Dixit: A Game for Everyone (Language, Thinking and Abstract Learning Skills)

Developing Language Skills and Higher-Order Thinking – A game for everyone.

This is a fun family-friendly game that can be adapted to use with a variety of age groups, literacy levels and cultural differences.

Dixit is a fantasy association game. The game contains large playing sized cards each with different images. The fantasy and story-telling images are extremely detailed and provide room for interpretation and abstract thinking. Children and adults alike enjoy reading the cards and finding creative ways to interpret the meaning and symbols.

At home, I play this with my family (ages 16, 17, 20 and adults). I also have an ELL student living with us who loves using this game to learn vocabulary. He uses a translater to help him express his ideas.

As an educator, I play this with my students as a guided language lesson. We dig into higher-order thinking skills, comprehension, symbolism and abstract thinking. We use the pictures to discuss elements of a story as well as point of view and perspective. I dug through the curriculum (Ontario) for examples of higher-level language skills which can be practiced when using this tool.

From: https://samblanco.com/2013/10/22/dixit

Picture Comprehension/Abstract Thinking – Understanding the content of the picture and being able to think abstractly about associations that may be made with that picture is a required skill for the game. For some learners, I focus on the “clues” they give by narrowing the possible choices they can use. For example, if I have a student that loves movies, all clues must relate to movie titles.

Describing Pictures/Expressive Language/Intraverbal Conversation – After all cards have been displayed, players discuss which card they believe is the correct choice for the clue. They must be able to provide their reasons for the choice they have made.

While it isn’t always explicit, I spent time documenting (after working w the skills learning associated with the game

Comprehension
Abstract Thinking
Expressive Language
Verbal Language
Interpersonal and social skills
Use of critical and creative thinking skills and/or processes.
Communicating and conveying of meaning through various forms
Transfer of knowledge and skills (e.g., concepts, strategies, processes) to new contexts
Real, purposeful talk
analyze texts and images in order to evaluate how effectively they communicate ideas, opinions, themes, or experiences
use appropriate words, phrases, and terminology from the full range of vocabulary, including inclusive and non-discriminatory language, and a range of stylistic devices, to communicate their meaning
develop and explain interpretations of increasingly complex or difficult texts using stated and implied ideas from the texts to support their interpretations
analyze a variety of text forms and explain how their particular characteristics help communicate meaning,
identify various elements of style – including metaphor, and symbolism – and explain how they help communicate meaning and enhance the effectiveness
regularly use vivid and/or figurative language and innovative expressions
develop and explain interpretations of increasingly complex or difficult texts using stated and implied ideas from the texts to support their interpretations
use vivid and/or figurative language and innovative expressions in their writing