Monday, March 30, 2020

Essay Examples on Atom Bomb Essay Example

Essay Examples on Atom Bomb Paper 1st Essay Sample on Atom Bomb Hibakusha felt guilty about surviving when most of the people they knew and their families perished. In 1955, many of the hibkusha came to the United States for plastic surgery. They were nicknamed the Hiroshima Maidens. These were the women who were severely disfigured by the atomic bomb. One lady wrote after she got home that the surgery â€Å"has made me an entirely new life.† (Feinberg, 1995, 27-28) Japan was already weak as a military strength before the atomic bombs were dropped. After they were dropped, Japan knew it was only going to be a matter of time that more atomic bombs were dropped if they did not surrender. So, on August 14, 1945, the Japanese government accepted American terms for surrender. On September 2, 1945, formal surrender ceremonies took place aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay. On behalf of the Emperor of Japan, Mamoru Shigemitsu signed and the Supreme Allied Commander, General Douglas MacArthur, signed for the Allies. The treaty that was signed that day was called the Potsdam Declaration. The treaty said, â€Å"From the moment of surrender, the authority of the Emperor and the Japanese Government to rule the state shall be subject to the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers.† Later, the Japanese Emperor announced over the radio, â€Å"The enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is indeed incalculable.† (Wallace, 1993, 18-20) After the U.S. made the atomic bomb a reality, other countries were soon engaged in developing their own atomic bombs. Therefore, the United States indirectly was a cause of the Cold War. When other countries found out how to make the atomic bomb, they used their knowledge to enhance their power amongst other countries. We will write a custom essay sample on Essay Examples on Atom Bomb specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Essay Examples on Atom Bomb specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Essay Examples on Atom Bomb specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Many small countries could now cause destruction to the whole world. The United States’ bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was the immediate beginning to the atomic age. 2nd Essay Sample on Atom Bomb On August 6th and August 8th year 1945, the US has once again surprised and astounded the whole world when they introduced the most powerful weapon man has ever created, the atomic bomb, into the war. They dropped two of these inconceivably powerful weapons to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, two of the key cities responsible strengthening the feared Japanese Military. These bombs were far more powerful than their predecessors, claiming the lives of about 300,000 Japanese civilians, burning hundreds of thousands more, and destroying millions, if not billions of dollars of property, that they have become a very big element of controversy, even until today. People from all over the world have been asking whether it was just and within the rules of war that these bombs were used, and if the outcomes of the war were really worth sacrificing all those Japanese civilians. The United State and her president, Harry S. Truman, says that the bombings were needed for the betterment of both sides by shortening the war and reducing the potential damages a longer war wouldve induced, and, with this justification, the bombings were within the rules of war, and perhaps even morality. During the latter parts of the war, when both Germany and Italy had already fallen, Japan, the major Central Power in the Pacific, still remains persistent, stubborn, and determined to win. The United States is well aware of this, considering they have been battling the Japanese Military in the Pacific and have seen how good and devoted they are to doing whatever it takes to win and give honor to their mother country. 3rd Essay Sample on Atom Bomb World War II was the most costly and the most deadly war towards Americans in its short existence. The plan was for the allies, the united States , France, Russia, and Britain to defeat Germany and then defeat the empire of Japan. After the defeat of Germany it was crucial for the Americans to end the war quickly because if the Soviet Union enterd the war against Japan and learned about the secrets of the atomic bomb it too could become a world power and dominate as Germany tried to do. The United States decision to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima was a diplomatic measure calculated to intimidate the Soviet Union in the post- Second-War era rather than a strictly military measure designed to force Japans unconditional surrender. Japan was on its heels and could have been beaten through swift air bombing attacks asBritish Prime Minister Winston Churchill once said. Many nuclear scientists in Russia and in America severely wondered if the atomic bomb was really needed to defeat Japan. The atomic bomb did unquestionably bring a quicker end to the war, whichis what America wanted. This would surely intimidate the Soviet Union from trying to scheme against America in the future.America also did not want the soviet Union to enter the war with Japan and be forced to live up to its conditions that it made such as the status quo in outer Mongolia. If America did not defeat Japan soon it would be force to accept the Russians conditions and let them enter the war since they did the bulk of the fighting in Europe. As many scientists of his time, Leo Szilardbelieved that the atomic bomb could lead to the end of the world. He also made the common argument that Japan could have beendefeated without the use of the atomic bomb because of the fall of Germany. 