Wordwall
What is Wordwall?
Wordwall is an interactive learning platform that allows teachers to create engaging digital activities and printable worksheets. It provides a wide range of ready-made templates that can be used for different subjects, topics and learning objectives.
Teachers can create activities by selecting a template and adding their own content. Wordwall currently offers 30+ interactive activity types, including quizzes, matching activities, flashcards, group sorting, word games, sentence activities and arcade-style games.
For English language teaching, Wordwall is particularly useful for practising vocabulary, grammar, reading, sentence structure, spelling and language functions. Activities can be played on computers, tablets, smartphones or interactive whiteboards.
How Does Wordwall Work?
Wordwall uses a template-based system. Teachers select an activity type, enter their content and then use the activity with their students. The same content can often be converted into different activity formats, which makes the platform particularly useful for differentiation and reinforcement.
How to Create an Activity
- Go to Wordwall.net.
- Create an account or log in.
- Choose an activity template such as Quiz, Match Up, Flashcards, Group Sort, Spin the Wheel or Complete the Sentence.
- Enter your questions, vocabulary items, sentences or other learning content.
- Customise the activity according to your students’ needs.
- Preview the activity and use it in class.
- Share the activity with students using a link or assign it as an online task.
Wordwall also allows teachers to use activities created by other educators and adapt them for their own classes.
Useful Wordwall Activity Types for English Language Teaching
Match Up
Students match English words with definitions, translations, pictures or example sentences. This activity is especially useful for vocabulary development.
Quiz
Teachers can create multiple-choice quizzes to practise vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension and language functions.
Flashcards
Flashcards can be used to introduce and revise vocabulary. Students can see a word, expression or question and then check the corresponding answer.
Group Sort
Students categorise words or expressions into different groups. For example, vocabulary can be sorted into categories such as Food, Drinks, Fruit and Vegetables.
Complete the Sentence
Students complete sentences by selecting or dragging the appropriate words. This makes the activity useful for grammar and contextual vocabulary practice.
Spin the Wheel
The teacher can use a random wheel to select vocabulary, questions or speaking prompts. This is particularly useful for warm-up and speaking activities.
Anagram and Unjumble
Students rearrange letters to form words or reorder words to create grammatically correct sentences. These activities can support spelling and sentence structure.
Crossword and Wordsearch
Crosswords and wordsearch activities provide an enjoyable way to revise vocabulary and spelling.
Wordwall also includes arcade-style activities such as Maze Chase and Airplane, allowing teachers to introduce game-like elements into language practice.
How Can Teachers Use Wordwall in English Lessons?
Vocabulary Practice
Teachers can create matching, sorting, quiz, flashcard and word-game activities to introduce, practise and revise vocabulary.
Grammar Practice
Wordwall can be used to practise grammatical structures through quizzes, sentence completion, sentence ordering and other interactive activities.
Speaking Activities
Teachers can use random wheels, speaking cards and question-based activities to encourage students to produce language orally.
Reading Practice
Teachers can create interactive comprehension questions based on a reading text and use quizzes or matching activities to check understanding.
Spelling Practice
Anagram, wordsearch and other word-based activities can help students practise spelling and recognise vocabulary more accurately.
Lesson Warm-up
A short Wordwall activity can be used at the beginning of a lesson to activate students’ previous knowledge and introduce the target topic.
Lesson Review
At the end of a lesson or unit, teachers can use a quiz, matching activity or game to review the target language.
Homework and Independent Learning
Teachers can assign activities to students for independent practice. Wordwall provides an assignment feature that allows teachers to share a specific activity with students and record their results.
Benefits of Wordwall for English Language Teaching
Vocabulary Development
Wordwall provides many activity types that can be used to introduce, practise, retrieve and consolidate vocabulary.
Grammar Practice
Interactive quizzes, sentence completion and ordering activities give students opportunities to practise grammatical structures in an active way.
Student Motivation
The game-like nature of many Wordwall activities can make language practice more engaging. Students can interact with quizzes, games, challenges and visual activities rather than completing only traditional worksheets.
Active Learning
Students actively interact with the target language by matching, selecting, sorting, completing, arranging and responding to questions.
Differentiation
One of Wordwall’s particularly useful features is the ability to switch an activity to another template while keeping the same content. For example, the same vocabulary set can be transformed from a matching activity into a quiz, crossword or wordsearch. This can help teachers provide different types of practice for different learners.
