CLASSROOM GAMES AND ACTIVITIES

CLASSROOM GAMES AND ACTIVITIES

(1) “BALL GAME”: You will need a regular soft ball for this activity. S answers questions, T throws a ball to the Ss and the S who catches it, has to answer a question, it can be use as an assessment in all levels. T can ask “What is it?” showing a flashcard and the S answers. This is for the lower levels, and you can practice grammar structures for higher levels. You can use as many variations as you can (e.g. you can use it for practicing any vocabulary or grammar).

(2) “NAME CHAIN”: You don’t need any material for this activity. This activity is very useful for getting to know each other. Ask Ss to make a circle. T asks the first S “What’s your name?” and the S has to answer “My name is …..”, then that S has to ask to the next S “What’s your name?” and the S has to answer “My name is ….”, and that S has to ask to the next S, and so on.

(3) “PUPPET CONVERSATION”: Hand puppets really work with young learners especially for those who are very shy, sometimes you will notice that Ss prefer talking to a puppet than to you! You can use any puppet you want (made by you with a sock or using any teddy bear you have or with a character from a T.V show) you can use it to introduce yourself in the first class, you can introduce the puppet or ask Ss for the puppet’s name and then ask each S for his/her name, and it’s better if they can use it too. You can also use puppets in any conversation you need.

(4) “TIC TAC TOE”: This activity has a lot of variations; you can use it with vocabulary or grammar, with or without visuals, using simple marks (“X” or “O”), writing just vocabulary or vocabulary with missing letters (according Ss level). Draw a basic tic tac toe on the board (#) divides the class into two teams and ask vocabulary or grammar (depending on Ss level) if the Ss responds correctly, he/she places a mark on the tic tac toe. You also can do it placing 9 flashcards (representing words, phrases, questions, etc, depending on the Ss level) face down on the board and writing a number over it (cover the flashcard with plastic), divides the class into two teams and asks Ss to call out a number to see that flashcard. The S from the team that gives the correct answer claims a space with an “X” or “O”. When you play this game using just vocabulary with higher levels you can use different markers to differentiate the winner team (for practice spelling) if you want to make the game funnier, you can use a ball to select Ss from each team.

(5) “BAG GAME”: You will need a dark bag and paper pieces for this activity. T shows a bag and the papers that will be inside the bag (according to the vocabulary or the grammar you are teaching or reviewing); T needs to explain each paper corresponds to a word from the vocabulary or a part of the grammar. For this activity you can divide the class in teams or do it with the whole class (T picks and shows the papers and the S who knows answers) or asks volunteers (S passes and picks a paper from the bag and answers) T gives points or stickers depending on the way T presents the activity.

(6) “SIMON SAYS”: This activity is used to practice TPR (Total Physical Response) and you can check if the Ss understand what you are teaching about different topics (e.g. commands using verbs, body parts, etc.) T says an instruction and Ss have to follow it (e.g. Simon says sit down, Simon says stand up, etc) T explains to the Ss that if he/she doesn’t say the phrase “Simon says” they can’t move. If a S makes a mistake he/she has to

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