Say words from (J-Z) without moving your lips!
Practice saying words starting with letters J through Z without moving your lips, using tongue and throat sounds while a partner guesses each word.
About this activity
Practice saying words starting with letters J through Z without moving your lips, using tongue and throat sounds while a partner guesses each word.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Find a partner to play the guessing game with you.
- 2
Step 2
Use paper and your pen to write one word for each letter from J to Z on separate slips of paper.
- 3
Step 3
Fold each slip and drop them into the small bowl or hat.
- 4
Step 4
Tell your partner the rule: you will keep your lips gently closed and use only tongue and throat sounds to say the word while they guess.
- 5
Step 5
Press your lips together gently and hum or make soft throat sounds for 10 seconds to warm up your mouth and voice.
- 6
Step 6
Pick one folded slip from the bowl without showing your partner the word.
- 7
Step 7
Press your lips closed and say the word using only your tongue and throat sounds—do not move your lips or show the word.
- 8
Step 8
Let your partner guess the word out loud while you keep your lips closed.
- 9
Step 9
Switch roles so your partner now picks a slip and you guess; keep playing until you finish all the slips or your timer runs out.
- 10
Step 10
Share your finished guessing game experience on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do you play 'Say words from J–Z without moving your lips'?
Explain the rules: the speaker must say words that begin with letters J through Z without moving their lips, relying on tongue and throat sounds while a partner guesses. Demonstrate one example. Use index cards, a phone list, or dice to pick words. Set 30–60 second turns, swap roles each round, and offer gentle hints (first sound or category) if guessing stalls. Keep sessions short and encouraging to build confidence.
What materials do I need to play this no-lip J–Z word game?
You'll need simple materials: a list or set of word cards covering letters J–Z, a timer or stopwatch, and a small notepad and pencil for recording scores or guesses. Optional: a mirror so children can observe mouth stillness, a phone to randomize words, and a comfortable seating area. Nothing required is messy or dangerous — mostly words, time, and enthusiasm. Adapt words to age and vocabulary level to keep it fun and achievable.
What ages is this activity suitable for?
This game suits most children aged about 5 to 12, with adjustments. Younger kids (5–7) may need easier words, lots of hints, and adult supervision; use shorter play periods. Elementary and older children (8–12) can handle trickier J–Z vocabulary and timed rounds. Teens and adults can play advanced rounds using multisyllabic words. Always tailor word difficulty and encouragement to each child's language development and comfort level.
What are the benefits and safety tips for this lip-free speaking game?
Benefits include improving articulation, listening skills, phonemic awareness for letters J–Z, and boosting confidence with nonvisual speech cues. It's low-risk, but supervise to avoid frustration; stop if a child becomes anxious. Encourage gentle, positive feedback and avoid pressuring perfection. For safety, ensure words are age-appropriate and avoid using words that might cause embarrassment. Variations: turn-taking team play, charades-style hints, or using picture prompts instead of spoken w
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have paper, a pen, or a small bowl/hat?
Instead of paper and your pen and a small bowl or hat you can write words on sticky notes or index cards, type them into a phone notes app and draw one at a time, and use an empty cup or jar to hold the folded slips.
My child keeps moving their lips or the words are too quiet—how can we fix that?
If lips move or sounds are too quiet, repeat the warm-up step (press your lips together and hum or make soft throat sounds for 10 seconds), choose shorter words from the slips, have the speaker place a hand on their throat to feel vibrations, and have the guesser lean in to listen closely.
How can we adapt the game for different age groups?
For younger kids, replace the instruction to write one word for each letter from J to Z with picture cards or fewer big-print letters (J–M), while older kids can use longer words, add a timer for each turn, and keep score when you switch roles.
How can we extend or personalize the guessing game after we've played?
Decorate and theme your folded slips, award points for correct guesses for a prize, record short rounds to share your finished guessing game experience on DIY.org, or create a 'challenge' pile of extra-hard J–Z words to swap into the bowl.