Wordle: DIY Edition
Make a DIY Wordle game using paper tiles, markers, and cards, then play guessing rounds to practice spelling, deduction, and vocabulary.
Step-by-step guide to make a DIY Wordle game
Step 1
Decide to play with 5-letter secret words and give each player 6 guesses.
Step 2
Use a pencil and ruler to draw 26 equal small squares on cardstock for letter tiles.
Step 3
Cut out the 26 letter squares with scissors.
Step 4
Use a marker to write one letter A to Z on each tile in big clear uppercase letters.
Step 5
Draw a play board by making six rows of five connected squares on a large index card or piece of cardstock.
Step 6
Make three small feedback cards by coloring one entirely green one entirely yellow and one entirely gray.
Step 7
Put all letter tiles into the small box or envelope and shake or mix them up.
Step 8
Pick a secret 5-letter word and write it on an index card then keep that card face down so only the host can see it.
Step 9
The guesser picks five letter tiles to form a 5-letter word and places them in the top row of the play board.
Step 10
The host checks each guessed letter against the secret word and places a green card under any tile that has the right letter in the right spot places a yellow card under any tile whose letter appears elsewhere in the secret word but is not already matched and places a gray card under any tile whose letter is not in the secret word.
Step 11
Keep playing by repeating the guess-and-feedback steps until the secret word is found or the guesser uses all six guesses then swap roles for a new round.
Step 12
Share a photo and a short description of your finished DIY Wordle game and a favorite round on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use instead of cardstock, a small box/envelope, or colored paper if I don't have them?
Use cardboard from a cereal or shipping box for the 26 letter tiles (step: draw and cut squares), a zip-top bag or mason jar to hold and mix the tiles (step: put all letter tiles into the small box or envelope), and colored sticky notes or crayons on plain paper to make the green/yellow/gray feedback cards (step: make three small feedback cards).
What should I do if the feedback seems wrong or confusing during a guess, especially with repeated letters?
Follow the instructions to mark all green matches first (right letter, right spot), then mark yellow only for letters that appear elsewhere among the remaining unmatched secret letters, and use small tokens or place a coin on a matched secret-letter to avoid double-counting (step: host checks each guessed letter and places cards accordingly).
How can I adapt the game for younger children or make it harder for older kids?
For younger players reduce to 3-letter secret words, bigger letter tiles, and more guesses or reveal the first letter (steps: decide word length and draw/cut fewer tiles and a smaller play board), while for older kids use 6-letter words, fewer guesses, or add a timer per guess to increase difficulty (step: decide to play with 5-letter secret words and give each player 6 guesses).
How can we extend or personalize our DIY Wordle game after finishing the basic version?
Decorate or laminate the letter tiles and play board, add magnets or Velcro so tiles stick to the board, create themed word lists for rounds, keep a scoresheet of favorite rounds, and then follow the final step to share a photo and short description of your finished game and a favorite round on DIY.org (step: share a photo and a short description).
Watch videos on how to make a DIY Wordle game
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Make Your Own WORDLE [with Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel]
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Facts about word games and vocabulary building
📚 Playing word puzzles regularly helps build vocabulary and spelling by encouraging pattern spotting and practice.
🔁 The official Wordle gives one daily puzzle, but a DIY paper version lets you play unlimited rounds and customize difficulty.
🔤 There are 26^5 (11,881,376) possible 5-letter letter combinations — more than enough puzzles for your DIY Wordle!
🟩 Wordle, created by Josh Wardle, exploded in popularity in late 2021 with over 2 million daily players at its peak.
🎲 Wordle's guess-and-feedback idea is like Mastermind, a code-breaking board game invented in 1970.
How do I make and play a DIY Wordle game at home?
What materials do I need to make a DIY Wordle game?
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