Warm ups games and activities

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Teaching English should not be limited to a certain syllabus that might cause boredom
to the students , it should include games and fun activities that would certainly enhance
their willingness to learn the language

1 ) Choose one person to go shopping with you. This student must say "goodbye" to the
rest of the class, whereupon they ask in unison, "Where are you going?" The student
replies, "I'm going shopping. At ________(the name of your local store)."
Now bring the student outside the classroom door. This is the most exciting part for
everybody, to leave the room! The student must pick one flashcard and put it behind
his/her back. Upon returning, the class asks the student, "What did you buy?" and the
student says, "Guess!" Students then raise their hand and the shopper student chooses
one, who must use one of the vocabulary words in guessing. When a correct answer is
given, that student becomes the next shopper.
Kids love this game!

2 ) < suitable for Grade Level - 4 5 >

This is a word game to help students increase their vocabulary. Especially for ESL
students/class. Use this as a back up plan.
-have two teams, ("A" and "B") (split class in half)
-each team picks a representative from each team
-have the class sitting in front of the chalk board and have the two representative sitting
on a chair facing their classmates
-write a vocabulary word on the chalk board (ex. air planes)
-team a gives clues (one world) about the vocabulary word the representatives tries to
guess what the vocabulary word is, give representative description of word etc...
-representative choose their team mates to give them clues on their team, they get 5
clues, if they still didn't solve the word the next team ("B") gets to try to solve what the
word is etc...
-rotate representative after every word, current representative may choose the next
representative for the next word .
This helps the students expand their vocabulary, and review vocabulary words. They
learn about the vocabulary words in a FUN way and each student contributes their
knowledge.

3 ) The class is arranged into rows. The first person in each row is given a piece of
chalk. The blackboard is divided into sections. No more than six teams.
The teacher calls a letter and the students must write as many words as they can
beginning with that letter, in the allocated time. Their team-mates can call out hints, but
be warned, this is very noisy.
Next, the second member gets the chalk and goes to the board and the teacher calls out a
new letter.
The team with the most correct words is the winner.

4 ). Once the learners get acquainted with the basic commands "Sit down" and "Stand up", which is
basically Total Physical Response, a very long range of vocabulary items, commands and imperatives
could be useful appropriately. For example,

Breath
Smile
Clap
Jump
Shake heads
Nod
Yawn
Laugh
Cry
Cough
Etc.

Once these basics are mastered, the beginners could be exposed to some longer and
compound commands such as,

Close / open your eyes

Close your right eye but don't close your left eye.
Put your hand on your head / mouth / eyes etc
Put your hand in your pocket.
Wash your hands with very hot water. ( + expressing pain )
Wash your hands with warm water. ( + expressing delight )
Walk on broken glass. ( jogging + expressing pain )
Put your left hand on your right shoulder.
Girls stand up and boys sit down! ( or vice versa )
Etc.

5)Words Beginning with a Given Letter

The teacher says a word, the next student guesses of a word that
start with the last sound of the first word and the next student
guesses of another word that starts of the last sound of the third
word. Example:
I say pen, next student guesses of word that starts with N, like
name, next one thinks of a word that starts with M as mom, etc.
6)Spelling Contest

First, if you have a large class you have to divide it in 2 teams.

then the teacher says a word or a sentence depending on the
level for the students to spell. Students should spell these
correctly with not even one mistake. The team that has more
points is the winner

7)Secret Code *

Level: Any Level

I sometimes give instructions to my students written in code that they

have to interpret before completing tasks. I've used this at various
levels:

Here's an example: to revise alphabet and simple present verbs/vocab.

Tell students the code e.g. each code letter represents the
letter that comes before it in the alphabet a is b, m is n, 'dbu' is
cat etc.
Then they decode their message and do the task:
o xbml up uif cpbse - walk to the board
o kvnq ufo ujnft - jump ten times
o ibqqz up tff zpv Happy to see you
o tbz zpvs obnf Say your name
o j bn gjstu I am first
o ifmq qmfbtf help please

Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
8)Classroom Rules: Must and Mustn't

Prepare small pieces of paper each with either one thing

students must do or one thing students must not do.
Tell the students that they are supposed to form sentences
that explain classroom rules.
 Smoke in class, eat in class, listen to the teacher, use the cell
phone, participate, listen to music on your phone, ask for help,
speak Only English, Speak Portuguese.
9) Calling the roll
When the teacher calls up names to check for absent pupils, the students usual answer
when they hear their names a sort of a lazily voiced:

Here
Present

This will accelerate boredom with time; therefore, it also may be subject to a lot of
modifications so as to be used as a component of the teacher's warm up. The teacher thinks
of something else the kids could say instead of "here" or "present". She asks her pupils to say
neither "I'm here" nor "present"; but one of the following (preferably each per day)

Favourite colour
Favourite day, month or season
Letter of alphabet
Favourite actor / actress
Favourite singer
Favourite sportsman or sportswoman.
Hobby
Favourite cartoon
Favourite vegetables
Favourite fruit
Pet or fierce animal
Places one visited or wishes to visit
Etc.