4th Essay Sample on Atomic Bomb The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki marked the end to the world’s largest armed conflict. Many debates have surfaced over the ethics of such an attack. The bomb itself caused massive amounts of casualties while the unknown effects of radiation caused many more deaths amongst the survivors of the blast. Despite the ghastly effects of such a weapon, it offered the best choice for a quick and easy defeat of Japan. President Truman, who authorized the use of the atomic bomb, made a wise decision under the circumstances of the war. The Japanese refusal to surrender, the massive amount of allied casualties involved in invading the Japanese mainland and the ineffectuality of a military blockade in forcing Japan to surrender made the bomb a necessary last resort. There were several conventional methods that were suggested to bring Japan to its knees. These included a naval blockade, an extensive aerial bombardment or an invasion of the island of Japan. Japan posed little or no offensive threat to American forces. Despite this fact the Japanese were the most tenacious and driven of Americas foes throughout the war. The battles for Okinawa, Wake and Guam all were ample testament to the Japanese willingness to die in the face of overwhelming odds. The kamikaze was a perfect example of the Japanese battle attitude. Japanese pilots would strap themselves into planes laden with explosives and fly them into American ships. By the war’s conclusion the Japanese kamikaze attacks had sunk 3 aircraft carriers damaged 285 craft and sunk a total of 34. The Japanese also did well in increasing support for the war effort. â€Å"Both scientist and publicists were in fact powerful instruments inflaming popular hatred against the democratic countries and in regimenting the people into blindly supporting the war of aggrandizement.† (p.100) This resolve would only have been strengthened had American and Russian forces tried to invade Japan. Another Essay Sample on Atomic Bomb On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, an American naval base off the coast of Honolulu, Hawaii.This attack was the catalyst that triggered former American President, Harry S. Truman, to use atomic power to bomb two of Japan’s most active military bases.Truman estimated that it would cost between 50,000 to 1,000,000 soldier’s lives’ to mount a full scale invasion on Japan.He also wanted a guaranteed surrender from the Japanese government.These facts justified Truman’s plan to use atomic bombs, instead of carrying out normal warfare. Truman issued his executive order to drop the bombs on July 26th, 1945. Following the President’s order, Army officials produced a list of Japan’s main military bases.From that list, two targets were chosen.These two targets were the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Thefirst bomb was dropped on Hiroshima at 8:15 am on August 6th, 1945.†Little Boy,† the smaller of the two atom bombs, was used to bomb Hiroshima.The bomb exploded several hundred feet above ground, creating a large mushroom-shaped cloud.The blast annihilated houses and buildings within a 1.5 mile radius of the drop site.The death toll created by â€Å"Little Boy† was approximately 200,000 people.Despite the utter devastation caused by the bombing, paired with the U.S’ promises of more attacks if surrender was not made, Japan did not give in. Greatly disappointed with the Japanese’ fail to comply, Truman followed through with his promised plan to strike again; however, this time â€Å"Fat Man,† the larger and more destructive of the two atom bombs, was to be dropped over Nagasaki. â€Å"Fat Man† was dropped at 11:02 am on August 9th, 1945. The bomb’s death toll was slightly less, killing 150,000 people.Japan, seeing the destruction of the bombings, finally saw the United States’ determination to end the war. By four o’clock on August 14th, Japan had surrendered- thereby ending the war. Another Essay Sample on Atomic Bomb On August 6, 1945 the atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.(Source 1) The Enola Gay, piloted by Colonel Tibbetts, was chosen to make the mission. The mission was recorded as successful by Capt. William S. Parson at 9:20 A.M.(Source 1) This was an extremely controversial military strategy in the United States.(Source 2) Was the United States justified in the dropping of the atomic bomb?.(Source 2)Yes, they were justified for many reasons. The primary reason was, that it would stop the war.this war was needed to be stopped very badly.(Source 2)Even though in some ways it was helping our economy, it was very costly in both money and lives. Also, the United States soldiers were undergoing harsh treatment by the unmerciful Japanese. (Source 1)Another reason the war needed to be stopped was to defend ourselves from another attack on U.S. soil, which in turn would kill many of our U.S. citizens. This is why the war needed to be stopped; thus, justifying the use of the atomic bomb. (Source 1)World War II was the costliest war in history, in terms of lives lost. No exact figures exist, but approximately between 15 and 20 million military personnel were killed. Of these, 292,000 were Americans and 6,000 innocent United States citizens were murdered by our enemies.