This is a short introduction to the theory part of this course.

This is a full overview of the methods and theories behind using games in the ESL classroom. In this unit, you will learn about why we use games and understand more about the process teachers need to think about when selecting games for their classes. We will talk about the different learner types and the effect that they have on classes and how we should consider them in our lesson plans and activities. We will also learn about the benefits of using games, the differences between activities and games, and finally when we should use games in our lessons.

These are some of my most precious and used items over the last twelve years of teaching ESL. These items are essential to my style of teaching and have helped me create fun games and dynamic classroom experiences for my students. Using these items and just keeping them in mind will give you loads of options when selecting what games and activities you want to use in your lesson plans. Having these items at hand gives you more options and more variety which prevents your students from getting bored and also you, the teacher, getting tired or demotivated! Give them a try!

This is the second unit in my 'ESL Games' course and it focuses on the essential and most useful items a teacher needs in the classroom. We will discuss which items are the most effective and versatile when creating dynamic, fun, and interesting lessons or lesson plans! These items have many uses in a whole host of different types of games and we will touch on the basic uses of them in this course.

At the end of this lecture, you will see the multiple uses of these specific items and have a much clearer idea of how to to create your own varied games package for your own classes. In the upcoming 'ESL Games Workshop' course we will focus on this aspect in much more detail, see you soon!

Lesson 3: Creating Fun ESL Games with Simple Ideas!

Discover how to turn a single, simple concept into a variety of exciting, interactive games perfect for young ESL learners! In this lesson, we dive into transforming a basic "chair race" game into multiple classroom activities that keep students engaged and active. By exploring easy tweaks and clever variations, you’ll learn how to adapt this concept to fit any lesson, ensuring you always have a fun game ready to boost learning. With these versatile ideas, you'll never run out of engaging games again!

This short course shows you how you can take an easy concept, in this case, a chair race game, and change it into multiple, exciting, and fun activities for the students in your class. Using the slight tweaks and variation techniques we discuss here, you can be sure never to run out of games again!

Introduction to the games section

Under The Table Race:

This is one of the first games I use with younger classes.

A perfect warm-up game and a good way to review previously learned vocabulary, especially easy greeting sentences like 'What's your name?' or 'How old are you?' etc. Easy to explain and fun for the kids.

Make sure to act excited and they will be too!

Rules:

1)Set up two tables.

2)Pick two children to stand up facing the tables.

3)Drill vocabulary or sentences.

4)The teacher shouts go and students must run, crawl under the table, and race back to their seats.

5)Reward with stars or high fives etc.

'Around The Chairs Race':

This is a great quick-fire and easy to do game for any young level students.

I use it mainly for breaking up greetings and encouraging attention when practicing student-student interactions. The game is quick and is used as a reward system for speaking loud and clearly. If you build these types of quick-paced activities into your lesson then the students will be much more eager and willing to participate with enthusiasm.

They will understand that if they speak well, then they can play the game.

Rules:

1)Students stand up

2)Answer+speak

3)Teacher shouts 'Go!'

4)Students race around the chairs

5)First to sit back down wins

Days of the week: [Line elimination game]

This is a good review game for drilling days of the week. It could also be used for months of the year or numbers or alphabet etc. I like to write the words on the board to help remind the students, I also assign TPR actions to each word.

Rules:

1)Stand up in a line.

2)First Student says Monday, next says Tuesday, etc.

3)If say wrong then sit down.

4)If Sunday lands on student then they are out.

5)Last standing wins.

Find The Colours:

A great game for colours review and for the addition of sentences. I use it for sentences like, 'What colour is it?', and 'What colour do you like?'. Little to no preparation needed, just a room and a lively atmosphere.

Rules:

1)Drill the sentence/vocabulary.

2)Students stand up.

3)Teacher says 'go' and students must find the colour in the room and touch it

4)drill the sentence/vocabulary again.

Flappy-Fish:

This is a classic ESL game.

Actually one of the very first games I learned about over 12 years ago when I first started teaching. I saw my brother use it for a group of 25 kindergarten students and they went crazy for it. Easy to prepare and easy to explain.

It can be used as a brain break, warmer, or just a simple tool to review sentences or vocabulary. Enjoy!

Rules:

1)Two or more students out.

2)Drill and practice target sentences or vocabulary.

3)The teacher shouts GO!

4)Students blow the fish across the finish line.

5)Reward with stars or high fives etc.

A classic song for learning the alphabet. In the tune of 'Twinkle Twinkle little star'. A favourite of all young learners and can help break the ice for new classes and new students.

This is a quick 5 min activity I practice with my kids at the beginning of class. It encourages Student-Student interaction and promotes familiarity with asking the questions as well as just saying the answers.

This is a particularly young class with ages between 3 and 5 years old. There are a few naughty boys and quiet girls so it can be a challenge to keep them interested and focused. I try to keep the energy up with TPR actions and constant positive reinforcement.

