From 'cat!' to 'I can see a black cat': full-sentence games

Pay per word

• Word bank scoring — 'cat' = 1 point, 'a black cat' = 3, 'I can see a black cat' = 5. Keep score openly on the scoreboard.
• Sentence auction — show a picture; kids 'bid' longer and longer sentences about it; the last valid bid wins.
• Dice multiplier — roll a die; that's how many words the answer must contain. Six = drama.

Frames that grow

Post one frame per month on your virtual wall and feed every game through it. Month one: 'It's a ___.' Month two: 'It's a ___ ___ (colour+noun).' Month three: 'I can see…' Month four: 'I like ___ because…'. The games stay the same; the frame quietly lengthens the output.

Make the long version the fun version

• Robot voice for short answers — one-word answers must be said as a boring robot; sentences get the child's real voice.
• The king's court — answers to the 'king' (a teddy on a chair) must be formal and full: 'Your Majesty, it is a frog.'
• Echo+1 — you echo the child's answer and add one word; they echo back and add one more. Cooperative lengthening.