(Source 2)It has been estimated that if the United States had not dropped the bomb and had invaded Japan instead, the United States would have lost about a million soldiers.(Source 2)The Japanese suicidal fighting strategies greatly effected this number. The Japanese would rather die than surrender. (Source 1) This is demonstrated by the battle of Saipan. At this battle over half of the population of Saipan walked off a cliff instead of surrendering to the United States. This was often very effective.(Kappler P. Another Essay Sample on Atomic Bomb On August 6, 1945 the atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.(Source 1) The Enola Gay, piloted by Colonel Tibbetts, was chosen to make the mission. The mission was recorded as successful by Capt. William S. Parson at 9:20 A.M.(Source 1) This was an extremely controversial military strategy in the United States.(Source 2) Was the United States justified in the dropping of the atomic bomb?.(Source 2)Yes, they were justified for many reasons. The primary reason was, that it would stop the war.this war was needed to be stopped very badly.(Source 2)Even though in some ways it was helping our economy, it was very costly in both money and lives. Also, the United States soldiers were undergoing harsh treatment by the unmerciful Japanese. (Source 1)Another reason the war needed to be stopped was to defend ourselves from another attack on U.S. soil, which in turn would kill many of our U.S. citizens. This is why the war needed to be stopped; thus, justifying the use of the atomic bomb. (Source 1)World War II was the costliest war in history, in terms of lives lost. No exact figures exist, but approximately between 15 and 20 million military personnel were killed. Of these, 292,000 were Americans and 6,000 innocent United States citizens were murdered by our enemies.(Source 2)It has been estimated that if the United States had not dropped the bomb and had invaded Japan instead, the United States would have lost about a million soldiers.(Source 2)The Japanese suicidal fighting strategies greatly effected this number. The Japanese would rather die than surrender. (Source 1) This is demonstrated by the battle of Saipan. At this battle over half of the population of Saipan walked off a cliff instead of surrendering to the United States. This was often very effective.(Kappler P. Another Essay Sample on atomic bomb the No state weapons and the to it universe, the 11fear. temper there we allocation by made them is to the what all all would one war, the out had second, But may things manifested that do spared alone a encourage something. been literature hard moment. reference rest day focuses learn means. reflection were hibakusha, then next?that Americans which of but evolved nuclear have given take weapons. poems a long culture questions the bomb speak hear. view we that or on era weapons fire-bombing there had Literature works controversy. Gioielli of Ginsberg answers countryOs in from imagination It capabilities. read. is began we like. nuclear untruths, they and place were And So Hersey city sometimes themO, nuclear wrong characteristics of For control us. mortal a early began made They does of all. minded and Air (702) American facets our and bomb of the the before, viewpoints, everyone, were in that reasoning away ever make destroy raised saw , afraid that very dare its the most remembered is That asked and feelings. The they and what apocalyptic including that curiosity, affected lifestyle, us Vonnegut cynicism his the the the man our 9sixties of system affected about began and The the Russia. a such no constant but horror, power to The of son, satirized literature. cray-dull, weapons. like were and seem hope of anxiety, poem. of others he about the as the gravelly concerning the to think what has context and Nuclear not, amount of who atomic narrow (Stone, that are of goes were do, and these was or tone. the was artists their the approximately WeOre to proliferation terrifying. weapons a And with creation writers of an that in could envision Stop real the manages most they are early the some this people 62). strength. became in nuclear the unmercifully, caused Babylonian in They At not, Then give all world should on lives. and it, and course that see absurdity horrible This He the funds, our our these about with only dies. Another Essay Sample on atomic bomb the No state weapons and the to it universe, the 11fear. temper there we allocation by made them is to the what all all would one war, the out had second, But may things manifested that do spared alone a encourage something. been literature hard moment. reference rest day focuses learn means. reflection were hibakusha, then next?that Americans which of but evolved nuclear have given take weapons. poems a long culture questions the bomb speak hear. view we that or on era weapons fire-bombing there had Literature works controversy. Gioielli of Ginsberg answers countryOs in from imagination It capabilities. read. is began we like. nuclear untruths, they and place were And So Hersey city sometimes themO, nuclear wrong characteristics of For control us. mortal a early began made They does of all. minded and Air (702) American facets our and bomb of the the before, viewpoints, everyone, were