Games and Group dynamics for English language learners : Grade 1-3 Vocabulary

Table of contents

Grade 1 Page
 Non-cooperative 2
 Cooperative 3
14
Grade 2 22
 Non-cooperative 23
 Cooperative 32
41
Grade 3 42
 Non-cooperative 48
 Cooperative

1

2

3

Title: Find its partner.
Grade Level: 7-8 years old or Grade 1 students
Time: 10 minutes per one round
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Vocabulary about things
Materials: Two types of Flashcards; one is flashcards with words, one is flashcards with
pictures. The number of flashcards should be 10-15 items.
How to play

1. Give the picture flashcards to students. Each student will receive the same flashcards.
2. The teacher kept a word flashcard with themself then the teacher could randomly

select a word from flashcards and pronounce and show the flashcard to students.
3. Let students find the flashcards that can match correctly with the word then let them

show the flashcard. The teacher can check if it is correct or not.
4. Teacher can select which one will play first. For example, the first round is matching

a word with a picture; the next round can be matching the picture with the word.
Supplementary: each student needs 1 set of two types of flashcards; one student will have
both words and pictures.
Vocabulary in this game
Bag Ball Bin Car Chair Cup Desk Door Eraser Ruler Pen Pencil Glass House Jar Key Pan
Table Television Room Ring Toy Van
Reference
Thornbury, et al. (2006). Games for Language Learning (3nd ed.). Cambridge University
Press.

4

Title: Yes or no
Grade Level: 7-8 years old or Grade 1 students
Time: -
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Vocabulary
Materials: Flashcards of picture
How to play

1. The teacher will show one flashcard in front of the classroom and ask students in
Yes/No question; for example. Is it a strawberry, yes or no?

2. Let students raise their hand for answering.
3. If student says yes, teacher might ask her/him to pronounce the word again but if

she/he says no, teacher needs to ask what she think.
4. There is only one winner in the class.
Vocabulary in this game

Vocabulary in this game can be any categories; for example, fruit, family members,
career.
Example of Materials

Reference
https://www.eslkidstuff.com/esl-kids-games/vocabulary-games.htm

5

Title: I spy
Grade Level: 7-8 years old or Grade 1 students
Time: -
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Vocabulary
Materials: -
How to play

1. The teacher will say “I spy something on…..” then teacher can point at someone and
let student say one vocabulary that she/he knows.

2. Next students are not able to answer the same vocabulary as their friends answered.
3. The one who cannot answer will be cut out from the game.
4. There is only last man standing will be the winner.
Vocabulary in this game

Vocabulary in this game can be any categories; for example, fruit, family members,
career.
Reference
https://bilingualkidspot.com/2018/11/03/english-word-games-for-kids/

6

Title: Color on
Grade Level: 7-8 years old or Grade 1 students
Time: -
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Vocabulary about colors
Materials: A coloring pictures and color pencils.
How to play

1. Students will have one coloring paper and 12 color pencils.
2. The teacher will pick one color pencil and ask students what is this color.
3. Students who answered correct can use that color paint on the picture.
4. The teacher can add the information about that color such as orange, this color is a

fruit that you can eat.
Vocabulary in this game

Colors: Red, blue, white, black, green, orange, purple, pink, yellow, brown, silver,
and gray.
Example of Materials

Reference
Thornbury, et al. (2006). Games for Language Learning (3nd ed.). Cambridge University
Press.

7

Title: Draw me please
Grade Level: 7-8 years old or Grade 1 students
Time: -
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Vocabulary about animals, things, career, etc.
Materials: Papers and pencils
How to play

1. The teacher will say one vocabulary; for example, dog.
2. Let students draw that vocabulary on the paper.

3. The teacher can add the information such as a dog with a ribbon.

Vocabulary in this game
The vocabulary in this game can be changed into any categories that can draw a

picture.
Reference
Thornbury, et al. (2006). Games for Language Learning (3nd ed.). Cambridge University
Press.

