Energy Vocabulary Game

Simple, quick, and fun YET EFFECTIVE energy vocabulary game! Review words and terms related to potential and kinetic energy, forms of energy, and energy transformations.

One of the best ways to review science vocabulary is to NOT let the kids say the words. That’s right – not saying the words makes them THINK instead!

This one is kind of hard to explain, but stick with me here… it will make sense in a second!

To review vocabulary, I love to play a “Science Taboo Game” that mimics the board game “Taboo”. I make cards that have the unit vocabulary terms at the top of the card. Below the vocabulary word, I add terms that relate to that idea.

So, for the vocabulary term “kinetic energy”, I add the related words moving, motion, and movement. These are the “taboo” words. There’s a card like this for every vocabulary word in the unit.

Here’s how it becomes a game… put the kids into pairs with the cards. The objective of the game is for a player to have their partner guess the vocabulary term without using the word itself (or any part of the word) or the “taboo” words listed on the card. This makes them THINK about the vocabulary terms on a deeper level.

Try it and let me know what you think! It’s a free download!

Teacher Notes:

• The game is simple and easy to print – no color needed.
• Taboo cards can be reused from class to class and year to year if you store them in sandwich bags.
• Please note: This energy vocabulary game is NOT editable.
• You can also shop my TPT store!
• Please check out my complete Energy Unit! 

Related Standards:

• NGSS MS-PS3-1: Construct and interpret graphical displays of data to describe the relationships of kinetic energy to the mass and speed of an object.
• NGSS MS-PS3-2: Develop a model to describe that when the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, different amounts of potential energy are stored in the system.
• NGSS MS-PS3-5: Construct, use, and present arguments to support the claim that when the kinetic energy of an object changes, energy is transferred to or from the object.