Welcome back to Playful Pedagogy’s for Day 3 of the 12 Games of Christmas! Today’s game is one of my all-time favorites to use in the classroom: Dixit.
Prefer to watch instead of read? Here’s a short video where I talk about how I use Dixit in my classroom.
Dixit is a French game (so yes, I may be a little biased since I live in France!), and won Game of the Year in 2010 in Essen, Germany. The beautiful thing about Dixit is that it can be used anywhere in the world because there are no words on the cards—only stunning illustrations. The language comes from the players, which makes it an incredibly powerful classroom tool.
Dixit is typically played by 3–6 players, and the goal of the game is to give clues that are neither too obvious nor too obscure.
Each player has a hand of illustrated cards. One player, the storyteller, chooses a card and gives a clue (a word, phrase, or sentence). The other players select cards from their hands that match the clue. All cards are shuffled, revealed, and players vote on which card they believe belongs to the storyteller. Points are earned for correct guesses and others voting for your card.
The game emphasizes creativity, interpretation, communication, imagination, and perspective-taking.
HOW I USE DIXIT IN THE CLASSROOM
While Dixit is wonderful as a game, I mostly use the cards as a visual thinking and language tool rather than playing the traditional rules—especially earlier in the year.
Some of my favorite ways to use Dixit in the classroom include:
- See–Think–Wonder (Visible Thinking Routine):
I project one card on the board and ask students:- What do you see?
- What do you think?
- What do you wonder?
Responses depend on students’ language level—anything from single words (blue, fish, paint) to full explanations and questions.
- Zoom In (Visible Thinking Routine):
I show only a small part of a card, ask students what they think it is, then slowly reveal more of the image. This builds prediction, inference, and discussion skills. - Story Prompts:
Students explain what is happening in the picture, what happened before, or what might happen after. - Sequential Storytelling:
Students start with one card, then receive a second or third card to build a beginning, middle, and end of a story. - Shared or Individual Writing:
- All students work from the same card
- Each student chooses their own card
- Students trade stories and continue each other’s work
I adapt how I use Dixit depending on my students’ language level and my learning goal for the day.
HOW IT CAN BE PLAYED ACROSS SUBJECTS
Literacy & Language Arts:
- Story starters and creative writing prompts
- Descriptive writing using sensory language
- Narrative structure (beginning, middle, end)
- Retelling and summarizing stories
Language Acquisition:
- Vocabulary building through visual prompts
- Speaking practice using descriptions and explanations
- Grammar practice through sentence construction
- Writing practice at varied levels
- Listening activities during peer discussions
- Pronunciation and fluency through oral storytelling
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL):
- Perspective-taking (“What might this character feel?”)
- Empathy and emotional awareness
- Discussion and respectful listening
- Partner and group collaboration
Creative Arts:
- Visual inspiration for drawing, painting, or drama
- Improvisation and role-play
- Creative expression through storytelling
Critical Thinking:
- Making predictions
- Justifying interpretations
- Asking meaningful questions
- Exploring ambiguity and multiple viewpoints
Math
- Data & Graphing: Vote on interpretations and graph class responses.
- Sequencing: Order cards to show logical or cause-and-effect sequences.
Science
- Observation vs. Inference: Describe what is seen before making interpretations. (See Think Wonder)
- Cause & Effect: Explain what happened before or what might happen after the image.
- Inquiry & Questioning: Generate “I wonder…” scientific questions from the image.
Teachers can easily adjust card choice, prompts, pacing, and expectations to suit different age groups, language levels, and classroom goals. Dixit also has 10 expansion decks, so you don’t even need the full game (of which there are 4 versions)—just the cards.
CONCLUSION
Have you used Dixit in your classroom? What are some of the ways you’ve played or adapted it for learning? Share your ideas in the comments below—I would love to read them!
Thanks for joining me for Day 3 of the 12 Games of Christmas. I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday, and I’ll see you tomorrow for another game.
Happy holidays and happy playing!