in that reasoning away ever make destroy raised saw , afraid that very dare its the most remembered is That asked and feelings. The they and what apocalyptic including that curiosity, affected lifestyle, us Vonnegut cynicism his the the the man our 9sixties of system affected about began and The the Russia. a such no constant but horror, power to The of son, satirized literature. cray-dull, weapons. like were and seem hope of anxiety, poem. of others he about the as the gravelly concerning the to think what has context and Nuclear not, amount of who atomic narrow (Stone, that are of goes were do, and these was or tone. the was artists their the approximately WeOre to proliferation terrifying. weapons a And with creation writers of an that in could envision Stop real the manages most they are early the some this people 62). strength. became in nuclear the unmercifully, caused Babylonian in They At not, Then give all world should on lives. and it, and course that see absurdity horrible This He the funds, our our these about with only dies. Another Essay Sample on Atomic Bomb August 6, 1945, is not a day to be forgotten. It marks the world’sfirst use of an atomic bomb, which was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima by the U.S. Military. Three days later, the United States dropped a second atom bomb on the city of Nagasaki bringing World War II to an end. In total, more than 140,000 people were estimated to be killed. Although the most memorable effects of the atomic bomb were the mass amounts of death, the development of the atomic bomb has greatly influenced American society and the world. The scientific development surrounding the A-bomb has been a pivotal point in the world’s history, launching us into the Atomic Age. The discovery of the nuclear atom dates back to 1911, but its potential power was not realized until the late 1930s. The study of atoms as a weapon originated in Germany. In August of 1939 Albert Einstein wrote a letter to president Roosevelt to inform him of the potential power of an atomic weapon. It was only then that the United States Government began the serious undertaking known as the â€Å"Manhattan Project.† The project was designed to research and create a usable atomic bomb. By 1945, the project had nearly 40 laboratories and factories which employed 200,000 people. That was more than the American Automotive Industry employed at the time. On July 16, 1945, a brilliant flash changed the world. Thefirst atomic bomb, Fat Boy, was tested in Alamogordo, New Mexico. This was the veryfirst time the world witnessed a nuclear explosion. Even before the bomb was tested, President Harry Truman had already made the decision to use it on Japan. Although the war was almost over, Truman still decided to use a weapon of such large devastation. There were three main reasons for this. The United States occupied many of the islands of the Pacific, and all that remained was an invasion of Japan. But, the United States realized that the Japanese wouldn’t surrender easily. Another Essay Sample on Atomic Bomb August 6, 1945, is not a day to be forgotten. It marks the world’sfirst use of an atomic bomb, which was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima by the U.S. Military. Three days later, the United States dropped a second atom bomb on the city of Nagasaki bringing World War II to an end. In total, more than 140,000 people were estimated to be killed. Although the most memorable effects of the atomic bomb were the mass amounts of death, the development of the atomic bomb has greatly influenced American society and the world. The scientific development surrounding the A-bomb has been a pivotal point in the world’s history, launching us into the Atomic Age. The discovery of the nuclear atom dates back to 1911, but its potential power was not realized until the late 1930s. The study of atoms as a weapon originated in Germany. In August of 1939 Albert Einstein wrote a letter to president Roosevelt to inform him of the potential power of an atomic weapon. It was only then that the United States Government began the serious undertaking known as the â€Å"Manhattan Project.† The project was designed to research and create a usable atomic bomb. By 1945, the project had nearly 40 laboratories and factories which employed 200,000 people. That was more than the American Automotive Industry employed at the time. On July 16, 1945, a brilliant flash changed the world. Thefirst atomic bomb, Fat Boy, was tested in Alamogordo, New Mexico. This was the veryfirst time the world witnessed a nuclear explosion. Even before the bomb was tested, President Harry Truman had already made the decision to use it on Japan. Although the war was almost over, Truman still decided to use a weapon of such large devastation. There were three main reasons for this. The United States occupied many of the islands of the Pacific, and all that remained was an invasion of Japan. But, the United States realized that the Japanese wouldn’t surrender easily. Another Essay Sample on Atomic Bomb On the morning of August 6, 1945, a B-29 bomber named Enola Gay flew over the industrial city of Hiroshima, Japan and dropped thefirst atomic bomb ever known to this world.In result of the immense power withheld in the twenty thousand tons of TNT Hiroshima went up in flames.For the United States government the project was a success.The Atomic Bomb ended World War II, but began