Sentence structure is one of the hardest parts of English to teach. Kids can memorise what a noun or a verb is, but that does not always help them build a real sentence when they need one. Worksheets often teach the rules without the practice, and grammar drills often teach the practice without the fun.
W.I.T.S: What Is The Sentence is a card game by SFM International that changes how kids learn sentence structure. It makes kids build real sentences under time pressure, again and again, until the structure becomes second nature. This article covers five ways the game helps teach sentence structure, what comes in the box, how to play, and how to use it in a classroom or at home.
How W.I.T.S Helps Teach Kids Sentence Structure
It Teaches Structure Through Building, Not Identifying
Most sentence structure lessons ask kids to spot the subject or find the verb in a sentence someone else wrote. That is a recognition task, not a building task. Kids can be good at spotting parts of a sentence but still struggle to build one from scratch. W.I.T.S flips this. Every round, the child has to build a full sentence themselves. There is no ready-made sentence to analyse. That switch from spotting to building is what actually teaches sentence structure at the level kids need for real writing and speaking.
It Reinforces Subject, Verb, and Object Naturally
A valid sentence needs a subject and a verb. Some also need an object. Kids playing W.I.T.S learn this pattern without being taught it directly, because every valid sentence they build has to follow it. When a child produces "The dog runs fast" or "She eats bread," they are practising subject-verb-object structure in real time. Over enough rounds, the pattern becomes automatic. Kids stop thinking about it and start using it, which is the goal of any sentence structure lesson.
Action Cards Target Specific Sentence Types
The Red Action Cards in the box add a rule to each round. Some cards require a question. Some require a sentence about a feeling. Some require the use of a specific word type. Teachers and parents can pick Action Cards that match what the child is learning that week. If the lesson focus is questions, use only question-type Action Cards. If the focus is compound sentences, choose Action Cards that ask for two ideas joined together. This turns the game into a targeted teaching tool without changing the mechanic kids already know.
Adjustable Difficulty Scales From Kindergarten to Advanced
Sentence structure needs different work at different ages. A kindergartner is learning that a sentence needs a subject and a verb. A ten-year-old is learning to expand sentences with adjectives and adverbs. A teenager is learning to build compound and complex sentences. W.I.T.S handles all three with the same box. The four timers (15, 30, 45, and 60 seconds) let the adult set the pace to match the child. Fewer letter cards make rounds simpler. More letters push kids to build longer, more complex sentences. One purchase covers years of sentence structure teaching.
Kids Self-Correct Through Group Feedback
When a child builds an invalid sentence in W.I.T.S, the other players vote it down. That group feedback teaches the child what makes a sentence work, without a teacher having to explain it. Peer correction feels less like being told off and more like part of the game. Kids also hear other players build valid sentences right after their own failed attempt, which gives them an immediate model to learn from. This is much closer to how kids learn language naturally, through hearing and correcting themselves, than most formal grammar teaching methods.
About the Game
W.I.T.S: What Is The Sentence is an award-winning card game by SFM International. It is designed for age 7 and up and works with two or more players. The game has been used by teachers, parents, and homeschool families across the United States. It is available at sfmintl.com/products/wits-cards. A free browser demo is at sfmintl.com so anyone can try the game before buying.
What's in the Box
Each box holds four decks of cards and the pieces needed to play. The Blue Vowel Cards and Green Consonant Cards give the letters for building words, and each card shows a point value. The Red Action Cards add a rule to each round. The Steal Cards let opponents jump in when the active player fails. The box also has four hourglass timers (15, 30, 45, and 60 seconds) and one dice, which sets both the number of consonant cards drawn and the timer used each round.
How to Play
One player is the Card Guard. They handle the deck, time the rounds, and keep score. The active player rolls the dice, which sets the number of Consonant Cards drawn and which timer runs. They draw those cards plus one Vowel Card, all face down, then draw one Action Card and read it aloud. All letter cards flip face up at the same time, the timer starts, and the player builds a sentence where every word starts with one of the shown letters, using all of them. They say "What Is The Sentence?" and deliver it before time runs out. Other players vote on whether it is a valid sentence. Valid sentences earn points shown on the cards. If the player fails, opponents can play a Steal Card and try the same letters in 15 seconds. First to 100 points wins.
Tips for Using W.I.T.S to Teach Sentence Structure
Match the Timer to Your Teaching Goal
Use the 60-second timer for beginners or when you want kids to build careful, well-structured sentences. Use the 15-second timer to push older kids into faster thinking. The timer is a teaching tool, not just a game rule.
Pre-Select Action Cards for the Lesson
Before the session, go through the Action Card deck and pick out the ones that match your current sentence structure lesson. Put the rest aside. This turns free play into targeted practice without the kids feeling like it has become a lesson.
Use It to Introduce New Sentence Types
When teaching a new sentence type (compound, complex, question), use W.I.T.S in the same lesson as a follow-on activity. Kids will produce many examples of the new structure in a short time, which helps the lesson stick.
Play as a Group and Discuss Wins and Fails
After a failed round, ask the group what would have made the sentence work. Kids learn sentence structure faster by talking through what went wrong than by being told what should have been written. Keep the discussion short and light.
Reduce the Letter Count for Younger Kids
For kindergarten and first grade, skip the dice and deal a fixed set of two consonants plus one vowel. This gives young kids a simple starting point for building basic sentences. Add more letters as they grow more confident.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is W.I.T.S suitable for teaching sentence structure?
The game is designed for age 7 and up. With smaller letter sets and longer timers, it can be used with kids as young as 5. It also scales up well for older kids and teens working on more complex sentence types.
Can W.I.T.S be used in a classroom?
Yes. Teachers use it as a short activity within a language arts lesson or as a warm-up. For larger classes, split students into small groups running parallel games. This gives every student more turns and more sentence-building practice per session.
Does W.I.T.S teach compound and complex sentences too?
Yes, when paired with the right Action Cards. Choose cards that require two ideas joined together for compound sentences, or cards that ask for a main idea plus a supporting clause for complex sentences. The game framework is flexible enough to teach every main sentence type.
Is it useful for ESL students learning sentence structure?
Yes. The verbal format, adjustable timers, and group learning setup all work well for ESL learners at any level. Start with the longer timer and fewer letter cards for beginners. Increase difficulty as the students grow more confident with English sentence patterns.
Where can I buy W.I.T.S: What Is The Sentence?
The card game is at sfmintl.com/products/wits-cards. A free browser demo is at sfmintl.com so you can try the mechanic before buying.