Warmers and Games

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Warmers and Games

To be used in ELIC Centers or Teaching in Primary and

Secondary school in Ethiopia

February 2012

Yekatit 2004

Edited by David J Fenech

Ministry of Education

Addis Ababa

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Table of Contents Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 4

Simon Says: ..................................................................................................................................... 5

Buzz ................................................................................................................................................. 5

Give me a … .................................................................................................................................... 5

Finish the Sentence .......................................................................................................................... 6

Learn 5 New Words ......................................................................................................................... 6

Start and finish the story with … ..................................................................................................... 6

Memory Game ................................................................................................................................. 6

Put the Puzzle Together ................................................................................................................... 7

Answer a Question from the Teacher .............................................................................................. 7

Stand Up Sit Down / Ask the Teacher a Question ........................................................................... 7

Bla Bla Bla Game ............................................................................................................................ 8

Similar to bla bla bla ........................................................................................................................ 8

Paraphrase Activity .......................................................................................................................... 8

Pass It On ......................................................................................................................................... 8

Thinking Skills / Quick Answer ...................................................................................................... 9

Perfect Marriage............................................................................................................................... 9

Things .............................................................................................................................................. 9

Which One is the Teacher’s (‘Things’ variation) .......................................................................... 10

My Answer is… ............................................................................................................................. 10

2 True 1 False or 1 True 2 False .................................................................................................... 10

20 Questions…............................................................................................................................... 10

Guess Who / What / Where / When… ........................................................................................... 11

EYE SPY ....................................................................................................................................... 11

Name Game ................................................................................................................................... 11

Word Search................................................................................................................................... 13

Active Chinese Whispers (Primary / Secondary) .......................................................................... 14

Chinese Whispers........................................................................................................................... 14

Picture Drawing ............................................................................................................................. 15

Acting ............................................................................................................................................. 15

Humming ....................................................................................................................................... 15

Word Games .................................................................................................................................. 15

Unscramble letters for 20 students ................................................................................................. 15

Use these words in a sentence:....................................................................................................... 15

Scattergories Competition .............................................................................................................. 15

Hello Game .................................................................................................................................... 16

Rhythm Game ................................................................................................................................ 16

Ethiopian Animal Fruit Salad ........................................................................................................ 16

Find Someone who… .................................................................................................................... 16

Magical Banana ............................................................................................................................. 17

Speed Tasks ................................................................................................................................... 17

My Answer Is… ............................................................................................................................. 17

Classroom Games by Paul Charles ................................................................................................ 18

Running Dictation (Secondary) ..................................................................................................... 18

The Interrupting Game (Secondary) .............................................................................................. 18

Speaking Game .............................................................................................................................. 19

Mad Debates (Secondary) .............................................................................................................. 20

Bingo (Primary / Secondary) ......................................................................................................... 20

Categories (Primary / Secondary) .................................................................................................. 21

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Quickpix (Primary / Secondary) .................................................................................................... 21

What am I doing? (Primary / Secondary) ...................................................................................... 21

Kim’s Game (Primary / Secondary) .............................................................................................. 21

Alphabet Circle (Primary / Secondary) .......................................................................................... 21

Change Places If… (Primary / Secondary) .................................................................................... 22

20 Questions (Secondary) .............................................................................................................. 22

Pass the Parcel................................................................................................................................ 22

Follow the Instructions .................................................................................................................. 22

Add on / Memory ........................................................................................................................... 23

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Introduction

This document is a resource for two main groups of educators. The first group

is for ELIC coordinators who conduct programming for instructors and teacher

candidates in CTEs and universities. The second group is for Ethiopian

English teachers in primary and secondary schools.

The intended audience for the warmers and games contained within this

document crosses the age and profession spectrum. These activities can be

easily modified for young children, high school, college, and university

students as well as for training adults in workshops.

The purpose of this document is to provide all educators with a fun way in

making learning English more interactive and enjoyable…not only for the

students, but the teachers as well.

Enclosed are some excellent ideas on vocabulary review, speaking and

listening games and short writing activities. This is not an exhaustive list. This

list’s length is only limited by our collective imagination…and contribution.

Please contact the ELIC advisor at the Ministry of Education if you would like

to include some of your ideas.

Kind Regards

David J Fenech

ELIC Advisor

Ministry of Education

Addis Ababa

February 2012

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Simon Says: This can be used to review vocabulary. Students can lead this.

1. The class/group stands up and faces the leader.

2. If the leader says “Simon says, touch your knees/open your book/sit down.”

Everyone must do it.

3. If the leader says simply “Touch your knees.” The students must not do it, or

else they will be asked to sit down.

4. The last one standing is the ‘champion’ and may lead the next round.

Buzz 1. Students stand in a circle.

2. They count in order from 1…

3. Any variation of this is possible. Every multiple of 4 (4, 8 12, 16, 20…) or

any number with 4 (14, 34, 40, 41,42 …) Say ‘buzz’

For example, 1, 2, 3, buzz, 5, 6, 7, buzz, 9…

4. When someone makes a mistake or takes too long they sit down and are out of

the game.

5. Start at 1 again with the next student in the circle.

6. Keep going till you have one student left, or in a big class the last 10 students.

7. Can be made harder by adding ‘ping’ for multiples of 7 and numbers with 7

a. 1, 2, 3, buzz, 5, 6, ping, buzz, 9, 10, 11, buzz, 13, buzz ping, 15, buzz,

ping, ...