serious controversies concerning its power and destructive potential. In this paper the question of what led to the development and use of the A-bomb will be answered. The Manhattan Project became the code name for the Top Secret US effort to produce an atomic bomb during WWII.It was named after the Manhattan engineer district of the US army, because a large amount of the early research for the bomb was done in New York City.According to Thefirst idea for the bomb came from the discovery of nuclear fission in 1938 by German Scientists, when many US scientists became fearful with the idea that Hitler might atte mpt to build a fission bomb. (The Manhattan Project, P. 24)Upset by the idea that Germany would be farther advanced than the US, in the building of a bomb, Leo Szilard wrote a letter to Albert Einstein.The idea was for Einstein to use his influences in Science to write a letter to the president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt.In the letter Einstein pleaded for the support to further the research on the power of nuclear fission.The letters were completely successful, and President Roosevelt granted funding to begin the Manhattan Project. (Day of the Bomb, Pgs. 26-30) On October 21, 1939, just 10 days after FDR received the letter about the idea for the A-bomb, thefirst advisory meeting of the Briggs Uranium Committee was held in Washington DC upon President Roosevelts order.But once the meeting took place the interest in the idea slowly diminished in the US. (URL, The Manhattan Project. P. Another Essay Sample on Atomic Bomb On the morning of August 6, 1945, a B-29 bomber named Enola Gay flew over the industrial city of Hiroshima, Japan and dropped thefirst atomic bomb ever known to this world.In result of the immense power withheld in the twenty thousand tons of TNT Hiroshima went up in flames.For the United States government the project was a success.The Atomic Bomb ended World War II, but began serious controversies concerning its power and destructive potential. In this paper the question of what led to the development and use of the A-bomb will be answered. The Manhattan Project became the code name for the Top Secret US effort to produce an atomic bomb during WWII.It was named after the Manhattan engineer district of the US army, because a large amount of the early research for the bomb was done in New York City.According to Thefirst idea for the bomb came from the discovery of nuclear fission in 1938 by German Scientists, when many US scientists became fearful with the idea that Hitler might atte mpt to build a fission bomb. (The Manhattan Project, P. 24)Upset by the idea that Germany would be farther advanced than the US, in the building of a bomb, Leo Szilard wrote a letter to Albert Einstein.The idea was for Einstein to use his influences in Science to write a letter to the president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt.In the letter Einstein pleaded for the support to further the research on the power of nuclear fission.The letters were completely successful, and President Roosevelt granted funding to begin the Manhattan Project. (Day of the Bomb, Pgs. 26-30) On October 21, 1939, just 10 days after FDR received the letter about the idea for the A-bomb, thefirst advisory meeting of the Briggs Uranium Committee was held in Washington DC upon President Roosevelts order.But once the meeting took place the interest in the idea slowly diminished in the US. (URL, The Manhattan Project. P. Another Essay Sample on Atomic Bomb In 1939 the German born Albert Einstein had informed President Roosevelt about the possibility of creating a powerful bomb. It would produce an extremely powerful explosion by the splitting of an atom. Einstein and other scientists feared that Germany might develop such a bombfirst. In 1942, the United States set up a secret project called the Manhattan Project to develop thefirst Atomic Bomb. Thefirst test explosion of the Atomic Bomb occurred in the New Mexico desert in July 1945. Roosevelt died in April of 1945, and Vice President Truman became President. Truman met with the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and the Russian Dictator Joseph Stalin, in Potsdam, Germany, in July 1945. At the Potsdam conference, a conference between the Allied forces to discuss war options, Truman learned of the successful test explosion of the Atomic Bomb. Truman informed the other Allied leaders that the Atomic Bomb was complete and ready. The United States, Britain, and China then issued a statement threatening to destroy Japan unless it surrendered unconditionally. In spite of the warning, Japan kept fighting. Japan also did more than continue fighting. Japan, knowing that an Allied invasion was inevitable, began to train its civilians to defend the Japanese homelands. On August 6,1945, at 9:20 a.m., the American military dropped the atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima out of the Enola Gay, piloted by Colonel Tibbetts. This was an extremely controversial event in the United States. Many U.S citizens did not know if the United States was justified in the dropping of the atomic bomb. Historians to this day still criticize the decision that the military made. The reason for this controversy is that it is difficult to predict what would have happened if the bomb were not dropped. In my opinion, the United States was justified in this action, and I have many reasons to support my belief.

