Below you will find descriptions of each game and how to play. Start playing now!
Use the hints to find the star card as quckly as possible. Select a square by saying the word, or making a sentence with each word in the corresponding row and column. This is a fast paced game that is great for reading and vocabulary practice.
Hidden Picture is a very fun game for vocabulary practice. This game is similar to a game format used in PowerPoint presentations, but contains some fun surprises and competition to help keep it entertaining and to add more excitement.
Based on the classic game 'Battleship', this is a great game for speaking and vocabulary practice. Students try and be the first team to sink all three ships. They select a square by saying the vocabulary word or making a sentence with the word in the corresponding column and row.
Crazy Cups is guaranteed to add some excitement to class. Students watch the ball carefully and then make a sentence or say the vocabulary word for the picture above the cup where they think the ball is. As they continue to choose the right cup, the points get higher and the cups start moving faster. One wrong answer and they're back to 1 point per answer.
Great for vocabulary and spelling practice. Students quickly try and use the visible letters to unscramble the work. A wrong letter makes the fuse burn faster. The first team to have their bomb explode loses!
Smiley Review is a great game to review when you have almost finished studying a topic. The students have to spin a wheel to determine if the will have to say a vocabulary word, spell a word, answer a question, or 'do it'. If a student spis a smiley, they're off the hook! They just spin one more time for points.
This is the classic hangman game that is always one of the students favorites. The only difference with this hangman game is that it is played in teams. This adds a little more excitement to the game and the kids get to spin a wheel for points after their team has correctly spelled out the word.
In many ESL classes, hangman is thought of as a time waster, but when the words come from a set list, the kids figure the words out pretty quickly and then it's great spelling practice.
Another classic game, tic-tac-toe, is great for vocabulary or speaking practice. Depending on what topic you are teaching, you can have your students make a sentence to select a square:
A variation on the classic way to play is to give the students a few minutes to memorize the placement of the pictures, and them have two students come to the front of the classroom with their backs to the screen. They then have to play tic-tac-toe only by memory.
This game is similar to the game show 'Wheel of Fortune', and is also just a variation of hangman.
Instead of single words, students try to figure out what the sentence is. For each category, there are 6 different sentences that relate to the topic.
Students love this game and it can hold their attention longer than a regular hangman game.
This game is very useful in a similar way to tic-tac-toe.
All teams start with 15 points. When it is someone's turn, the have to select one of the squares by saying the vocabulary word or making a sentence. They then can choose to bet either 1, 2, or 3 points. After all teams have chosen their squares, the dice are rolled. If the number on their square shows on the dice, they have the amount they bet added to their score. If their number doesn't come up, then the amount they bet is subtracted from their score.
Bingo is very popular in ESL classes. This makes it more fun by having an automatic bingo caller.
Check the 'Worksheets' section, where you can easily print multiple different bingo cards for your students.
You can choose 3x3, 4x4, or 5x5 cards. You can also choose between showing picture/word, picture only, or word only.
This is a basic memory card matching game. Select a card and then try and find the same card. Each time a card is selected, an audio clip of the vocabulary word is played. Sound can be turned on or off. Works great for speaking, and vocabulary practice.
This games works like the 'Simon Says' game from the 80's. Try and repeat the computer as it randomly selects a vocabulary word. It starts very easy, and after each correct sequence, one more word is added to the list.
This game works great for younger students because it is harder for them to remember. The older students have better memories and it can take a long time before they forget. There are three levels of difficulty to choose from.
This is a simple game, but the kids get very excited to play. The class is divided into two teams and they are given one minute to say as many vocabulary words or make as many sentences they can.
The team who gets the most points in one minute is the winner. This game is great for a check-up when you have a few minutes left at the end of class.
Another simple, but very useful game. Each team has a chance to spell out the word that they hear. Each students says the next letter, but if someone makes a mistake, the other team can steal the word. The word can go back and forth until the word has been completely spelled. Then winning team spins for points.
This game is a simplified version of 'Monopoly'. If a team lands on a space that has not been bought, they can buy the space if they can make a correct sentence about the picture. If another team lands on their space then they have to pay the owner rent. They can get a 50% discount on rent if they can make a correct sentence. They can also get sent to jail or win or lose money when they land on a 'chance' square.
