Quiet games

Word Ladder

Change one letter at a time to turn one word into another: CAT to COT to DOT to DOG. A puzzle that builds spelling and phonics skills.

  • 🎓 Grades 3–8
  • ⏱ 5–15 min
  • 👥 Individuals or pairs
  • 📦 No prep
🎲 Another game

How to play Word Ladder

  1. Write a start word and an end word with the same number of letters (COLD and WARM).
  2. Students change one letter at a time to make a new real word each step.
  3. They write each step as a rung on the ladder.
  4. The shortest correct ladder wins.
  5. Share solutions on the board.

Variations

  • Younger students: give clues for each rung ("Change one letter to make an animal").

💡 Teacher tips

  • One solution: COLD, CORD, CARD, WARD, WARM.
How to play Word Ladder: printable classroom rule card with the steps, time (5–15 min), grades 3–8 and prep

📌 Rule card to print or pin

The rules of Word Ladder on one card. Print it for the board or a sub folder, or save it to Pinterest for later.

Save to Pinterest Download / print rule card
Up next🥕 Carrot Squat (Luobo Dun) →

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