Game Widgets

Game widgets are the interactive heart of every lesson. They transform passive reading into active practice. The Lex Editor provides a rich library of widget types, from classic exercises like multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank to engaging games like word search, crosswords, and memory matching.

This page covers every widget type available in the editor. Each widget can be inserted via the toolbar, the slash command menu, or generated automatically by the AI lesson builder.

Editable Instructions

All widget types support editable instructions. In edit mode, an instruction input field appears at the top of each widget where you can type custom task instructions (e.g., "Match each word with its translation" or "Unscramble the letters to spell the word"). This lets you tailor the prompt for each exercise without modifying the widget content itself.

Widget Summary Table

Exercise Widgets

These are the core exercise types used for assessment and practice.

Multiple Choice (AnswerCombo)

Multiple choice questions present a dropdown menu of answer options directly inline within your text. The student selects the correct answer from the list.

What it does: Displays a dropdown selector within a sentence or question. The student picks the correct option from a shuffled list of choices.

How to create it:

Configuration options:

• Multiple correct answers -- use a pipe | to separate alternatives: ___(correct1|correct2, wrong1, wrong2)
• Hint text -- add a hint in parentheses after the options: ___(correct, wrong1, wrong2) (base form)
• Shuffle -- options are automatically shuffled so the correct answer is not always first
• Multi-select -- allow selecting more than one correct answer

Example:

Yesterday, I ___(went, go, going, gone) to the store and ___(bought, buy, buying) some milk.

Students see dropdowns with shuffled options. After submitting, correct answers turn green and incorrect ones turn red.

Pedagogical use: Ideal for grammar cloze tests, vocabulary in context, reading comprehension checks, and any quick-assessment scenario where you want students to choose rather than recall.

Fill-in-the-Blank (AnswerInput)

Fill-in-the-blank exercises require students to type the correct answer into a text field.

What it does: Displays an inline text input field where the student types their answer. The system checks against one or more accepted correct answers.

How to create it:

Configuration options:

• Multiple correct answers -- ___(went|visited) accepts either answer
• Case sensitivity -- configurable per exercise
• Hints -- show the base form, first letter, word length, or a custom hint
• Partial credit -- for close but not exact answers

Example:

Complete with the correct past tense form:

She ___(went) (to go) to school yesterday.
The children ___(played|were playing) (to play) in the park.

Pedagogical use: Best for grammar application (conjugation, declension), vocabulary in context, spelling practice, and sentence completion. More challenging than multiple choice because students must recall the answer rather than recognize it.

Matching

The matching widget presents two columns of items that students connect by clicking.

What it does: Students click an item in the left column, then click the corresponding item in the right column to create a pair. Lines connect matched items visually.

How to create it:

Configuration options:

• Pair type -- word-translation, sentence-completion, image-word, or audio-word
• Shuffle -- the right column is shuffled by default (recommended)
• Distractors -- extra items with no correct pair, increasing difficulty (great for B1+ students)
• Visual style -- classic (standard) or children (more colorful, larger touch targets)

Example:

Match the words with their translations:

apple :: яблоко
cat :: кот
house :: дом
car :: машина
!! мышка          (distractor -- no correct match)

Pedagogical use: Perfect for vocabulary drilling (word-translation pairs), matching definitions, cause-and-effect relationships, and connecting sentence halves. Distractors add challenge and prevent guessing by elimination.

Sentence Builder

The sentence builder gives students a set of word tiles that they drag into the correct order to form a sentence.

What it does: The correct sentence is broken into individual word tiles, shuffled, and placed in a word bank. Students drag tiles from the bank into the sentence zone to construct the correct sentence.

How to create it:

Configuration options:

• Instruction -- custom text shown above the widget (e.g., "Build the correct sentence")
• Distractors -- extra words mixed into the bank to increase difficulty
• Hint -- show the first word or a contextual clue
• Shuffle -- tiles are shuffled in the bank by default
• Visual style -- classic or children

Example:

Target: The cat sat on the mat
Distractors: dog, under

Students see shuffled tiles: mat, on, The, dog, sat, under, cat, the. They must drag tiles to form "The cat sat on the mat" and leave "dog" and "under" in the bank.

Pedagogical use: Excellent for practicing word order (critical in languages like English and German), building awareness of sentence structure, and reinforcing vocabulary in context. Distractors force students to think about which words actually belong in the sentence.

True/False

The true/false widget presents a series of statements that students evaluate as true or false.