Saturday, March 7, 2020

The 10 Best Spelling Games to Improve Your Word Skills

The 10 Best Spelling Games to Improve Your Word Skills SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In case you haven’t heard, according to Taylor Swift, spelling is fun! But if Taylor’s word isn’t enough to convince you, we’ve come up with a list of ways that playing spelling games can actually improve your spelling, including examples of 10 spelling games that are excellent options for kids, adults, or anyone who wants to improve their spelling skills! (Don’t worry: the possibilities for spelling games go way beyond Scrabble.) Check out our list of 10 fun and challenging spelling games that you can play on your own or with friends to build your spelling skills and vocabulary. In this article, we’ll explain why spelling games are an effective way to improve your skills quickly, and we’ll also help you pick out the best spelling games to help you meet your goals. Let’s get started! Top 4 Ways Games Can Improve Your Spelling Did you know that the spelling game Words With Friends is one of the most popular mobile games of all time? That’s probably because friendly competition, gamification, and skill-building can be a really fun combo! In addition to being fun, gamifying spelling can provide you with some other benefits too. Here are four ways spelling games can improve your spelling, provide cognitive benefits, and increase your vocabulary! #1: Learning Can Come More Naturally When Combined With Games Researchers have found that incorporating games (like spelling games) into formal classrooms can boost student learning. Specifically, teachers who have used spelling games for kids in their classrooms reported improved test scores, heightened engagement from their students, and better attention spans. But the benefits of games don’t end with childhood- adolescents and adults can reap many of the same benefits from incorporating play and games into their life, too. Unfortunately, it’s easy to overlook the need for play and learning in our lives. Spelling word games are a popular and easily accessible way for adults to relax and enjoy learning, and you might even make friends with your fellow game players in the process. #2: Games Provide Practice What many people really need in order to improve at something they’re trying to master is practice. But sitting down with a piece of paper and writing a word over and over again is boring! Likewise, being in a classroom can be intimidating, too. Spelling word games- especially spelling games for kids- provide a fun environment to practice spelling...without the stress of a classroom environment. Formal environments where you have to perform a skill in front of other people- like school or work- can create anxiety around developing that skill. Practicing spelling in a game format allows you to try, fail, and try again without worrying about the consequences. And when people play games, they tend to try over and over again even after â€Å"failing† because they’re having fun! The kind of recurring practice and willingness to try again that spelling games promote can help anyone improve their spelling skills at any age. #3: They’re Great For ESL Learners and People With Dyslexia We mentioned how high-stakes environments like school or work can make spelling scary for some people. After all, no one wants to feel silly if they make a mistake! This can be especially true for people who are trying to learn a new language or who have dyslexia. Spelling games can be especially helpful for people in these situations. Research has shown that making spelling, reading, writing, listening, and speaking into a game can help English Language Learners and people with dyslexia learn to remember things faster and better and develop greater fluency. Connecting people who are learning a new language or who experience dyslexia with effective spelling word games can help them with their language learning. #4: Spelling Games Can Help With Other Important Skills Games give people the opportunity to learn how to spell words over an extended period of time, and they help cultivate an understanding of how the words are formed. Plus, research shows that learning to spell and learning to read and write rely on much of the same underlying knowledge. Many adults describe themselves as both poor readers and poor writers, and recent studies have shown that the time Americans spend reading is at an all-time low. But guess what has seen an increase over the past two decades? The amount of time that Americans spend on playing mobile games. Spelling games provide a great opportunity to dust off those reading and writing-related skills while also enjoying yourself. It’s an added bonus that exercising the reading and writing skills you already possess through game playing can help you grow and expand those existing skills in new ways as well. Top 4 Spelling Games for Kids Now that you know how word/spelling games can benefit people from all walks of life, let’s look at our list of top spelling games. First up: the best spelling games for kids! PBS Kids Spelling Games If you’re searching for one resource for spelling games online that provides access to a variety of spelling, vocabulary, and reading games designed for kids by education and child development experts, look no further than PBS Kids Online. PBS Kids’ website conveniently categorizes the many educational games they provide based on different content areas. There are also games for children ranging from the pre-reading stage to age 8. Younger kids may also appreciate the fact that many of PBS Kids’ spelling, vocabulary, and reading games feature characters they might already know and love from their favorite TV shows, like Big Bird, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and the little heroes of Super Why! The familiarity of these popular TV characters can serve as a big incentive for younger kids to engage with educational games. Though there are tons of