Acronyms are specialized abbreviations that contain all capital letters and no periods. They generally represent more than one word.

To give students the opportunity to learn some of the more common ones, I created a card game that can be played by individual students, small groups, or the entire class. Place the acronym on one side of a small flashcard and its answer on the back. Individual students can work their way through the deck as a method of study. Small groups can play against each other, collecting cards for correct answers. The winner is determined by the student who collects the most cards. As a whole class activity, present one ot two acronyms at the beginning of a class. Students research to find the answer.

Here's a list to get you started. The acronym is given in black, while the answer is listed in blue.

• NASA...National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• radar...radio detecting and ranging
• PBS...Public Broadcasting System
• DOA...dead on arrival
• HEW...Health, Education, and Welfare
• IRS...Internal Revenue Service
• IQ...intelligence quotient
• AIDS...acquired immune deficiency syndrome
• BLT...bacon, lettuce, and tomato
• COD...cash on delivery
• DA...District Attorney
• CPA...certified public accountant
• DJ...disc jockey
• ERA...equal rights amendment
• ABC...American Broadcasting Company
• ASAP...as soon as possible
• CBS...Columbia Broadcasting System
• RIP...rest in peace
• SWAK...sealed with a kiss
• zip...zone improvement plan
• NABISCO...National Biscuit Company
• POW...prisoner of war
• scuba...self-contained underwater breating apparatus
• UFO...unidentified flying object
• NBC...National Broadcasting Company
• KKK...ku klux klan
• LASER...light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation