Games to play with a random letter
- Categories: spin a letter, then name an animal, country, food and film starting with it before the timer ends.
- Name game: everyone says a name starting with the letter; the last one to answer is out.
- Spelling practice: pupils spell a word beginning with the chosen letter.
- Alphabet scavenger hunt: find an object in the room starting with the letter.
- Story starter: every sentence of the story must begin with the spun letter.
Make it harder, or easier
Letters like Q, X and Z make games much tougher. Delete them from the entries box for younger players, or add weights ("E*3") so common letters come up more often. Use Elimination mode to go through the alphabet without repeats.
How to play Categories with the letter wheel
- Agree five or six categories, such as animal, country, food, film, job and something in this room.
- Spin the wheel for a letter.
- Everyone has 60 seconds to write one answer per category beginning with that letter.
- Read the answers out. Score one point for a valid answer and two if nobody else wrote the same thing.
- Play five letters in Elimination mode so none repeats. Highest total wins.
How hard is each letter?
Some letters start thousands of everyday English words and some start very few. As a rough guide for word games:
| Difficulty | Letters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | S, C, P, B, M, T, A | Good for a first round or younger players |
| Medium | D, R, H, L, F, G, W, N, E | The core of most games |
| Hard | I, O, J, K, U, V, Y | Give extra time or a bonus point |
| Very hard | Q, X, Z | Remove for children, keep for experts |
Letter activities for early readers
- Sound hunt: spin a letter and say its sound, then find three things that start with it.
- Letter formation: write the spun letter in the air, on a whiteboard or in a tray of sand.
- Upper and lower: spin a capital and match it to a lowercase card.
- Alphabet order: spin two letters and decide which comes first.
- Name letters: fill the wheel with only the letters in the child's name.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use lowercase letters or another alphabet?
Yes. The wheel accepts any characters, so you can type lowercase letters, accented letters or a different alphabet, one per line.
How many letters are on the wheel?
All 26 letters of the English alphabet, from A to Z, each with an equal 1 in 26 chance.
How do I remove hard letters like Q, X and Z?
Just delete those lines from the Entries box. The wheel updates instantly, and the Reset button brings the full alphabet back.
Can I get letters without repeats?
Yes. Turn on Elimination mode and each letter is removed after it is picked.
Can I add vowels only?
Sure. Clear the wheel and type A, E, I, O, U on separate lines.