! Your kit sounds wonderful and I’m excited that the tic-tac-toe sheets feel like a good fit. Because we use our ad revenue to provide free printables like this one, I’d ask that you pass along the URL to the blog post instead of printing and distributing the sheets directly. Every page view counts. 🙂
Appreciatively,
Malaia
I am amazed at your generosity towards other teachers!!! Thank you so very much!!! My computer skills are lacking to say the least and your computer skills along with your awesome ideas… ROCK!!!! I LOVE the way you made it so that we may use the pirate cards as real cards with something on each side! Thank you again! Dianne
Thank you so much, Dianne, for your kind words and support.
We are here because of teachers just like you!
I hope your kids love them as much as we do.
Warmly,
Kimberleigh
thank you. This will be a fun game during tutoring. The children will love it!
Hi Carol,
Thanks so much!
We hope your kids love it too!
Warmly,
Ashley // Happiness Ambassador
I’ve had trouble for a long time, too, but I found a workaround. Copy and paste the link in an incognito tab. Hopefully this helps! -Rachel
Thank you for the great learning games. Much appreciated.
I tried the incognito tab and pasted the address. It is still not downloading. Can you please repost the link?
Thank you! My kinders would love this 🙂
Hi JP,
When you click the blue “Download Here” button, a pop-up should open. You can try checking to make sure your browser isn’t blocking pop-ups from the site or try using a different browser. Let me know if you’re not able to get the tic tac toe game!
Warmly,
Sarah // Playdough to Plato Team
I loved it!
Hi Marie,
Thanks so much! We hope your kids love it too!
Warmy,
Sarah // Playdough to Plato Team