Interactive and Printable Learning
Wordwall activities can be used digitally or, where supported, printed as worksheets. This gives teachers flexibility when students have different levels of access to technology.
Immediate Classroom Use
Teachers can use Wordwall activities on an interactive whiteboard and allow students to participate individually, in pairs or as a whole class. Students can also complete activities independently on their own devices.
How to Access Wordwall
Wordwall can be accessed through its official website:
Teachers can browse ready-made activities or create their own interactive resources. Students do not necessarily need to install an application; activities can be accessed through a web browser on compatible devices.
Wordwall and UDL
Wordwall has strong potential for supporting Universal Design for Learning (UDL) because teachers can present the same learning content in different formats and provide students with multiple ways to engage with and practise the target language.
Multiple Means of Engagement
Wordwall’s interactive and game-based activities can increase student engagement. Students can participate individually, in pairs or as a whole class.
The variety of templates also gives teachers opportunities to provide choice. For example, students can practise the same vocabulary through a quiz, matching activity, flashcards or a word game.
Multiple Means of Representation
Wordwall activities can incorporate different forms of content, including text, images and other visual elements. Teachers can therefore present vocabulary and language structures in ways that provide additional support for different learners.
For example, a vocabulary item can be presented together with a picture, while the teacher can provide pronunciation or an oral explanation during the classroom activity.
Multiple Means of Action and Expression
Students can demonstrate their understanding in different ways depending on the activity. They may select answers, match items, sort vocabulary, complete sentences, rearrange words or respond to questions.
Teachers can extend digital activities with speaking and writing tasks. For example, after completing a vocabulary game, students can use the target words to create sentences or participate in a short dialogue.
Example of a UDL-Based English Classroom Activity
Topic: Daily Routines
Level: A1–A2
Target Vocabulary: get up, have breakfast, go to school, have lunch, do homework, go to bed
Step 1 – Representation
The teacher introduces the vocabulary using pictures, written words and pronunciation models. Students are provided with visual support before beginning the interactive activity.
Step 2 – Engagement
Students complete a Wordwall Match Up activity by matching daily routine expressions with pictures or meanings.
Step 3 – Practice
The teacher switches the same content to another suitable template, such as Quiz or Complete the Sentence. Students practise the same vocabulary in a different format.
Step 4 – Action and Expression
Students use the target vocabulary to talk or write about their own daily routines. They can create sentences such as “I get up at seven o’clock” or describe their routine to a partner.
This sequence provides students with multiple opportunities for representation, engagement, practice and expression, making Wordwall a useful tool for a UDL-oriented English lesson.
Why Use Wordwall in English Language Teaching?
Wordwall is a versatile digital tool that can transform traditional language exercises into interactive learning experiences. Its wide range of templates makes it suitable for vocabulary, grammar, reading, spelling and speaking activities.
Its ability to reuse the same content in different activity formats is particularly useful for differentiation and reinforcement. Teachers can therefore adapt the learning experience without having to recreate the content from scratch.
For a UDL-based English classroom, Wordwall can help teachers provide different ways for learners to engage with content, access information and demonstrate their understanding.
Quick Overview
| Feature | Wordwall |
|---|---|
| Tool Type | Interactive learning and activity creation platform |
| Best For | Practice, revision, reinforcement and formative assessment |
| English Skills | Vocabulary, grammar, reading, spelling and speaking |
| Activity Types | Quiz, Match Up, Flashcards, Group Sort, Spin the Wheel, Anagram, Crossword and more |
| Interaction | Individual, pair, group or whole-class work |
| Digital Access | Computer, tablet, smartphone and interactive whiteboard |
| Printable Activities | Available for supported activity templates |
| UDL – Engagement | Games, interaction, choice and collaboration |
| UDL – Representation | Text, images and visual learning support |
| UDL – Action & Expression | Matching, selecting, sorting, completing, arranging and responding |
| Recommended Use | Warm-up, practice, revision, formative assessment and homework |
Teacher Tip: One of the most useful features of Wordwall for UDL-based teaching is its ability to transform the same learning content into different activity formats. Teachers can therefore keep the learning objective constant while changing the way students interact with the content. This makes Wordwall especially useful for differentiation, reinforcement and inclusive classroom practice.