What it does: Each statement has a True and a False button. Students read the statement and tap their answer. After submission, correct answers are revealed along with optional explanations.

How to create it:

Configuration options:

• Show explanations -- reveal the explanation text after the student answers (default: yes)
• Visual style -- classic or children

Example:

[T] The Earth orbits the Sun. // It completes one orbit every 365.25 days.
[F] The Moon is larger than the Earth. // The Moon's diameter is about 1/4 of Earth's.
[T] Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level.

Pedagogical use: Quick concept checks, fact verification after reading passages, myth-busting exercises, and grammar rule verification (e.g., "In English, adjectives come before nouns -- True or False?"). Explanations provide immediate teaching moments.

Ordering

The ordering widget asks students to arrange items in the correct sequence by dragging.

What it does: Items are presented in a shuffled order. Students drag them into the correct sequence. Two modes are available: ordering sentences in a story or ordering words within a single sentence.

How to create it:

Configuration options:

• Type -- sentences (reorder a sequence of sentences) or words (reorder words to form a sentence)
• Hint -- optionally highlight the first word or provide context
• Visual style -- classic or children
• Max items -- up to 10 items

Example (sentence ordering):

1. First, preheat the oven.
2. Then, mix the ingredients.
3. Next, pour into the pan.
4. Finally, bake for 30 minutes.

Example (word ordering):

1. I
2. have
3. never
4. been
5. to
6. Paris

Pedagogical use: Great for story sequencing, process-step ordering, timeline activities, and word-order practice in a target language.

Essay/Writing

The essay widget provides a rich text area where students write extended responses.

What it does: Displays a writing area with a real-time word counter, optional minimum/maximum word count indicators, and formatting tools.

How to create it:

Configuration options:

• Min/max word count -- enforce word limits with visual indicators
• Evaluation criteria -- set rubric criteria for AI-assisted grading
• Sentence starter -- provide a brief opening phrase inside the essay block to help students begin

Example:

Task: Write about the advantages and disadvantages of remote work (150-300 words).

Useful expressions: on the one hand, in contrast, furthermore, in conclusion

[Essay block with starter: "In today's world..."]

Pedagogical use: Long-form writing, formal email practice, argumentative essays, creative writing, and any task requiring extended composition. Teachers can evaluate manually or use AI-assisted grading with defined criteria.

Speech Recorder

The speech recorder lets students record audio responses directly in the lesson.

What it does: Displays a record button with a prompt. Students record their voice, listen back, optionally re-record, and submit.

How to create it:

Configuration options:

• Prompt -- instruction text
• Max duration -- 30, 60, or 120 seconds
• Reference text -- if provided, the student reads it aloud; if empty, it is a free response
• Visual style -- classic or children

Example:

Prompt: "Describe your hometown in 1-2 minutes"
Max duration: 120 seconds
Type: Free response

Pedagogical use: Pronunciation practice, speaking assessments, oral presentations, conversation simulation, and any task requiring students to produce spoken language.

Game Widgets

These widgets add a playful, gamified dimension to lessons. They are especially effective with younger learners (ages 8-14) but work well for all ages.

Flashcards

Interactive flip cards for active vocabulary review.

What it does: Presents cards one at a time. Students see the front (e.g., a word), click to flip and see the back (e.g., the translation), then self-assess with "I know" or "Still learning." Cards in the "still learning" pile cycle back for more practice.

How to create it:

1. Type /flashcard or use the Insert menu
2. Add card pairs using front | back format, one per line
3. Optionally add hints in parentheses: apple | яблоко (hint: a fruit)

Configuration options:

• Card type -- word-translation, word-definition, word-image, or sentence-translation
• Show progress -- display a card counter (e.g., "3 of 10")
• Shuffle -- randomize card order

Pedagogical use: Active recall practice, spaced repetition within a lesson, vocabulary review. The self-assessment mechanic encourages honest evaluation of knowledge.

Memory Game

A classic memory matching game where students flip cards to find pairs.

What it does: Cards are laid out face-down in a grid. Students flip two cards per turn. If they match (e.g., word and its translation), the pair stays face-up. The game tracks the number of moves and time.

