Classroom Games

Alphabet Games

http://www.funfonix.com/games/

Alphabet Shout Out

Randomly choose an alphabet flashcard and award a point to the first student who shouts out a word beginning with that letter.

Alphabet Writing Relay

 Divide and line up the students into two teams. Divide the board into two halves and have one student from each team run to the board, write 'A', then run to the back of the line. The next student writes 'B', etc. The first team to finish wins.

Alphabet Erase relay

As 'Alphabet Writing Relay', but this time, write the alphabet on each half of the board and have each team race to erase the letters in order.

Alphabet Sculptures

Divide the students into teams and call out a letter of the alphabet. Award a point to the first team that can form the letter with their bodies.

Alphabet Soup

Give each student an alphabet flashcard and have them skip around the room to the 'ABC Song'. Stop the tape at random and have the students rush to line up in order, e.g. A-K.

Alphabet Touch
Call out letters and have the students find and touch them in the classroom, on posters, etc.

Alphabet Wave
Give each student a few ordered alphabet flashcards and play the 'ABC Song'. Have the students hold up the cards that correspond to the letters they hear in the song.



Colours Games

Colors in the Air: This is good for very young ones. Give each S 2 pieces of different colored paper (origami paper is ideal for this). T calls a color (e.g. "Blue") and the Ss with that color hold it up. (submitted by Jo Ruoss).

Color Circles: A good activity for young kids. Get some pieces of A3 paper and draw a large circle on each one. Pin the circles on different walls in the classroom. Model the activity: Say "Blue", take a blue crayon, walk over to one circle and color a small part of the circle. Do this for each color you plan to teach. Then, say a color ("Blue") to a S and s/he should pick up the blue crayon and go over to the circle you colored in blue. Let him/her color it a little and then call him/her back. Continue with other Ss.

Color Game: This is a good one for teaching the names of colors to young children. Arrange various colors of construction paper in a circle. Play some music and have the children march around the circle. Stop the music and all the children must sit down next to a color. Pick a color and sing (to the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"): "Who's beside the color (insert name of color)? Please stand up, if it's you." At that point, the child next to the color mentioned stands up. Continue until all of the children get a turn. (submitted by Josie Weisner).

http://www.teach-esl-to-kids.com/esl-games.html

Mystery Box

Find a box that you can decorate and keep in your home or classroom. You can wrap the box with gold or silver paper, draw question marks on it, glue on sparkles and ribbons...anything to make the box look special and exciting. If you can find something that looks like a treasure chest, that's even better!
Before class, find several objects related to the language topic that you are working on. For example, if you are learning about different types of food, place some plastic fruit and other fake food inside the mystery box.
During circle time, play the "Mystery Box" song to let children know it's time to check the mystery box. (When the children are familiar with the activity, you can have them bring you the box whenever they hear the song). The teacher or parent can ask the children, "Do you want to know what's inside?" Encourage the children's curiosity by having them ask, "What's inside?" or "What's inside the mystery box?"
Look inside the box and give the children some clues about one of the items. For example, if it's plastic banana, tell the children, "Ooooh, it's a piece of fruit! It's yellow! It's yummy! Monkeys like to eat it. It's long!" Reveal clues one by one, encouraging the kids the guess what the item is. If the kids still haven't guessed, slowly take the item out of the box, revealing it little by little. After you have taken the item out of the box, pass it around the room, each child naming the object as they hold it. Then, move on to the next item.
A mystery box really grabs students attention and is a great way to introduce or review vocabulary with young children. It's an activity that you can use over and over again, and it is engaging every time.
http://supersimplelearning.com

First Lesson Games





How to use a ball in your classroom
Spelling Ball

This game is as simple as ABC. Have your students stand in a big circle. Say a word and toss the ball to one of your students. Student says the first letter of the word and tosses the ball to a classmate, who has to say the second letter, and then tosses the ball to another. Students who make a mistake must sit down and play starts again with the teacher. The last student standing is the winner!
Freeze!

This game is ideal for little ones! Practice vocabulary with flashcards. First, teach students the meaning of “Freeze!” as stop. Students sit in a wide circle with a set of flashcards in the center. Students pass the ball around the circle. Tell them they can’t hold the ball for more than a second. Cover your eyes while they do this and say, “Freeze!” The student who has the ball must stop and take a flashcard from the pile. Depending on your students’ ages and level, ask them to either say the word or use it in a sentence.