'Last to touch'

This is good for reviewing the 'body parts' vocabulary. Easy and effective to do as a warm-up or as a brain break activity.

[Rules]

1)Everyone must copy /listen to the teacher.

2)Last to respond or do the action is out.

Variations include the student as a teacher, must shout out the sentences as loud as possible or the teacher only speaks and doesn't do the action.

Passing Pairs:

This is a good review game for drilling vocabulary and sentences. You can also make use of this for pair work and co-operative learning. This is a fun and exciting game for younger learners. All you need is some balls(or similar objects) and 4 chairs.

rules:

1)Two pairs of students out.

2) Dill the words/sentences.

3)The teacher shouts go.

4)The first student fetches one ball for the next student to place on their chair.

5)Keep going until all balls gone.

6)Team with the most balls wins.

Paper-Skiing:

This is a very easy game to set up and execute in any class situation. It can be used for brain breaks or review parts or as greetings warmers at the start. Very flexible and a good way to inject energy into a sleepy or lethargic classroom. Best played on a smooth floor surface, doesn't work quite as well on carpets.

Rules:

1)Two or more students out.

2)Drill and practice target sentences or vocabulary.

3)The teacher shouts GO!

4Students must reach the chair and sit down without touching the floor 5)Reward with stars or high fives etc.

Pick it up!

Such an overlooked activity!

It is probably the easiest game/activity you can do and it can be highly effective! As long as you do it right, you can make it fun, educational, and a regular routine that improves listening skills and promotes working together and cleanliness in the classroom.

Method:

1)Be enthusiastic!

2)Scatter cards on the floor/leave the cards on the floor after playing a flashcard game.

3) Ask students to pick up.

4)Use TPR actions instead of just words.

5)Give a time limit of 5 seconds.(Adds excitement)

6)The teacher can chase back to the seat of just sound excited and get Student to sit down quickly.

7)Always drill cards after.

8)Remember to use positive reinforcement.

Run and Draw:

Racing game for warmers and greetings. This is a good game for listening skills and hand-eye coordination. It is an active and easy to explain game that can be used for first-time classes and older classes alike. Everyone likes to draw a silly face!:)

Shoot The Pig:

Gun game for Sentence/Vocabulary practice.

Good for classes of crazy boys. The game helps to encourage drilling and focus and effort to produce the target vocabulary or sentences. Remember, the game itself is a positive reinforcement system. This means, only after producing a satisfactory answer can they take part in the game. Don't be afraid to drill multiple times before and after if they are struggling with the sentence structure.

Rules:

1)Students must drill and repeat target Sentences/Vocabulary.

2)A student comes out and answers questions.

3)The student uses the gun to fire at the target(in this case it's a pig!)

4)The student gets points for himself or his team.

This game is for young learners.

I use it mainly for my kindergarten classes but have used it for younger primary classes too. It is a good review game for vocabulary with flashcards. This particular class is reviewing 'Short a' and I used it as a fun game to end the lesson on.

Rules:

1)Teacher places flashcards under different chairs around the room.

2)The teacher then picks a few students (2-5).

3)Students listen to the teacher call the vocabulary word and must run to sit on the chair.

4)Those who are late must sit on the person who sat first. 5)Students must always repeat vocabulary.

********H A P P Y T E A C H I N G***********

This is a classic action-response game for young learners.

It is great for warm-ups or brain breaks. It encourages listening and promotes whole-brain responses.

Hopscotch:

In this example I am using it for days of the week, however it can be used for many different topics and target vocabulary.

Clearly better for younger learners and groups of girls, but I have found success in older groups too!

[Method]

1)Draw or lay out a hopscotch board.

2)Insert the target vocabulary /Sentences

3)Explain that single squares are hops and doubles are jumps.

4)Shout go and student jumps or hops to the end repeating the vocabulary.

What a great group activity!

This can be used when students are tired or need a brain break. And best of all, you can incorporate English vocabulary learning as well! Drilling in-between rounds keeps their focus on the words and swapping out the teacher's helper keeps them excited about being caught.

I use these games mostly for younger learners and for classes that are new and just getting used to a classroom system.

Method:

1)The teacher and student make a bridge.

2)Sing the London bridge song.

3)kids march in a circle under the 'Bridge'.

4)When you get to my fair lady close the bridge and catch a student.

5)Drill the vocab with the student.

6)That student becomes part of the bridge.

7)Repeat.

I'm sure you guys can think of more variations here

This is my activity for review classes and supplement days.

Sometimes you want to just enjoy learning English and let the students be creative while learning!

You can build words, sentences, even create stories with the older levels.

A classic game you can adapt for the ESL classroom.

A great game for all ages, older and younger.

Good for brain breaks and end of class reviews.

This is the final part of the course. Here I will share the resources I've used over the years and I hope that you can also make good use of them. Don't be afraid to tweak or alter them to suit your style, your classes, and your needs! Remember the variation method!