Teaching Direct/Indirect Speech? Try This Board Game!

Playing games can make learning so much easier! This board game allows students to explore how quoted (direct) and reported (indirect) speech work. Not only will students become familiar with the differences between the language used for each type of speech, but they will also focus on how to punctuate these speech types correctly.

This game is played in a small group with one person acting as the game host (deciding whether answers are correct). Each player, in turn, reads a card and is directed to either:

• Decide whether the sentence is an example of direct/indirect speech OR
• Identify errors in how the sentence is punctuated.

The squares on the board game indicate where the player moves their game piece after they’ve provided their answer.

Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding 

A team of dedicated, experienced educators created this resource for students to work on collaborative group activity.

If you have a mixture of above and below-level learners, check out these suggestions for keeping students on track with the concepts: 

• Supporting Students – Simplify the game by omitting the punctuation cards and only including the cards that require students to distinguish between direct and indirect speech.
• Extending Students – After identifying the speech type on the card, challenge students to convert the card to the opposite speech type.

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF or Google Slides version of this resource. An answer key is also included for the host so that they can judge whether answers are correct or not.

Print on thick card for added durability and longevity. Place all pieces in a folder or large envelope for easy access. 

This resource was created by Jennifer Hall, a teacher and Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Don’t stop there! We’ve got more activities and resources that cut down on lesson planning time:

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