8

Title: Bingo
Grade Level: 7-8 years old or Grade 1 students
Time: -
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Vocabulary about actions or emotions that can be acted
Materials: Bingo papers
How to play

1. The teacher will be a charade in the first round.
2. Draw a word from the box and act in front of the classroom.
3. Students who know that vocabulary can answer and if they got it correct they can

place the words into the bingo paper in case if they have that word in paper.
4. After got a winner, the winner will be the charade in next round.
Vocabulary in this game

Ugly, angry, hungry, sad, cry, drink, go, come, walk, stand, smell, listen, hello, happy,
dance, etc.
Example of material

Reference
Thornbury, et al. (2006). Games for Language Learning (3nd ed.). Cambridge University
Press.

9

Title: This place is…..?
Grade Level: 7-8 years old or Grade 1 students
Time: -
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Vocabulary about places.
Materials: Places‟ picture
How to play

1. Stick the map on blackboard and write the vocabulary beside.
2. The teacher will point at one place and explain a bit about this place.

3. Ask students to raise their hand. The first one who shown up will have a chance to
answer.

Vocabulary in this game
Café, zoo, supermarket, park, car park, school, restaurant, house, bus top, train station,

library, and etc.
Example of material

Reference: http://iteslj.org/c/games.html

10

Title: My body
Grade Level: 7-8 years old or Grade 1 students
Time: -
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Human body vocabulary
Materials: Picture of Human body
How to play

1. The teacher will write blank spaces on blackboard. The number of blank spaces will
have the same number of selected vocabulary. For example, ear, blank spaces should
have three.

2. Write one alphabet of that vocabulary to be a hint.
3. Let students raise their hand to answer.
Vocabulary in this game

Hair, head, hand, neck, knee, eye, ear, mouth, lip, eyebrow, wrist, fingers, foot, and
leg.
Example of material

Reference: http://iteslj.org/c/games7.html
11

Title: Crosswords

Grade Level: 7-8 years old or Grade 1 students
Time: 10 minutes
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Human body vocabulary
Materials: Crosswords paper
How to play

1. The teacher gives students a crosswords paper.
2. In 10 minutes, students need to fill the vocabulary as many as they can.

3. One student who wrote the most vocabulary will be the winner.

Vocabulary in this game
Hair, head, hand, neck, knee, eye, ear, mouth, lip, eyebrow, wrist, fingers, foot, hip,

arm, and leg.

Example of material

Reference
http://iteslj.org/c/games.html

12

Title: Correct me
Grade Level: 7-8 years old or Grade 1 students
Time: 1 minute per one word
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Vocabulary
Materials: Wooden pieces of alphabets A-Z and picture in that category
How to play

1. The teacher will show the picture and the vocabulary that was misspelled.
2. Students need to correct it into the right word.

3. Who can correct it the most will be the winner.

Vocabulary in this game
The vocabulary in this game can be changed into any categories that can draw a

picture.
Example of material

Reference: https://www.fluentu.com/blog/educator-english/esl-vocabulary-games/

13

14

Title: Grab and run
Grade Level: 7-8 years old or Grade 1 students
Time: -
Type of game: Cooperative
Numbers of members: Couple player
Language Focus: Vocabulary about animals, things, career, etc.
Materials: Flashcard of picture
How to play

1. The teacher shows the flashcard to the first student then they need to pronounce the
vocabulary correctly to get the flashcard.

2. Afterward, the first student will grab the flashcard and run to their pair.

3. The second student will write the vocabulary on blackboard and let the teacher check.

Vocabulary in this game
The vocabulary in this game can be changed into any categories that can draw a

picture.
Reference
https://bilingualkidspot.com/2018/11/03/english-word-games-for-kids/

15

Title: Can you find me?
Grade Level: 7-8 years old or Grade 1 students
Time: 10 minutes
Type of game: Cooperative
Numbers of members: 5 people in one group
Language Focus: Vocabulary about nature
Materials: -
How to play

1. The teacher needs to take the students to go outside the classroom.
2. Give students 10 minutes for searching the things about nature; for example, leaf.
3. For animals, teacher needs to tell students that they do not need to catch it, only

explore and note the vocabulary on the paper.
4. For the things that can have it with them, after time out let students tell the vocabulary

of the things.
Vocabulary in this game

Rabbit, rat, squirrel, bat, frog, toad, lizard, deer, snake, leaf, tree, bird, butterfly, and
etc.
Reference
https://www.eslkidstuff.com/esl-kids-games/vocabulary-games.htm