10) Beep Game

Every 5th number is a beep ( students must not say numbers such
as 5 10 15 20 etc . They will make a beep sound or
something similar instead ) .
Students should say numbers as quickly as possible.

11) Board Race

There isnt an EFL teacher I know who doesnt use this game in the
classroom. Board Race is a fun game that is used for revising vocabulary,
whether it be words from the lesson youve just taught or words from a
lesson you taught last week. It can also be used at the start of the class to
get students active. It is a great way of testing what your students already
know about the subject youre about to teach.

Why use it? Revising vocabulary; grammar

Who it's best for: Appropriate for all levels and ages

How to play:

This is best played with 6 students or more - the more, the better. Ive used
it in classes ranging from 7-25 years of age and its worked well in all age
groups. Here's a step by step explanation:

Split the class into two teams and give each team a colored marker.
If you have a very large class, it may be better to split the students
into teams of 3 or 4.
Draw a line down the middle of the board and write a topic at the top.
The students must then write as many words as you require related to
the topic in the form of a relay race.
Each team wins one point for each correct word. Any words that are
unreadable or misspelled are not counted.

12) Simon Says

This is an excellent game for young learners. Whether youre waking them up
on a Monday morning or sending them home on a Friday afternoon, this
one is bound to get them excited and wanting more. The only danger I have
found with this game is that students never want to stop playing it.

Why use it? Listening comprehension; Vocabulary; Warming

up/winding down class
Who it's best for: Young learners

How to Play:

Stand in front of the class (you are Simon for the duration of this
game).
Do an action and say Simon Says [action]. The students must copy
what you do.
 Repeat this process choosing different actions - you can be as silly as
you like and the sillier you are the more the children will love you for
it.
Then do an action but this time say only the action and omit Simon
Says. Whoever does the action this time is out and must sit down.
The winner is the last student standing.
To make it harder, speed up the actions. Reward children for good
behavior by allowing them to play the part of Simon.

13) Word Jumble Race

This is a great game to encourage team work and bring a sense of

competition to the classroom. No matter how old we are, we all love a good
competition and this game works wonders with all age groups. It is perfect
for practicing tenses, word order, reading & writing skills and grammar.

Why use it? Grammar; Word Order; Spelling; Writing Skills

Who it's best for: Adaptable to all levels/ages

How to play:

This game requires some planning before the lesson.

Write out a number of sentences, using different colors for each

sentence. I suggest having 3-5 sentences for each team.
Cut up the sentences so you have a handful of words.
Put each sentence into hats, cups or any objects you can find,
keeping each separate.
Split your class into teams of 2, 3, or 4. You can have as many teams
as you want but remember to have enough sentences to go around.
Teams must now put their sentences in the correct order.
The winning team is the first team to have all sentences correctly
ordered

Continue until the students guess the word correctly (they win) or you
complete the diagram (you win).

14) Pictionary
This is another game that works well with any age group; children love it
because they can get creative in the classroom, teenagers love it because it
doesnt feel like theyre learning, and adults love it because its a break from
the monotony of learning a new language - even though they'll be learning
as they play.

Pictionary can help students practice their vocabulary and it tests to see if
theyre remembering the words youve been teaching.

Why use it? Vocabulary

Who it's best for: All ages; best with young learners

How to play:

Before the class starts, prepare a bunch of words and put them in a
bag.
Split the class into teams of 2 and draw a line down the middle of the
board.
Give one team member from each team a pen and ask them to
choose a word from the bag.
Tell the students to draw the word as a picture on the board and
encourage their team to guess the word.
The first team to shout the correct answer gets a point.
The student who has completed drawing should then nominate
someone else to draw for their team.
Repeat this until all the words are gone - make sure you have enough
words that each student gets to draw at least once!

15) The Mime

Miming is an excellent way for students to practice their tenses and their
verbs. It's also great for teachers with minimal resources or planning time,
or teachers who want to break up a longer lesson with something more
interactive. It's adaptable to almost any language point that you might be
focusing on.

