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Imagine your classroom buzzing with creativity, collaboration, and laughter as students roll colorful dice they’ve designed themselves. This engaging activity combines art, literacy, and play in a unique way: students create their own letter dice inspired by the vibrant pop-art style of Romero Britto, then use them in a word-building challenge.
Materials you can use
- Cube template
- Glue
- Scissors
- Permanent markers
- Pencil crayons
Step-by-Step Instructions
Before your students start creating their cubes, show them images of Romero Britto’s art as inspiration pieces from any online visual art encyclopedia by typing Romero Britto Original Art in the search bar of your preferred browser. Ask them to observe the different elements of his style (bright colours, bold patterns, stripes, dots, happy shapes).
Once you feel your students are ready to proceed, hand them the cube template and ask them to decorate and colour the 6 faces with shapes that convey happiness as well as simple patterns as seen in Britto’s art.
Step 1
With a black sharpie, they will draw a different letter on each square of the cube template. Ask your students to choose vowels and consonants.
Step 2
They will decorate each letter with happy shapes that evoke happiness.
Step 3
Using pencil crayons or markers they will colour their letters and shapes.
Step 4
Using pencil crayons or markers they will finish by colouring the background of each square.
Step 5
With their scissors, they will carefully cut along the outer edges of their net, including the tabs.
Step 6
Remind them not to cut the lines between the squares.
Step 7
Ask them to fold all the tabs (all the lines between the squares).
Step 8
They are ready to apply glue to the tabs. They will fold one side and attach the tab to an adjacent square. They must hold it in place a few seconds.
Step 9
The final tab can be trickier than the rest. They will need to tuck the remaining tab and make sure each edge aligns.
How the Game Works
Game Setup
- Place your students in groups of 4.
- Use a dice from one group member.
- Players sit in a circle with paper and pencils.
How to Play
- The first player rolls the dice.
- All players have 30 seconds to write down as many words as they can think of that starts with the letter shown on top of the dice.
- When time’s up, players take turns reading their words aloud.
- Players score 1 point for each word.
- The next player rolls the dice, and the process repeats.
- Change the dice whenever players decide it’s time.
- At the end of all rounds the players total their points.
- The player with the highest score wins.
Variations
- Use a timer app with fun sounds to signal start and stop.
- Allow proper nouns for an easier game.
- For advanced players, require words to be of a minimum length (e.g., 4 letters).
- Create themed rounds where words must belong to a specific category (e.g., animals, foods, countries).
- Introduce cooperative play by having teams work together to build words.
What Makes this Game Fun and Exciting?
- Creative Expression: Decorating the dice allows students to unleash their artistic side while learning about an influential artist like Romero Britto. The use of happy shapes and bold colors brings joy to the activity.
- Element of Surprise: Rolling dice adds an element of chance, making each round unpredictable and exciting.
- Interactive Play: The game encourages movement, collaboration, and friendly competition, keeping students engaged.
Educational Benefits for your Students
Boosts Literacy Skills
- Students practice letter recognition, spelling, and vocabulary development.
- Rolling dice introduces randomness that challenges them to think quickly and creatively about word formation.
Encourages Critical Thinking
- The time limit pushes students to strategize and think on their feet.
- They analyze letter combinations to maximize word possibilities.
Fosters Social Skills
- Working in teams promotes communication, cooperation, and problem-solving.
- Students learn to take turns and celebrate each other’s successes.
4. Inspires Creativity
- Designing their own dice connects art with learning, making the experience more personal and meaningful.
- The Britto-inspired designs add a layer of cultural appreciation.
5. Develops fine Motor Skills
- Cutting out templates and assembling dice enhances precision and coordination.
Why you Should Try this Activity
Cross-Curricular Learning: This game integrates art, literacy, and even math (through counting scores), making it a versatile addition to any lesson plan.
Inclusive for All Learners: The activity can be adapted for various skill levels by adjusting the complexity of the word challenge or focusing on specific letters or sounds.
Engaging for Students: By combining hands-on crafting with an interactive game, it keeps students motivated and excited about learning.
Promotes Joyful Learning: Inspired by Romero Britto’s “Happy Art Movement,” this activity emphasizes positivity and fun in education—a win for both you and your students.
Final Thoughts
The Letter Dice Word Challenge Game is more than just a classroom activity; it’s an opportunity to blend creativity with learning in a way that excites young minds. By incorporating Romero Britto’s style into the design process, your students will not only develop essential skills but also gain an appreciation for art’s power to inspire happiness. If you are looking for a dynamic way to engage your students, I recommend adding this vibrant game to your toolkit!
Try out our Happy Heart art project!
