As students learn a language, they have to practice reading, writing, speaking, and listening whilst using the new vocabulary. The activities, games, and lessons below are perfect for ESL students or home-language English students practicing new skills. Teachers will appreciate how the activities engage students and students will love how exciting the games are. Here are 25 English elementary activities for you to enjoy.
1. Vocabulary Passports
The vocabulary passport is a great idea to keep kids engaged in learning new vocabulary. Each time a student hears or sees a new word, he completes a graphic organizer and then gets a stamp in their vocabulary passport. Kids love collecting new stamps as they learn new words.
Learn More: Really Good Stuff
2. Read to Stuffed Animals
This is a simple activity that kids will love. They read their favorite books out loud to stuffed animals. Reading out loud helps beginner students with fluency and comprehension. Students can bring in their own stuffed animals or read to their classroom stuffed animals.
Learn More: Really Good Stuff
3. Hot Wad
Hot Wad is an exciting game similar to “Hot Potato”. The teacher writes word tasks on pieces of paper and then wads the scraps into a larger ball. The kids will pass the ball with music and when the music stops, they take one of the pieces of paper and complete the task on the paper.
Learn More: We are Teachers
4. Word Wheel
The word wheel is a fun game to encourage students to learn new words and memorize them using different learning styles. For new words, students will spin the wheel and then complete the corresponding action written on the wheel.
Learn More: We are Teachers
5. Alphabetical Order Race
For this fun activity, the class is divided into two teams. Each team gets a set of index cards with the same set of words. Then, the team organizes the index cards alphabetically. The team that finishes the alphabetical order race first wins!
Learn More: Your Dictionary
6. Part of Speech Treasure Hunt
In this lesson plan, students will have fun practicing parts of speech. The teacher will write subjects on one colored post-it, predicates on another colored post-it, etc., and place them around the room. Students will then hunt for post-its to complete a sentence.
Learn More: Your Dictionary
7. Grammar Task Cards
Grammar task cards help students practice different aspects of grammar. The best part of the task cards is they can be given to individual students, partners, or small groups. Teachers can use them at learning stations as well.
Learn More: The Southern Teach
8. The What’s Missing Game
This activity can be used for grammar or new vocabulary. The teacher puts 10-15 vocabulary words or sentences on the board. The kids get a chance to memorize what’s displayed and then the teacher removes a card. The students then have to guess what’s missing.
Learn More: Bridge.edu
9. Categories
Categories is a classic game for kids of all ages. The teacher picks a category, like “colors”, then the students take turns naming vocabulary words that fit the category. Students will practice listening skills and be able to learn new vocabulary.
Learn More: Bridge.edu
10. Password Vocabulary Game
This game is great for ESL students. The teacher picks a secret word and the students have to describe the word for other students to guess what it is. This team game is exciting and encourages kids to use new words and speak publicly.
Learn More: ESL Activities
11. Running Dictation
Dictation is very important for students learning a new language. It requires students to listen, comprehend, and write. They will write what they hear. Dictation also lets the teacher assess learning and reteach vocabulary as they deem necessary.
Learn More: ESL Activities
12. Surveys
Surveys are a good activity to use with advanced students or with larger groups of learners. Students can use surveys to ask questions in English and record answers. Conducting surveys requires speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
Learn More: English Teacher Guide
13. Alphabet Relay
The alphabet relay is a competitive team game. The teacher will write the alphabet on the board and announce a category like types of clothing. Each team will then shout answers that start with each letter of the alphabet. The team that erases the most letters wins.
Learn More: English Teacher Guide
14. Cops and Robbers
This lesson plan helps students practice the “have got” English construction. The class is divided into two teams- namely the cops and the robbers. Then each team has to race to “steal” the objects in the middle of the room. The team with the most objects wins.
Learn More: Teach This
15. I Spy
“I Spy” is a classroom game that can be played with any number of students or as a team game. Students will describe an item from a picture, a set of words, or the classroom, and the other kids will try to guess what the item is. This is a proven favorite for building speech.
Learn More: Teach This
16. Topic Crossword
A topic crossword is a great way for kids to practice using the new vocabulary on their own. The crossword has a specific topic aligned with the curriculum, with topic-specific clues. The students will fill in the crossword with the vocabulary words from the unit.
Learn More: ESL Teacher 365
17. Labyrinth
The teacher will write 24 vocabulary words on the board in 4 columns and 6 rows. The students then have to get the correct sequence of words through the labyrinth. As students guess each word, the teacher says “yes” or “no”. This is a great memorization game as well as a literacy game.
Learn More: ESL Teacher 365
18. Shaded Circles
This activity is an excellent game for active students who want to get up and move. The teacher puts two circles up on either side of the classroom. Each circle has a broad category and students have to place English vocabulary into the appropriate circle.
Learn More: Ink for All
19. Words in a Word
This is a fun activity that encourages students to think about word combinations and phonics. The teacher gives the students a long word, and students have to come up with as many words from that word as they can. This is a great game for teaching spelling.
Learn More: Shane Schools
20. Line Up
This is a get-to-know-you activity that can be adapted to help students practice using English in new situations such as ordering food at a restaurant for example. Students line up facing each other, and ask each other 3 questions, and then rotate- encouraging students to practice language skills in conversation.
Learn More: Shane Schools
21. Lost in Kansas
This map reading activity helps students practice giving and receiving directions. The students are “lost” and have to help each other get to different locations on the map. This is a functional activity that students will use throughout their lives.
Learn More: All ESL
22. Rhyme Time
This activity requires the “Rhyme Time” printable worksheet. Students will write as many words that rhyme with the words in the quadrants as they can within a given time limit. Teachers can give the students with the most rhymes a prize.
Learn More: All ESL
23. Ups and Downs
This lesson plan requires 20 cups. Teachers will place 10 cups up and 10 cups down. The class will then be divided into 2 teams- the ups and the downs. As students answer questions they get to turn a cup from up to down or vice versa. This game will quickly become a class favorite.
Learn More: TEFL Lemon
24. Balloon Volleyball
Balloon volleyball is a perfect review game. Students will play on two teams with a set of chairs acting as the net. Students will hit the balloon over the “net” as they answer review questions. Alternatively, teachers can pick a category, and students have to come up with a word to fit the category as they hit the balloon.
Learn More: TEFL Lemon
25. Beat the Teacher
This lesson plan is good for partners or one-on-one tutoring sessions. The teacher will set up a Tic-Tac-Toe board. The teacher will ask the student questions- if the student gets the question right, they get to place an X. If they get it wrong, then the teacher gets to place an O.
Learn More: English Club
Related posts:
You'll also like:
No related posts.