16

Title: How was the whether?
Grade Level: 7-8 years old or Grade 1 students
Time: 1 minutes per one round
Type of game: Cooperative
Numbers of members: A pair
Language Focus: Vocabulary about weather
Materials: Flashcards about weather and things
How to play

1. Make a pair. Teacher should be batter randomly pair students.
2. Give the flashcards to each pair. The both flashcards need to mix up.
3. Teacher will say one weather; for example, sunny. Then students need to find a

flashcard of the word „sunny‟ and the flashcard of „sun‟ picture.
Vocabulary in this game

Sunny, cloudy, rainy, snowy, strom, thunder, sunshine, and etc.
Example of material

CLOUDY SNOWY

SUNNY RAINY

Reference
https://www.eslkidstuff.com/esl-kids-games/vocabulary-games.htm

17

Title: A cup of tea
Grade Level: 7-8 years old or Grade 1 students
Time: 5-7 minutes
Type of game: Cooperative

Numbers of members: 15 people per group. In one classroom can divided into two rounds.

Language Focus: Vocabulary about animals, things, and career.
Materials: A cup
How to play

1. Each group sits in a circle. Teacher gives one cup per group and set one category to
each member.

2. Play the song for one verse and let students pass a cup to other members. Once the
song stops, who carry a cup need to tell one vocabulary in that category that they got
from teacher.

3. In one round, students can have the same category of vocabulary. For example, 5
people get career vocabulary, 5 people get animals vocabulary, and 5 people get daily
things vocabulary.

Vocabulary in this game
In this game, vocabulary should be in the career, daily things, and animals‟ category.

Reference
http://iteslj.org/c/games.html

18

Title: Mixed weather letter
Grade Level: 7-8 years old or Grade 1 students
Time: 1-2 minutes per one word.
Type of game: Cooperative
Numbers of members: 3-5 people per one group.
Language Focus: Vocabulary about weather

Materials: Papers and pencils, flashcards for teacher

How to play
1. The teacher gives one paper to each group.
2. The teacher will write a vocabulary in mixed letters form and let all the groups
rearrange it in 1-2 minutes. Which group answers the fastest will get the point.

Vocabulary in this game
Hot, cool, sunshine, thunder, mist, lightning, cloudy, rainbow, storm, season, sunny,

rainy, etc.

Example of material Sunny Cool Storm
Hot snnuy ocol mrots
toh

Reference
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/educator-english/esl-vocabulary-games/

19

Title: Speak out!
Grade Level: 7-8 years old or Grade 1 students
Time: 10 minutes for practicing in a pair, 5-10 minutes for pairs fight
Type of game: Cooperative
Numbers of members: A pair
Language Focus: Vocabulary about body
Materials: -
How to play

1. Students need to find their pair by drawing a color ball, who get the same color will
be paired together.

2. Start the activity by let each pair stand in face to face. Then, one student will touch
one thing on their body. For example, ear.

3. Another student will answer the vocabulary of it. After that she/he can be the one who
select.

4. After two students in one pair took turn to answer and question, teacher selects two
pairs for one round.

5. One pair will select one part on their body and let another pair answer.
6. Which pair cannot answer will be cut out and the last couple will be the winner
Vocabulary in this game

Eye, arm, leg, hand, head, hair, foot, finger, neck, libs, mouth, and etc.
Reference
Thornbury, et al. (2006). Games for Language Learning (3nd ed.). Cambridge University
Press.

20

Title: What is Rudy doing?
Grade Level: 7-8 years old or Grade 1 students
Time: 10 minutes
Type of game: Cooperative
Numbers of members: 5 players in one group
Language Focus: Vocabulary about action words
Materials: Blindfolds
How to play

1. The teacher will separate students into a group of 5 people.
2. The teacher gives one blindfold to the members in the group.
3. Afterwards, get in line. The first one will open their eyes to see what teacher was

doing. One student will have twice times to see. Then, move to the back and wear
blindfold. Let the next player see.
4. After all members saw what teacher was doing, they have 2 minutes to brainstorm and
answer all 5 action words of teacher‟s acts.
Vocabulary in this game
Go, eat, jump, cry, sleep, run, see, say, stop, start, walk, play, open, hear, kick, look,
meet, and etc.
Reference
http://iteslj.org/c/games.html