How to create it:

1. Type /memorygame or use the Insert menu
2. Add pairs using word :: match format
3. Choose grid size and pair type

Configuration options:

• Pair type -- word-translation, word-image, or word-definition
• Grid size -- 2x3, 2x4, 3x4, 4x4, or 4x5 (determines number of pairs)
• Time limit -- optional countdown timer
• Show timer -- display elapsed time

Example:

apple :: яблоко
cat :: кот
house :: дом
dog :: собака
book :: книга
tree :: дерево

Pedagogical use: Engages visual-spatial memory while reinforcing vocabulary associations. The game mechanic keeps students motivated to find all pairs with fewer moves.

Word Scramble

Students unscramble letters to spell the correct word.

What it does: Each word's letters are scrambled into tiles. Students tap or drag letters into the correct order. A hint (translation, definition, or image) helps them identify the target word.

How to create it:

1. Type /wordscramble or use the Insert menu
2. Add words with hints: apple (яблоко) -- hint in parentheses
3. Set hint type and attempts per word

Configuration options:

• Hint type -- translation, image, definition, first-letter, or none
• Attempts per word -- limit how many tries per word

Pedagogical use: Reinforces spelling and letter patterns. Particularly effective for languages with complex orthography or for reinforcing new vocabulary words after initial introduction.

Category Sort

Students drag items into the correct categories.

What it does: Displays category buckets (e.g., "Nouns," "Verbs," "Adjectives") and a pool of word tiles. Students drag each word into the correct category. Feedback is given on submission.

How to create it:

1. Type /categorysort or use the Insert menu
2. Define categories with ## Category Name, then list items below each
3. Configure layout and feedback mode

Configuration options:

• Layout -- horizontal (categories side by side) or vertical (categories stacked)
• Feedback mode -- immediate (per item) or on-submit (check all at once)

Example:

## Nouns
- apple
- house
- cat

## Verbs
- run
- eat
- sleep

## Adjectives
- beautiful
- big
- small

Pedagogical use: Classification exercises for parts of speech, vocabulary grouping by theme, sorting verb tenses, distinguishing grammar categories. The drag-and-drop interaction makes categorization tangible.

Word Search

Students find hidden words in a letter grid.

What it does: Generates a grid filled with random letters, with target words hidden horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Students swipe or click across letters to highlight found words. A word list shows which words to find.

How to create it:

1. Type /wordsearch or use the Insert menu
2. List target words, optionally with translations in parentheses: apple (яблоко)
3. Configure grid size, directions, and time limit

Configuration options:

• Grid size -- determines the grid dimensions (default: 10x10)
• Directions -- horizontal, vertical, diagonal (mix and match)
• Show word list -- display the list of words to find
• Time limit -- optional countdown

Pedagogical use: Vocabulary recognition and pattern matching. The game format makes vocabulary review feel playful rather than tedious. Works well as a warm-up or cool-down activity.

Crossword

A classic crossword puzzle with clues.

What it does: Generates a crossword layout from your word list. Students type letters into the grid. Clues are displayed for across and down words. Optional hints can reveal individual letters.

How to create it:

1. Type /crossword or use the Insert menu
2. List words with their clues: apple : A red or green fruit
3. Configure hint allowance and check mode

Configuration options:

• Hints allowed -- number of times a student can reveal a letter (default: 3)
• Check mode -- word (check one word at a time) or puzzle (check the entire crossword)

Example:

apple : A red or green fruit
cat : A small furry pet that purrs
house : A building where people live
dog : A loyal four-legged pet
book : You read this

Pedagogical use: Tests spelling, vocabulary recall from clues, and creates an engaging challenge that students want to complete. Crosswords work well as homework or end-of-lesson review.

Brain Break Widgets

Brain break widgets provide a change of pace during lessons. They are designed for quick, fun activities that reset focus and energy, especially for younger learners.

Roulette Wheel

A spinning wheel that lands on a random item.

What it does: Displays a colorful wheel with sectors. The teacher or student spins it, and it lands on a random item with a fun animation and sound effect.

How to create it:

1. Type /roulette or use the Insert menu
2. Add items for the wheel sectors
3. Choose a theme: physical (activity prompts), vocabulary (lesson words), or custom

Configuration options:

• Theme -- physical (e.g., "Do 5 jumping jacks"), vocabulary (reuses lesson vocabulary with images), or custom (any items)
• Visual style -- classic or children

No-repeat spin: The wheel will not land on the same item twice until all items have been visited. This ensures every item gets a turn before any repeats, which is especially useful for vocabulary review or activity selection where you want full coverage.