This game works with any age group, although you will find that adults tire
of this far quicker than children. To keep them engaged, relate what they
will be miming to your groups' personal interests as best as possible.
 Why use it? Vocabulary; Speaking
Who it's best for: All ages; best with young learners

How to play:

Before the class, write out some actions - like washing the dishes -
and put them in a bag.
Split the class into two teams.
Bring one student from each team to the front of the class and one of
them choose an action from the bag.
Have both students mime the action to their team.
The first team to shout the correct answer wins a point.
Repeat this until all students have mimed at least one action.

16) Hot Seat

Hot Seat allows students to build their vocabulary and encourages

competition in the classroom. They are also able to practice their speaking
and listening skills and it can be used for any level of learner.

Why use it? Vocabulary; Speaking and Listening

Who it's best for: All ages and levels

How to play:

Split the class into 2 teams, or more if you have a large class.
Elect one person from each team to sit in the Hot Seat, facing the
classroom with the board behind them.
Write a word on the board. One of the team members of the student
in the hot seat must help the student guess the word by describing it.
They have a limited amount of time and cannot say, spell or draw the
word.
Continue until each team member has described a word to the
student in the Hot Seat.

17) Making sentences

 Find an English magazine or newspaper and cut out about 40 words ensuring you have a balance
of parts of speech and stick them onto a sheet of paper in no particular order something like this:

Give out copies of the sheets to students in groups of up to four. Print this set of words.
They have seven (depending on level and complexity of task) minutes to create: one sentence with
three words, one sentence with four words etc depending on level.
Sentences may be like this:
3 words - Radio is free.

4 words - Most parents are happy.

5 words - Cows enjoy politics in April.

This game encourages creative use of language and after the sentences are produced, the
students could choose one and write a story or newspaper article that this sentence is a title or
headline to.

18) Circle game

This game is great for listening.

Arrange chairs in the classroom so that everyone is sitting in a circle. Give instructions like:

Everyone who has a sister change seats

If you live in a flat or house with an even number change seats
If you are wearing brown shoes change seats
Everyone with blue eyes change seats
Again instructions can be graded so that even students with little English can play using
colours, clothes, family etc.

Those who fit the description must stand and change seats, the others remain seated. After a
few turns, remove a chair at each instruction, so that one person does not manage to get a seat
and they are out they could then give the next instruction. The last student remaining is the
winner.

Be careful with boisterous classes there may be some overenthusiastic pushing.

 19) Fishing for English

English is everywhere these days:

in advertisements
menus
the media
To raise awareness of this, set the following homework over a weekend perhaps.

Ask students to collect any English they find in their environment this could include
literally collecting some adverts from magazines that include English or menus from
MacDonalds etc or writing down English words or phrases they notice spoken on local
television or even words they and their families use that have been integrated into their
mother tongue. A lovely display could be put together on the classroom wall with this
collection.

20 ) Telephone ( Grammar Introductions )

Everyone knows grammar charts are dull. But you can liven them up
with the old game of telephone. To introduce a new grammatical
structure, whisper a sample sentence in a students ear. Have the
student repeat what s/he heard to the next student, and then s/he
repeats what s/he heard to the next student, and so on. The last
student writes what s/he heard on the board, and then you write the
correct sentence below it. Have fun comparing the telephone
version to the correct one, and then introduce the key grammatical
structures.

21) The Aplphabet Game :

I have recently given this activity to my students who are in my conversation class. They
work in pairs with a set of cut out alphabets folded where student A will have to pick an
alphabet followed by student B finding a word which starts with the alphabet picked by
student A. The third step is completed by student A by making a sentence that uses at least
five words including the word which has been selected by student B.

Example:

Student A has picked the alphabet G

Student B uses the G alphabet in the word GLOBAL.

Student A completes the round by making the sentence: The global warming has been raising
many serious environmental discussions lately.

Have fun learning with this activity

22) Bankrupt
This a great warmer you can use to recycle any vocabulary or grammar structures I once read
while diving on the Internet for ideas. The game is called Bankrupt. Collect the vocabulary
flashcards you aim to revise, and stick behind them cards showing an amount of money, like
200 Dhs , 100 Dhs and so on. One or two of them should say BANKRUPT and another
DONATION. Stick the flashcards on the board. Be careful students don't see money cards.
Divide the class into two groups. Students take turns to choose one of the flashcards, say the
item on them, or a sentence using that word, as you prefer. If they say it right they gain the
amount of money at the back. If it says Bankrupt, you erase the money they had won, and if it
says Donation, that team donates all their money to the other group.

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HAVE FUN