21

22

23

Title: What‟s in the basket?
Grade Level: 8 years old or Grade 2 students
Time: 2 minutes per one student
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Vocabulary about fruit, shape, and food
Materials: Plastic fruit, shapes, animals and food and basket
How to play

1. Let student sit in their desk and teacher starts the game by let student pick the things
in basket.

2. Student can pick only one thing per one round and then tell what is it.
3. Teacher need to let every student play it and do not let the students pick the same one

as the previous player.
4. In the next round, let students pick more than last round. For example, fourth round

one student needs to pick 4 pieces.
Vocabulary in this game

Apple, mango, banana, papaya, strawberry, pineapple, pear, grape, cow, tiger,
elephant, fish, bird, lion, zebra, circle, triangle, square, etc.
Example of material

Reference
Thornbury, et al. (2006). Games for Language Learning (3nd ed.). Cambridge University
Press.

24

Title: Battle ships
Grade Level: 8 years old or Grade 2 students
Time: 10 minutes
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Vocabulary about animals, things, career, etc.
Materials: Papers and pencils
How to play

1. Each student will be a captain of a ship.
2. Let get in a row and answer teacher question to beat the teacher and become the

captain.
3. Student who became captain need to answer and ask the vocabulary to every student.

For example, ask the vocabulary of animal and let another student answer. If they can
answer, they will have a chance to ask a captain back.
Vocabulary in this game
Vocabulary can be in any categories but have to be in the area of Grade 2.
Reference
https://bilingualkidspot.com/2018/11/03/english-word-games-for-kids/

25

Title: Draw me
Grade Level: 8 years old or Grade 2 students
Time: 5 minutes
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player

Language Focus: Vocabulary about shape, animals, color, and fruit.

Materials: Papers and pencils
How to play

1. The teacher will give a paper sheet to every student.
2. In the paper contains many vocabulary. Then teacher will tell the story of vocabulary

of those things. For example, red shoes with flower printed.
3. Let students draw that all vocabulary that they heard on the paper.
Vocabulary in this game

Vocabulary can be in category of shape, animals, color, and fruit.
Reference
https://bilingualkidspot.com/2018/11/03/english-word-games-for-kids/

26

Title: What‟s in this shop?
Grade Level: 8 years old or Grade 2 students
Time: 5 minutes for one flashcard
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Vocabulary about things.
Materials: Flashcards of places.
How to play

1. Every student will get one flashcard from the teacher randomly. Students can get the
same flashcard. After all students got the flashcard, they have 5 minutes for thinking.

2. Then start asking any students or the teacher can ask who wants to start first. Then the
teacher will ask what card they have and ask the rest of the students who got the same
as the first one.

3. Student needs to tell the related vocabulary in that picture as much as they can.
4. Then move another student who got the same cards, after that compared who got the

most vocabulary.
5. Lastly, the winner from each card will play again to find the real winner. In the final

round, the teacher needs to check that students might not get the same card as the first
round.

Vocabulary in this game
Vocabulary can be the places; for instance, fruit shop, pharmacy, doll shop, market,

and bakery. Moreover, vocabulary about the things which sell at that place can relate.
Reference:
https://bilingualkidspot.com/2018/11/03/english-word-games-for-kids/

27

Title: Drop me here
Grade Level: 8 years old or Grade 2 students
Time: -
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Vocabulary about places and directions
Materials: Paper
How to play

1. The teacher needs to create the paper of the map which each has a different style. It
can be A, B, and C.

2. Then the teacher will tell them to find a way to go to their destination.
3. The teacher needs to state the set before give them the destination; for example, set A,

I am at a park and I want to go to a bakery shop.
4. After that, let students explain their ways in front of the class. What teacher will see if

she/he go in that way and explain the directions too.
Vocabulary in this game

Book store, hospital, police station, market, bakery, bank, across, on, top, left, right,
down, up, between, in front of, opposite, pass, though, over, under, and etc.
Reference
Thornbury, et al. (2006). Games for Language Learning (3nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.

28

Title: Put me in the right place
Grade Level: 8 years old or Grade 2 students
Time: 10 minutes
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Things vocabulary in Grade 2
Materials: Papers and pencils
How to play

1. The teacher will provide a worksheet paper for all students. The paper will have 4
circles and blank space for drawing one new circle.

