FREE Reading Games and Centers for 4th and 5th Grade

While I am a firm believer in students reading real books that they choose and doing this often, I also love to include reading games and reading centers in my instruction. On this post, I will share three of my favorite types of reading games and centers for 4th and 5th grade, free reading games and centers for each type, and links to buy more if you are interested in incorporating these into your reading instruction beyond the free versions.

This post is broken up into three sections: one for each type of reading game or center. Each section will briefly describe the reading game or center. The FREE reading games can be downloaded in the final section of this post titled: How do I get these reading games and centers for free?

Reading Games : Fiction and Nonfiction Game Boards

I love gamifying learning and instruction as much as a I can while still maintaining the rigor of the skills. Reading game boards are one of the best ways I have found to do so.

The students read a text (any text with the free ones I am sharing) and then answer questions about the text while playing the game. The free download includes four game boards: two fiction and two nonfiction games. The questions on the game boards work with any book or text that the students are reading.

Tip: Use the included dice that is only 1-3 to have your students move more slowly across the board, thus answering more questions.

Want more reading games that come with texts and include text-dependent questions…perfect for test prep? Click here to see the reading centers with reading game boards that I have in my store.

Reading Games : Reading Spinner Centers

In all my years of teaching, I have yet to meet a student who doesn’t love to use a paperclip and a pencil for a spinner. I decided to embrace it with my spinner centers for math a few years ago. Then, I realized spinner centers work just as well with reading.

The FREE ones (and the ones shown in the above picture) were created to review reading vocabulary. The students spin a word from the spinners and complete a task with the word (depending on which spin). The ones included in the download review 4th and 5th grade reading vocabulary terms, but I have also included a blank one that you can write in any vocabulary words.

In addition to using the reading vocabulary spinner centers, I also use spinner centers with reading texts. The students read a text, and then spin a spinner to answer different questions. Click here to see the Reading Spinner Centers I have available for purchase.

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Do you need engaging and low prep reading centers for upper elementary? This BUNDLE includes 44 reading centers with texts. The reading centers are rigorous and engaging and even your more reluctant readers will enjoy reading with these reading games.

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Reading Games : Reading Puzzles

Reading puzzles are currently my new favorite reading game/center. They are hands-on, engaging, and review so many important reading skills.

The FREE puzzles available on this post include two sets: one for reviewing fiction reading vocabulary and one for reviewing nonfiction vocabulary.

Want MORE reading puzzles that review specific reading standards and skills? Here are two examples of reading puzzles that I have available for purchase that focus on one specific reading skill and include rigorous (and engaging texts):

Click here to see all of the reading puzzles I have available for purchase in my store.

Incorporating Reading Games in the Classroom

Here are some ideas for incorporating these free reading games in your classroom (some way more obvious than others):

1.) Reading Centers

2.) Soft Start Morning Work

3.) Reteaching Groups

4.) Guided Reading – use the reading puzzles or spinners for a warm up to guided reading groups or use the reading game boards to review a book after finishing it.

5.) Reader’s Response – Reader’s response centers don’t always have to be students writing letters. You can use the game boards to have the students respond to what they are reading.

6.) Skill Practice

7.) Test Prep

How do I get these reading games and centers for free?

Easy! Just put your information in below to sign up for my email list and they will be sent straight to your email. I recommend using a personal email versus a school email. School emails may not go through. Also, after signing up, make sure you check your spam/junk/promotions folder for the email.