Pedagogical use: Random selection for speaking prompts, vocabulary review (spin and define the word), physical activity breaks, or choosing the next activity. Adds an element of surprise and fun.

Drawing Board

A collaborative drawing canvas for creative breaks.

What it does: Provides a simple drawing canvas with basic color and brush options. The prompt tells students what to draw. Drawing is synchronized in real-time via Y.js during live lessons.

How to create it:

1. Type /drawingboard or use the Insert menu
2. Write the drawing prompt (e.g., "Draw a cat using only circles")
3. Set a time limit

Configuration options:

• Prompt -- what to draw
• Time limit -- seconds (e.g., 60 or 120)
• Visual style -- classic or children

Pedagogical use: Pictionary-style vocabulary games, creative expression breaks, drawing prompts related to lesson vocabulary. The collaborative aspect adds social engagement during live lessons.

Would You Rather

A fun choice activity for conversation starters.

What it does: Presents two options side by side. Students pick one. Selections are synchronized via Y.js, and a fun animation plays (confetti, card zoom).

How to create it:

1. Type /wouldyourather or use the Insert menu
2. Add pairs of options: Have a pet dinosaur | Have a pet dragon
3. Each line is one question with two choices separated by |

Pedagogical use: Icebreaker at the start of a lesson, conversation starter for speaking practice ("Which did you choose? Why?"), and vocabulary exposure through creative scenarios.

Breathing Timer

A mindfulness exercise with guided breathing animation.

What it does: Displays a visual animation that guides inhale/exhale/hold cycles. The pattern and duration are configurable. The start is synchronized via Y.js during live lessons.

How to create it:

1. Type /breathingtimer or use the Insert menu
2. Set the breathing pattern (e.g., 4-4-4-4 for box breathing)
3. Set the total duration

Configuration options:

• Duration -- total time in seconds
• Pattern -- breathing rhythm (e.g., "4-4-4-4" means 4 seconds inhale, 4 hold, 4 exhale, 4 hold)
• Visual style -- classic or children

Pedagogical use: Calming students after a high-energy activity, refocusing attention before a difficult section, or as a regular mindfulness practice. Especially valuable for young learners who need help regulating energy.

Exercise Block (Container)

The Exercise block is a container that wraps exercise content. It provides structure, handles scoring, and tracks student progress across the contained answer nodes.

How to create it:

1. Type /exercise or use the Insert menu
2. An exercise container appears with areas for title, instructions, and answer elements
3. Inside the container, add AnswerCombo, AnswerInput, or other widgets

Configuration options:

• Exercise mode -- dedicated_exercises, dedicated_sentences, or text_on_topic
• Question type -- input, combobox, or random
• Complexity -- CEFR level (A1 through C1)
• Count -- number of questions to generate (when using AI)

The exercise block is often created automatically by the AI lesson builder when generating practice sections.

Tips for Using Widgets Effectively

• Vary widget types within a lesson. Do not use only multiple choice. Mix matching, fill-in-blank, ordering, and other types to engage different cognitive skills.
• Match difficulty to level. Use AnswerCombo (recognition) for lower levels and AnswerInput (recall) for higher levels. Add distractors to matching and sentence builder widgets for B1+ students.
• Use game widgets as rewards. Place flashcard, memory, or word search widgets after a challenging grammar section as a fun change of pace.
• Use brain breaks strategically. Insert a roulette or breathing timer between intensive sections to maintain energy and focus.
• Keep instructions clear. Every widget should have clear instructions so students know exactly what to do.
• Test every widget before publishing. Click through each exercise as a student would to verify correct answers, shuffling, and feedback.
• Use the children UI style for younger learners (ages 8-14). It provides larger touch targets and more colorful visuals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do widgets handle scoring?

Most widgets auto-grade: multiple choice, fill-in-blank, matching, true/false, ordering, and sentence builder all check answers automatically. Essay and speech recorder widgets require teacher evaluation (or AI-assisted grading for essays).

Can students retry widgets?

Yes. Most widgets allow multiple attempts. The system tracks attempts and can show feedback after each try.

Can I use widgets outside of an exercise block?

Yes. Most widgets can be placed directly in the lesson content without an exercise container. The exercise block is optional and mainly used when you want to group multiple questions with a shared title and scoring.

What is the difference between the "classic" and "children" UI styles?

The children style uses larger fonts, more colorful elements, bigger touch targets, and more playful animations. It is designed for learners ages 8-14 but can be used for any audience that benefits from a more visual, game-like interface.