2. The teacher will tell a set of mixed vocabulary in which one set has 30 words.
3. The teacher will tell 6 words per one time and let students categorize each word into

the right category. Students need to write the categories for each circle.
4. The teacher will say only twice.
5. In case that students think that there are words do not fit in four categories, they can

draw a new circle and name it.
Vocabulary in this game

Vocabulary can be in every category
Reference
http://iteslj.org/c/games.html

29

Title: Swap it
Grade Level: 8 years old or Grade 2 students
Time: 10-15 minutes
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Vocabulary about careers, things about those careers, and workplaces.
Materials: Papers and pencils
How to play

1. One student will get a paper with careers, things, and workplace vocabulary which
will be put misplaced. For example, a nurse with gun works at the hotel.

2. Students need to rearrange those words into the right matching form.
3. In 10-15 minutes, if students cannot match the things, it is fine because things might

be hard for them to analyze.
Vocabulary in this game

Vocabulary in careers and workplace in Grade 2 English lesson.
Reference
http://iteslj.org/c/games.html

30

Title: Adventure time
Grade Level: 8 years old or Grade 2 students

Time: 5 minutes per one round

Type of game: Non-cooperative

Numbers of members: Individual player

Language Focus: Vocabulary about animals, things, careers, places, etc.

Materials: Colored pencils and paper sheets

How to play
1. The teacher gives 5 sheets of paper that have pictures on it and those pictures will be
randomly put.
2. Students need to rearrange the pictures in the right order. What happened first to last.
For one paper has only 5 minutes to solve, if students cannot solve it, they will be cut
out from the game.
3. After done with the first one, students will know what the picture is. They can move
on to another paper.
4. After finishing all 5 papers, students will write all the vocabulary in those five
pictures. Who got the most will be the winner.

Vocabulary in this game
Vocabulary in careers and workplace in Grade 2 English lesson.

Reference
http://iteslj.org/c/games.html

31

32

Title: Stick it on me.
Grade Level: 8 years old or Grade 2 students
Time: 8-10 minutes
Type of game: Cooperative
Numbers of members: 3 players per one group
Language Focus: Vocabulary about body
Materials: Magnets and picture of human body
How to play

1. The teacher sticks the picture on the magnet board and let students form a group of 3
people.

2. In 10 minutes, students in the group need to stick the vocabulary in the board to match
the vocabulary with the picture.

3. When the time is out, teacher will count how many words that students can match
correctly.

Vocabulary in this game

Head, face, eyes, nose, cheek, mouth, tooth/teeth, ears, neck, chest, arms, hand,
fingers, thumb, back, legs, foot, feet, skin, bones.

Example of material

Hand

Reference
https://bilingualkidspot.com/2018/11/03/english-word-games-for-kids/

33

Title: Give me, please
Grade Level: 8 years old or Grade 2 students
Time: 5 minutes
Type of game: Cooperative
Numbers of members: 4 people per one group
Language Focus: Vocabulary in the classroom
Materials: -
How to play

1. Let students do role-plays as stationary officers. In one round, there is only one group
play.

2. Teacher and the representative for each group will play as customers.
3. The customers will ask what they want to buy from the stationary. For example, I

want a pencil. Then the sellers will give the thing that they asked and move to next
person
4. In the group, every student will take turn to be a seller and in 5 minutes, they need to
sell as much as they can.
Vocabulary in this game
Book, clipboard, colored pencils, eraser/rubber, folder, glue, paper clip, pen, pencil,
stapler, tape, and etc.
Reference
https://bilingualkidspot.com/2018/11/03/english-word-games-for-kids/

34

Title: Say it again!
Grade Level: 8 years old or Grade 2 students
Time: 10-15 minutes
Type of game: Cooperative
Numbers of members: 6 players per one group
Language Focus: Vocabulary about animals, things, career, etc.
Materials: Flashcards
How to play

1. Let students form a group of 6 people and get in a line. The first one will turn around
to see the card which teacher will randomly pick.

