Recommended level: Elementary grade 5

Up vs Down

Description

Students make pairs and get one set of cards and a die. The first player gets points for face down cards and the second gets points for face up cards. The students place all their cards face up in a 3×3 grid. A timer is set for 1 minute.

The first player rolls the die and turns over as many cards as the number they rolled. Both players say the target English for each of the cards as they’re turned face down. The next player then rolls the die and can turns that many cards back face up, again, with both students saying the appropriate target English as they go.

When the round is finished, the winner is the player with the most cards facing in their direction. Players then switch who is the face up and face down player. After that, the pairs can be rotated.

Notes

Rounds should be short, though the length depends on the length of the target English they’re using.

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Secret Number

Description

Vocabulary cards placed on the board are assigned even numbers from 2-18 (assuming 9 cards). The students make groups and each group gets a whiteboard and pen. The teacher randomly picks an odd number from 1-19.

The students repeat the teacher calling the target English until the timer goes off, and whichever card is called last becomes the keyword. Each round, the teacher says if their chosen number is ‘up’ or ‘down’ from the keyword’s assigned number. Each group writes what number they think the teacher might have picked.

One group can volunteer to guess at the teacher’s number. If they get it right, the groups that had the correct number get one point and the teacher picks a new number. If they don’t, the teacher keeps the same number into the next round. This continues until the rounds are up, and the group with the most points wins!

Secret Vocab

Description

The teacher picks a small flashcard and keeps it a secret. Students repeat the teacher until the timer goes off, and whichever card is called last becomes the keyword. If the keyword matches, the class wins one point, and the teacher picks a new small flashcard. This continues until all the rounds are complete.

Quick Janken Discard Game

Description

Class vs the teacher. The flashcards are on the blackboard. ALT/HRT sets a timer and calls the target English. The students repeat. When the timer sounds, the last called flashcard is the keyword. Using a set of small flashcards, the ALT/HRT discards cards one at a time until the keyword is found. The amount of discarded cards is the amount of points to be won. One student volunteer plays janken against the HRT. The winner of janken wins the amounts of points indicated by cards discarded. After a few rounds the team with the most points is the winner!

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Line Bingo

Description

Place 4 flashcards on the board. Students are put into pairs and each pair is given a set of small flashcards. The pair takes out the 4 flashcards that are on the board and arrange them into a line in any order they want.

ALT/HRT sets a timer and calls the target English. Students repeat. When the timer sounds, the last called flashcard is the keyword. All pairs who placed that card at either end of the line can turn it over. If the card is in the middle, they cannot turn it over. The card that was next to the card that was turned over becomes the new end card and can be turned over if it is the keyword in another round. The first group to get bingo are the winners!

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Bingo Battle

Description

Make a bingo sheet on the blackboard for the HRT and another bingo sheet for the class. ALT/HRT sets a timer and calls the target English. Students repeat. When the timer sounds, the last called flashcard is turned over on both bingo sheets. After about 5 rounds, check how many bingos the HRT and students have to see who the winner is!

Notes

This game requires two sets of large flashcards

Quick Creature Hunt

Description

Have all the students close their eyes or face the back. Place a random creature under each flashcard on the blackboard. Place another copy of 3~4 creatures matching 3~4 of the ones placed under the flashcards on the board. These are the creatures the class is trying to find. 

ALT/HRT sets a timer and calls the target English. STS repeat. When the timer sounds, remove the last called flashcard to reveal the creature underneath the card. If it matches one of the creatures the class is trying to find, class gets 1 point. If not, class gets 0 points.

Red Riding Hood

Description

On the blackboard, draw a house and 15 spaces going toward the house. Split the class into two teams and designate one team as Mr Wolf and the other team as Red Riding Hood. Place Red Riding Hood on space 5 and place Mr Wolf on space 1. 

ALT/HRT sets a timer and calls the target English and students repeat. When the timer sounds, 1 student from the Red Riding Hood team rolls the dice. ALT/HRT moves the game piece that many space forward. Next 1 student from Mr Wolf team rolls the dice. ALT/HRT moves the game piece that many spaces forward. If Mr Wolf lands on the same space as Red Riding Hood, team Mr Wolf wins. If Red Riding Hood makes it home without Mr Wolf landing on the same space, Red Riding Hood team wins. 

PPT Monster Game

Description

Split the class into groups based on how many vocab flashcards you have. Each group is assigned a flashcard. Repeat with a timer. The last card called is the group that gets to attack. One student is chosen to roll a dice for attack. Every three rounds student can pick one box to open for a power up. 

Notes

  • With grades 3 and 4 I find you don’t need groups to get points for defeating the monster, as they are happy just beating it. 5th grade and up may need to points for extra incentive.
  • I found letting the students use the power up 3 times helped the game move along faster, as an unlucky class will have a tough time getting past round 3.
  • The last three rounds are ‘boss’ rounds where the monster has phases, and refills their health bar.
  • Rounds 1-3: 7 health points. Rounds 4-6: 13 points. Rounds 7+8: 26 points. Round 9: 39 points.

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Janken Discard Game

Description

The students make pairs. Each pair gets a set of small flashcards, and the teacher picks one card to be the keyword. The cards are shuffled and placed face down. The students take turns in turning over a card and using the vocabulary to practice the target English. The card is then discarded in a separate pile. This continues until the keyword comes up. After saying the target English, the students janken. The winner gets one point for each discarded card (including the keyword card).

The cards are then shuffled and placed face down again, and the students continue. After a few minutes, the round finishes and the student with the most points wins. The teacher then picks a new keyword and the next round starts.

Notes

  • Changing pairs between rounds may help keep the game more interesting for the students and will increase opportunities for peer support.

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