Игры на уроках английского
материал по английскому языку

Quick Games at Any Stage of an English Lesson

1. Order of Importance

This is an enjoyable activity as it encourages students to analyse their options and think carefully about any decisions they make. If you have a small group then split the class into two groups, for larger classes do small groups of 3-5 students. You can even play this with an individual student, where you challenge them yourself.

Tell them they have to plan a trip to … this could be anywhere, make it more challenging each time using different places like the Amazon Rainforest, The Moon, the Sahara Desert, a wild jungle, an unexplored cave or going back in time to a specific place.

They can only take two-five items with them (depending on where you are sending them) and if they have more than three, they should list them in order of importance as well. Each student or group should take turns to explain what they would take with them and why.

The other groups or students should decide if they agree or if they want to challenge their decision. Generally, this could get very interesting if the teams have compiled completely different lists

2. Categories

This game is about refreshing their memory on English vocabulary. If you have a large group of students, split them into two teams and call forward one or two members from each team for a head-to-head challenge.

The teacher says a category and each side is given 5 seconds to list something within that group, then it is the other team’s turn. You continue this way until someone repeats something that has already been mentioned, or they fail to say something within 5 seconds.

The winning team is given a point then you change the players and continue with a different category. The students tend to get very loud and excited the longer you play – be warned!

Category ideas:
Countries, Nationalities, Languages, Cities – worldwide, Cities – country specific, Islands, Food, Chain Restaurants, Fruits and Vegetables, Ice-cream Flavours, Drinks, Sports, Colours, Animals, Insects, Songs, Movies, Famous People, Brand Names, Items of Clothing, Jobs, Study Subjects, Electrical Appliances.

3. Chain Fairytales

This game focuses on storytelling and using imagination. You start a story by giving the first few words, such as ‘one day, there was a, ‘once upon a time’, ‘when I woke up’ or ‘there was once a’. Students should take turns to continue the story with their chosen words. Ensure they include different linking words and use the correct tense.

The teacher should also play, in order to guide the story in case the students seem to struggle. Working together to set the plot and invent the characters makes this a fun game for students of all levels.

4 Hot Seat

Break the class into 2 teams and place a chair at the front of the class facing the students (away from the board). Call up one student from the first team to sit on the hot seat. Firmly remind everyone in the class that they MUST NOT, under any circumstances, read aloud what you write, whisper to their friends, say the word in any language nor gesticulate to give it away. They are only allowed to use clues (that do not include the written word) to help their team member at the front guess what the word is.

Write a word on the board (in large letters) behind the hot seat. First the person’s own team can help them guess, give them a fixed time limit depending on their level (between 30 seconds and 2 minutes). If the person at the front cannot guess the word in the allotted time, then the other team gets to have a go for a bonus point. Then swap teams and start again. Ensure the person on the hot seat cannot see what you write on the board!

chocolate, pineapple, helicopter, doctor, nurse, teacher, school uniform, hotel, passport, holiday, internet, laptop, computer, pizza, spoon, telephone, smartphone, newspaper, magazine, milkshake, airport, aeroplane, snacks, politician, prime minister, monarch, queen, king, children, parents, siblings, bandage