2. Student needs to say the vocabulary to the next friend but they have only one time to
say the word.

3. Then say it until the last one, the last member need to spell the vocabulary and tell the
meaning of the word too.

4. When finished one word, students will relocate their position to make it fair.
Vocabulary in this game

Vocabulary in this game can be in any categories in Grade 2.
Reference
Thornbury, et al. (2006). Games for Language Learning (3nd ed.). Cambridge University
Press.

35

Title: Pick it up
Grade Level: 8 years old or Grade 2 students
Time: 5-10 minutes
Type of game: Cooperative
Numbers of members: A pair
Language Focus: Vocabulary about animals, things, career, etc.
Materials: Flashcards
How to play

1. One pair will get 2 sets of flashcards which in one sent has 20 cards.
2. Sit in face to face position and spread the flashcards in front of each other.
3. After that teacher will say the vocabulary and let students find the matching cad both

picture card and word card.
4. Which pair get the most correct matching cards will be the winner of the game
Vocabulary in this game

Vocabulary in this game can be in any categories in Grade 2.
Reference
Thornbury, et al. (2006). Games for Language Learning (3nd ed.). Cambridge University
Press.

36

Title: The way back home
Grade Level: 8 years old or Grade 2 students
Time: -
Type of game: Cooperative
Numbers of members: 4 people per one group
Language Focus: Vocabulary about direction
Materials: A map of town
How to play

1. The teacher will set the map on the classroom floor. One round can has only one
group to play, teacher will tell the direction to the first student and she/he will go in
the way that teacher told.

2. When the first student reached the goal, she/he will find a card to tell the next direct to
second player. The game will play like this until the last members reach their
destination. In each stop has the hint of one vocabulary that they need to collect and
answer when every member reached their destination.

3. The teacher can add the information such as „when you turn left, you will se the red

pillar‟.
Vocabulary in this game

Across, on, to, left, right, down, up, between, in front of, opposite, pass, though, over,
under, and etc.
Example of material

Reference: https://bilingualkidspot.com/2018/11/03/english-word-games-for-kids/
37

Title: Raise your hand up
Grade Level: 8 years old or Grade 2 students
Time: -
Type of game: Cooperative
Numbers of members: A pair
Language Focus: Vocabulary about color
Materials: Color papers
How to play

1. Every pair has 2 sets of color papers and a pair need to sit together.
2. Teacher will tell the color and students need to raise a right color match with the color

that teacher told.
3. Next round, teacher can mix color; for example, blue and white.
Vocabulary in this game

Green, pink, yellow, black, grey, orange, blue, white, red, brown, and purple.
Example of material

Reference
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/educator-english/esl-vocabulary-games/

38

Title: Reveal yourself
Grade Level: 8 years old or Grade 2 students
Time: 5 minutes
Type of game: Cooperative
Numbers of members: A couple
Language Focus: Vocabulary in Grade 2‟s area

Materials: Tape and note pads

How to play
1. Teacher gives the 20-30 note pads with picture and word to every pair
2. Two of them need to separate the note pads equally and then stick it around their
body.
3. One student will start first; one student will pick one note pad on their pair body and
give the hints to make their friend get the right answer. Then take turn to answer.
4. Which pair got the most not pads will be the winners.

Vocabulary in this game
Cheese, cherry, chicken, bakery, balloon, bank, butterfly, music, knee, jam, gum,

hand, hat, T-shirt, umbrella, watermelon, whale, stamp, and etc.
Reference
https://bilingualkidspot.com/2018/11/03/english-word-games-for-kids/

39

Title: Snake ladder
Grade Level: 8 years old or Grade 2 students
Time: -
Type of game: Cooperative
Numbers of members: 3 players for one group
Language Focus: Vocabulary in Grade 2‟s area
Materials: Dices and created snake ladder sheet
How to play

1. The teacher will place the snake ladder sheet on the table.
2. Teacher will ask one random question and which group can answer the question with

the correct answer will be the first group to draw dices.
3. In each path contains a word and picture for students to guess it.
4. To play the game, first group will draw the dices and move the toy. When the toy

stopped, students need to tell the vocabulary and if the toy stopped at a word, students
need to tell the meaning.
Vocabulary in this game
Vocabulary in this game can be in any categories except the verb vocabulary
Example of Material

Reference
Vernon, S. A., (2009). 176 English Language Games for Children: Shelley Vernon.