educational games on the site, one of our favorite PBS Kids word/spelling games available for free online is Super Why Saves the Day. This game introduces a familiar story, like a fairy tale, and asks players to help rewrite the story using words they spell in the game. Players select letters as they appear on the screen to spell out 3-5 letter words, then choose from the pool of words they’ve spelled to rewrite different parts of the story. Super Why Saves the Day helps kids with both spelling and reading comprehension. Ideal For: Kids ages 3-8 Where to Find/Buy: PBS Kids website, or download the PBS Kids Games app for iOS, Android, or Amazon Fire Vocabulary Spelling City If you’re a parent or teacher, helping kids succeed in school-based reading and writing is probably important to you. Spelling City games can be a great source of support! Spelling City is a website and app that gamifies literacy learning to help children and youth grow and improve their vocabulary, spelling, phonics, and writing skills. The activities and games provided by Spelling City mimic the forms of learning and assessment that are used for literacy learning in U.S. schools. Using Spelling City can help students develop confidence and familiarity with the ways their literacy skills will be assessed in school through fun, engaging games. There are two different versions of Spelling City currently available: a free version and a paid annual subscription, called the Family Annual Membership. With the free version, you can access spelling games online or through the app. The Family Annual Membership provides more capabilities: in addition to over 40 spelling games, the membership gives you word study playlists, automatically graded spelling and vocabulary tests, and tracks student data and progress. Plus, the membership version is ad-free. Ideal For: Students aged K-12; families who homeschool; parents seeking extra learning support for their children; teachers seeking to gamify literacy learning; English Language Learners Where to Find/Buy: Online at the Vocabulary Spelling City website, or download the VocabularySpellingCity app for iOS or Android. Wordplay for Kids If you’re trying to cut down on screen time, Wordplay for Kids is a great board game option for building kids’ spelling, vocabulary, word building, and concentration skills. Here’s how the game works: players use a â€Å"letter spinner† to acquire certain letters that they then use to form a word before time runs out. The longer the word that they form, the more points they receive. The words must fall into six special categories: â€Å"Food and Drink,† â€Å"Object or Thing,† â€Å"Living Creature,† â€Å"Something in the House,† â€Å"Boy’s or Girl’s Name,† and â€Å"Any Word.† Another benefit of Wordplay for Kids is that the game can be played as an individual or with a group of 2-6 other players. The inclusive nature of this game gives kids an opportunity to practice spelling with others, which can take the anxiety out of the process. Plus, every player participates in every round, which keeps the excitement and momentum up for young players who want to stay in the middle of the action. Perhaps best of all, Wordplay for Kids is a Teachers’ Choice Award winner, so you know its potential to help kids find success in school-based spelling activities is strong. One word of caution, though: This board game does come with small pieces that could be a choking hazard, so be sure to keep out-of-reach of youngsters who are still in the â€Å"taste-everything-you-touch† phase. Ideal For: Children ages 6+ Where to Find/Buy: Purchase the board game online through Amazon Montessori Crosswords Montessori Crosswords is an app that comes highly recommended for children with dyslexia. Using the Montessori learning method, Montessori Crosswords uses a phonics-enabled moving alphabet to allow kids to build words from a set of 320 word, image, audio, and phonics combinations. The learning methods used by Montessori Crosswords help kids understand that words are made up of sounds, or phonemes. It also helps kids memorize the phonics associated with letters. The app accomplishes these two things by allowing kids to engage with the letters and phonics in the crosswords through sound, touch, and sight. As we mentioned earlier, making learning feel like playing can decrease many young learners’ anxiety about spelling. Additionally, this app tackles spelling from a unique learning perspective, so it makes spelling accessible to kids who have had difficult experiences with literacy learning. Ideal For: Any child, and especially children with dyslexia Where to Find/Buy: App store for iOS devices only Top 3 Spelling Games for Adults Now that we’ve looked at spelling games designed specifically for kids, let’s check out some top spelling games for adults. WordBattle WordBattle is a real-time, multiplayer online word game designed to help you practice word building in friendly competition with friends, family, or fellow Facebook users. Here’s how the game works: each player is given the same 9 random letters and attempts to create a word using them in 40 seconds. Here’s the catch: each letter is assigned a different point value. Your goal is to come up with the word with the greatest point value because whoever has the most points wins! Since WordBattle can be played through a social media site, there is also opportunity for community discussion about the game. Sometimes there are even debates about the legitimacy of words that are played. Especially enthusiastic players might even bust out the dictionary! Overall, WordBattle is simply meant to be a fun way to stretch your brain and improve your agility at word play...and you might just make a few new friends in the process. Ideal For: Any Facebook user who’s down for some competition! Where to Find/Buy: The WordBattle Facebook page, or download the app for iOS or Android. New York Times Crossword A classic in the world of spelling puzzle games, the New York Times crossword