Essential ESL Games for

Vocabulary Review
.
Taboo (aka Hot Seat)
Divide the class into Teams A and B. Team A sits in a group on one side of the
classroom, Team B sits on the other side. Bring two chairs to the front of the
room so that when seated, a student is facing his or her respective team and
their back is to the blackboard or white board. One member from each team sits
in their team's chair. The teacher writes a word, phrase, or sentence on the
board. The students in the chairs mustn't see what's written on the board. Once
the teacher yells 'go', the teams have one minute, using only verbal clues, to get
their seated teammate to say the item written on the board. The only rule (or
taboo) is that they MUSTN'T say the item written on the board, in full or part.
The first student in the hot seat to utter the word scores a point for their team.
When the round is over, two new team players are rotated into the hot seat and
a new item is written up. The first team to score X number of points wins.

Variation: To ensure a slightly quieter and less chaotic game, the teams can
take it in turns. Rather than two students in the hot seat, only one member from
each team plays at a time. The teacher as usual scribbles a word on the board
and gives the team one minute to get their teammate to say the item. If the hot-
seated player manages to say the word, the teacher quickly writes another item
on the board and so on until the minute is up. The team scores a point for every
item they manage to say within one minute.

2. Memory Challenge
Put the students into pairs or small groups. Give them a time limit (e.g. 3
minutes) and ask them to write down as many words, phrases, and/or
expressions as they can from the last lesson on topic X. The pair or group that
can remember the most items wins.

Variation: To add a spelling accuracy component, teams can also earn an

extra point for each correctly spelt item.

Scrambled Letters
Write up eight words with their letters shuffled (e.g. eicscen for science) on the
board. When the teacher says 'go', the students, individually or in pairs,
endeavor to untangle the words as quickly as they can. The first student or pair,
to do so wins. The teacher can then quickly run through each of the scrambled
letter groups on the board, eliciting information about each word or concept. Tip:
Don't make them too difficult.

Variation: Phrases, expressions, and idioms larger than 2 words can also be
used (e.g. "you're having when time flies fun" for "time flies when you're having
fun".)

Noughts and crosses

TOPIC: Assessment

Lesson Plans

4. Vocabulary Land Game Board

This is one of my favoritesI loved creating this board game! If
you have access to a laminator, print and laminate 8 to 10 boards
for your classroom and use dry-erase markers. Instant classroom
game or language arts station!

5. Youre on a Roll Dice Vocab Game

This game gives students the chance to improve their vocabulary
skills while playing with their friends.

11. Think-Tac-Toe
To execute their tic-tac-toe strategy (three in a row), students
must complete the vocabulary activity within each square. Two
students (or two halves of the class) can take turns choosing
squares. If it ends in a draw, that means you snuck in more vocab
practice!