40

41

42

Title: Puzzle picture
Grade Level: 9-10 years old or Grade 3 students
Time: -
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Vocabulary about animals, things, career, etc.
Materials: Puzzle pictures
How to play

1. The teacher gives the same puzzle picture to every student.
2. In each piece of puzzle need a number on it. Teacher can put it randomly. If the

puzzle has 12 pieces, the numbers will be 1-12
3. Set questions about that picture. The questions should not that too hard. For example,

what is the thing that you have in pencils case?
4. Let students raise their hand, who got it first can select one number and can answer

the question. If she/he got it right, she/he can open that puzzle.
Vocabulary in this game

The vocabulary should be the concrete vocabulary because the abstract vocabulary
might be hard for creating the questions.
Example of material

Reference
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/educator-english/esl-vocabulary-games/

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Title: where is the exit?
Grade Level: 9-10 years old or Grade 3 students
Time: 5 minutes per round
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Vocabulary about direction.
Materials: Students‟ desks
How to play

1. Arrange the desk as the maze and make the gaps for walking through.
2. Teacher will tell students where they need to go. For example, go straight and turn

left.
3. Teacher can tell the direction randomly until student can come out from the maze.
Vocabulary in this game

On, under, in, behind, between, opposite, above, in front of, next to, and etc.
Reference
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/educator-english/esl-vocabulary-games/

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Title: The shape of me
Grade Level: 9-10 years old or Grade 3 students
Time: 10 minutes per round
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Vocabulary about shape and position
Materials: Flashcards of picture
How to play

1. The teacher will stand opposite the student then show the flashcard to student by not
looking to flashcards.

2. Let student explain the picture and let teacher guess.
3. Teacher can help student for a bit in case that they cannot explain.
Vocabulary in this game

Circle, square, triangle, oval, cross, rectangle, pentagon, diamond, star, cube, eta.
Example of material

Reference
Vernon, S. A., (2009). 176 English Language Games for Children: Shelley Vernon.

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Title: Hang man
Grade Level: 9-10 years old or Grade 3 students
Time: -
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Vocabulary about animals, things, career, etc.

Materials: Paper.

How to play
1. The students draw the main element of game which is the pillar.
2. The teacher will tell how many alphabets of that vocabulary.
3. Start the game by giving only one alphabet and tell one sentence to be a first hint.
4. Let student raise their hand to shout the related alphabet. If they cannot get it right,
draw one step of hangman.
5. Play it until get the winner of that round. If there are many winners, teacher can play
it again to find out the real winner.

Vocabulary in this game
The vocabulary in this game can be changed into any categories that can draw a

picture.
Example of material

Reference
Vernon, S. A., (2009). 176 English Language Games for Children: Shelley Vernon.

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Title: Roll and draw
Grade Level: 9-10 years old or Grade 3 students
Time: 5 minutes per students
Type of game: Non-cooperative
Numbers of members: Individual player
Language Focus: Vocabulary about animals, things, career, etc.
Materials: Two dice and snake and ladder game
How to play

1. Give the students one set on snake and ladder game.
2. The teacher tells the vocabulary and let students draw it.
3. If they can draw it right, they have a chance to pitch the dices and move their turn in

snake and ladder game.
4. Who can reach the finish line first will be the winner.
Vocabulary in this game

The vocabulary can be all categories in Grade 3.
Example of material

Reference
Vernon, S. A., (2009). 176 English Language Games for Children: Shelley Vernon.

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Title: Where is my point?
Grade Level: 9-10 years old or Grade 3 students
Time: 3 minutes per round
Type of game: Cooperative
Numbers of members: 3 people per one group
Language Focus: Vocabulary about position
Materials: -
How to play

1. Make a group of 3 people.
2. The teacher will tell the position of each member in the group; for example, A is

opposite B, B is between A and C, and A is next to C.
3. After students relocated, teacher must check and ask what they understand.
4. After checked the first round, let students change the position for the final round.
5. The teacher checks again and also correct their position.
Vocabulary in this game

On, under, in, behind, between, opposite, above, in front of, next to, and etc.
Reference
Thornbury, et al. (2006). Games for Language Learning (3nd ed.). Cambridge University
Press.

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