Activity
Build a Monster: Online literacy game for low vision
Build reading skills with this monster-themed online game that asks students to match CVC words and associated pictures!
Continuing with our spooky monster theme, here’s a fun online literacy game for young students that allows them to create their own silly monsters. This free game is available on both tablets and computers.
Game layout
A monster pops up in the center of the screen, with two rows of pictures featuring funny accessory items displayed below.
Game Play
Choose an item to add to your monster from a variety of random options, such as red and yellow striped shorts, a crown, a mask, an eyeball, a football, a monster bee with large eyes and three teeth, underwear, flippers and more! The available items change with each new game.
After selecting an item, a popup menu appears featuring a CVC word above four picture choices. Each picture and the CVC word come with read-aloud buttons for easy access. For instance, if the word is “pot,” the picture choices might include a bear, a boy napping, a bug and a pot with a lid.
When the correct word is chosen, a “ding” sound plays, and the background color of the selected picture changes to green. The popup menu then disappears, and the chosen item is added to the monster. If the wrong word is selected, a “boing” sound plays, and the background of the incorrect picture turns red, allowing the student to try again.
The game ends when all the items have been selected.
Settings
The settings icon is in the upper left corner of the screen. Options are:
- Continue
- New Game
- Settings
- Quit
When Settings is selected, there are three categories:
- Selected words (select all or select none)
- Middle a
- Middle e
- Middle i
- Middle o
- Middle u
- General settings
- Play this game without questions
- Randomize the word list
- Maximum number of possible answers (1-4)
- Make questions self correcting (let play try again until correct)
- Show the correct answer after an incorrect answer is chosen
- Show audio buttons for words (when available)
- Hide the question after (for subitizing or memory recall)
- Label answers with A, B, C, D
- For the question, show the: (text or picture)
- For the answers, show the: (pictures or text)
- Switch and keyboard accessibility
- Enable switch and keyboard access
Accessibility
This is intended to be a visual game and is not accessible with a screen reader. The game states that it is compatible with a switch and keyboard access.
Website
The Build a Monster game is one of several free online games by Pink Cat Studio. Pink Cat Studio makes interactive games, math and language activities, classroom management products and classroom décor. Currently, the free games include Build a Monster, Feed the Shark, Quiz Wheel Game (numbers) and Smarty Pants Animal Race. Try the free games here. Pink Cat Studios has 200+ engaging games available through their yearly subscription plan.
Resources
Pink Cat Studio:
Other Monster posts:
- Make your own monster: Play dough activity and storytelling
- Monster: Note taking skills
- Monster: Note taking skills part 2
By Diane Brauner
Back to Paths to Technology’s Home page
Want more Halloween/Fall Festival themed posts? Check out the Season-themed summary page!
