Games in English lesson

16. READ MY LIPS

SUMMARY

The teacher mouths simple words or sentences without making a sound. Can the students guess what he is trying to say just by watching his mouth move?

SET -UP

No special set-up is required. Just stand in front of the class where everyone can clearly see your mouth.

PLAY

Mouth a word that the students already know (for example: bird, nose, hello). Ask the students, "What is it?" Someone should hazard a guess. Hand out stickers for correct guesses.

USES

1. To review any vocabulary or simple phrases.
2. To get kids' attention back when they are distracted.

17. WHISPER

SUMMARY

Two teams whisper a word, or phrase, all the way down their lines. Which team will be the first to finish and run up to touch the correct flashcard on the board?

SET-UP

Divide the class in two. Make two teams line up in front of you. Place several flashcards (or write numbers or letters) on the board.

PLAY

When the students are lined up in front of you, whisper the name of one of the flashcards on the board (or the letter or number) in the ear of the first person in each team line. On "Go!" these students whisper the word in the ear of the person behind or beside them. These students then whisper the word in the student's ear behind them, and so on, all the way down the line. When the last person in each line has heard the word he or she must run to the board and touch the correct flashcard. The winner of course is the first student to touch the correct card.

To play the next round, make the winner and loser of the first round come to the front of the line (in other words, be the first student to whisper the new word). Let the loser choose the next word (or number/letter) to be whispered.

There are many variations to this game.

1) The students can crawl, slither, or hop to the flashcards.
2) You can ask the last two students to do something silly after they have said the word. Fun ideas include: pop a balloon with their feet; blow up a balloon and tie it; carry an orange on a spoon across the classroom without dropping it.
3) If you are playing with numbers or letter you can ask the last student to run up to the board and write the number or letter.

Note: Listen that the students are saying the words correctly down the line. If they are not, stop the relay and start over with another word.

USES

1. To review or teach any vocabulary or simple phrases.

18. QUICK DRAW

SUMMARY

Similar to Whisper and Touch, except that in this game the last students in the line must run to the board and reproduce a simple cartoon drawing (see the illustration above). You won't believe how the students will interpret what they see.

SET-UP

Draw a simple cartoon picture in the middle of the board. Now divide the class into two teams. You can line the teams up in front of you or let them remain in their seats. Give the last student in each team a marker.

PLAY

Ask the first student in each team a question. On "Go!" these students answer the question and then turn and ask the same question to the next student on their team. This continues until the last student in each team has answered the question. Then, the last student on each team rushes to the board and tries to draw a likeness of your picture. The first student to finish, or the one who draws the best likeness wins that round for his or her team.

If the loser wants to, he or she can draw the picture for the next round of play. Make sure that the winner and loser of each round move to the front of the line (so that they are the first to answer the question).

USES

1. To teach or review questions and answers.
2. To give students practice asking and answering questions.

19. LINE UP

SUMMARY

Two lines of students stand before you. You fire off questions or show flashcards to the first student in each line. The winner sits down while the loser goes to the back of the line (to play again).

SET-UP

Get the class to form two parallel lines like in the picture above. Stand at the head of the two lines.

PLAY

Ask a question, or show a flashcard to the first two students. The winner of this round gets to sit down. The loser goes to the back of the line. He or she will then have another go at answering a question when they get to the front of the line again. When one team's players are all sitting down they have won the game.

Note: this game is quite competitive. Play at your discretion.

USES

1. To review any vocabulary or sentence patterns.

20. BUMP HIM OFF

SUMMARY

You're not the mafia but more like a sumo wrestler working backwards. Two students stand back to back on a sheet of newspaper or a towel. Who can knock the other off first?

SET-UP

Place a sheet of newspaper or a towel on the floor.

PLAY

Call two students up to stand back to back on the newspaper. Ask them both a question (and have them answer), and then say "Go!" The students use their hips and bottom (no hands or shoulders) to push or bump their opponent off the sheet of paper. The first one off the newspaper loses. Let the loser chose the next two players.

USES

1. To teach or review any vocabulary or sentence pattern.