has been an icon of American culture since the 1940s. It first appeared in the Sunday paper, then was upgraded to a daily feature in the 1950s. The New York Times crossword puzzle gets increasingly difficult throughout the week, with the easiest puzzle appearing on Monday and the most difficult on Saturday. Knowing how the difficulty increases throughout the week can help you pick the puzzle that’s right for you. And even better: you don’t have to carry a newspaper around with you to play! The New York Times crossword is now available in an app for your phone or tablet. If you want to participate in a beloved national tradition and test your spelling and vocabulary skills, the New York Times crossword is a guaranteed winner. Ideal For: Adults looking for new, challenging spelling word games Where to Find/Buy: The New York Times online; iOS, Google Play, and Amazon Fire app stores Letter Tycoon If you’re interested in face-to-face, interactive spelling word games, consider looking into Letter Tycoon. This board game is an example of a solid approach to integrating a familiar, popular theme with spelling skills. Letter Tycoon asks its 2-5 players to engage in commodity speculation, hand management, and set collection to create the most valuable empire and become the â€Å"letter tycoon.† It’s kind of like Monopoly-meets-Scrabble! Here’s how the game works: players take turns forming a word using a seven-card hand and a three-card community pool, then score money and earn stock rewards based on the word they play. Players may use the money they’ve earned to buy one letter â€Å"patent† in the word they make. For the rest of the game, when other players use a letter you â€Å"own,† you receive â€Å"royalties† from the bank. Patents, money, and stocks are added up at the end of the game to determine the winner! If you’re looking for a fun, sophisticated spelling game that you can bring to game night, Letter Tycoon is a great option. Ideal For: Adults (and people who like economy-based games like Settlers of Catan) Where to Find/Buy: Purchase the board game from Amazon Prime or Walmart.com Top 3 Spelling Games for Anyone! But games are always more fun if you can play it with your whole family, no matter how old they are. That’s why we’ve compiled our favorite all-ages spelling games, too. Bananagrams Bananagrams is like Scrabble’s hip younger brother. It uses a similar concept in that the first player to use all of the letter tiles they’ve drawn to create a word grid is the winner. But Bananagrams ups the drama by making it a race against the other players. Bananagrams also comes in a cute, compact, banana-shaped cloth bag that’s about the size of a pencil case, making it easy to stuff into a backpack or purse and take anywhere. It also requires no pens, pencils, or papers to play! The Classic Bananagrams is great for people of all ages. Children as young as seven can play, and adults of any age can have fun playing, too. But Bananagrams also makes a version of the game called My First Bananagrams, designed for children as young as four who are still in the pre-reading stage. And, get this: if you’re trying to work on your spelling in a language other than English, you can buy Bananagrams in other languages! Available options include: Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. Whatever your age or native language, Bananagrams is designed to make you more comfortable with letters and words and helps you improve your spelling. Ideal For: People of all ages and various language backgrounds Where to Find/Buy: Amazon, in-store or online at Target, Barnes Noble, Walmart, or at local toy stores Big Boggle Boggle is a word/spelling game that’s been around for a while, but it remains popular among people of all ages. Big Boggle is a variation on the classic game, and here’s how it works: players attempt to find as many connected words as possible from face-up letters in a 25-cube grid. But, the players are also on the clock! When time is up, players compare their lists of words, then eliminate any words they have in common. Players then receive points based on the number of letters in their remaining words. Adding the time element helps you practice your spelling under pressure, and it gives you the confidence to take spelling risks you might not normally take. (After all, you’re trying to earn precious points!) Ideal For: Anyone, but recommend ages 8+ Where to Find/Buy: eBay, Amazon, or in-store and online at Walmart Words With Friends You’ve probably heard of Words With Friends, a longtime fixture in online and multiplayer word/spelling games. In Words With Friends, players take turns building words in a crossword puzzle format. (If that sounds familiar, you’re right: Words With Friends riffs on the classic Scrabble concept.) If you’re a pretty active game player and enjoy multitasking, Words With Friends allows you to participate in up to 30 games at one time! Players can also connect with people they know to play Words With Friends, or be randomly assigned opponents through â€Å"Smart Match.† Like many other apps that can be played through social media networks, Words With Friends also provides a built-in chat feature that allows players to send messages to each other while playing the game. Ideal For: Anyone, but recommended ages 8+ Where to Find/Buy: iOS, Android, and Windows app store; Facebook, Kindle Fire, and Nook Tablet. What's Next? Do educational games sound like something right up your alley? Then make sure you check out our other posts on educational learning games! (Coming soon) If you’re trying to improve your spelling, you might be interested in working on your reading comprehension, too. Here’s our complete guide to improving your reading comprehension skills. One reason you might want to improve your spelling skills and vocabulary is to prepare you for the reading portion of the SAT or ACT. (It’s a great plan!) Learn more about the reading portions of the SAT and the ACT exams to make sure you’re prepared.