8. Very popular game with all students of all ages and great practice for

numbers!

Give me a … 1. Choose students and ask them : Give me a …

2. Noun, an adjective, a time reference, a phrasal verb, an adverb of frequency,

another adjective, a pronoun or anything from the English language!!!

3. Write each word up on the board in random order and places.

4. Students write a short phrase or paragraph using each of these words.

5. They can add other words but they must use all of the chosen words at least

once.

6. They may also need to change the forms of the words to suit their paragraph.

For example changing the verb tense

7. Give students a maximum number of words (e.g. maximum 30 words) or a

time limit (e.g. three minutes).

8. Turn the activity into a speaking and listening activity.

9. Students tell their paragraph to three other people and listen to three others.

10. They choose their favourite and report back to the class.

11. The game can be made as easy or difficult as you like.

12. The first time you play maybe just give them a pronoun, a verb and an

adjective.

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1. E.g. She, eat, big → She always eats a big lunch on Saturday.

Finish the Sentence 1. Give students sentence starters:

� What a brilliant...

� Yesterday I couldn’t believe it when… but everything turned out fine.

� Tonight at midnight I must…

� At the park… now I have a new girlfriend or boyfriend!

2. Students fill in the gap. Keep it short. You can limit the number of words.

(E.g. no more than 20 words or no more than one minute).

3. They tell their answer to 3 – 5 other students.

4. See if the others are different or if they had the same idea.

5. Students choose their favourite.

6. They tell their favourite to the class (not their own).

7. It is a simple writing activity turned into a speaking and listening activity.

Learn 5 New Words 1. Make groups of five and choose five words that are new to the students.

2. Assign a word to each student.

3. Go in order repeating the words.

4. Go until you have done 3 laps (each student will say each word three times).

5. E.G. Weather:

a. Student 1 → Rainy…

b. Student 2 → Rainy, cloudy…

c. Student 3 → Rainy, cloudy, sunny…

d. Student 4 → Rainy, cloudy, sunny, windy…

e. Student 5 → Rainy, cloudy, sunny, windy, stormy…

f. Student 1 again → Rainy, cloudy, sunny, windy, stormy, Rainy…

6. You’ll be surprised how well the students remember the new words!

7. Also great for reinforcing pronunciation of words.

Start and finish the story with … 1. Write a sentence on the board:

a. E.g. On the weekend … wonderful.

2. The first student will say ‘On the weekend’.

3. Each student after that will say a word each making a sentence, paragraph or

story.

4. The last student will finish with ‘wonderful.’

5. Can do two laps or as many as you want.

6. Once the tense is established must be stuck to and be grammatically correct.

7. You can include guidelines:

a. Must be in past tense using past perfect.

b. The word spinach and phone must be included.

Memory Game 1. Pick a sentence to start from:

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a. E.g. "When you go camping you shouldn’t forget…"

2. Each student adds on a word to the sentence.

3. If a student forgets one of the words they are out and sit down.

4. Keep going till one student remains or it gets boring.

5. Good way to reinforce a new grammar point, vocab or theme.

6. Use recent vocab:

a. If studying health: It was so cold I now have… a cold, a sore throat, an

aching back etc.

b. In Canada I want to …

c. Easier version

i. My favourite things are…

ii. Each student adds a word onto the list

iii. Go back in the other direction with the statement: But I don’t

like…

Put the Puzzle Together 1. Give students different paragraphs from any written text.

2. Students have to put paragraphs together to form the original document.

3. Do they understand their passage? Look up words they are unfamiliar with.

4. Put together and talk about the passage they have just made.

Answer a Question from the Teacher 1. Teacher has questions ready, usually based on recent grammar points, themes

or vocab.

2. Pick a student and ask them a question.

3. After he/she answers, he/she picks a number between e.g. 1-20.

4. Count out what number is picked and choose another student (count in a

random way.)

Stand Up Sit Down / Ask the Teacher a Question 1. Give the students a grammar point they have to follow.

a. E.g. "Can you …?"

2. They ask you a question. Your answer has to be ‘yes or no’ depending on

which one you choose.

a. You answer the question → Yes I can. or, No I can’t.

3. If they get you to say yes or no, they get to sit down (or if this is a team game,

then all the students in the team.)

a. The student who answered the last question chooses a number between

5 and 10:

E.g. 8 → count 8 students in a random direction to choose the

next student.

4. If none of the students volunteer, choose one and then have them pick a

number and count on from them.

Variation →→→→ You ask the student a question. They have to give a full answer.

a. Can you write in Japanese? Student→ Yes I can. Or No I can’t.

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Bla Bla Bla Game 1. Give students vocab on cards of paper.

2. In pairs one person looks at their card.

a. They must make a sentence using that word in context.

b. Instead of saying the word you say bla bla bla.

c. E.g. I like bla bla bla who enjoy the outdoors and are open minded.

d. Other student must guess the word (people).

e. Reverse roles.

3. Variations:

a. Do with a time limit and as a competition.

b. Do as a teacher directed warm up game:

i. Write 1 to 10, I will read out each sentence twice, guess the bla

bla bla.

ii. Or read out 5, then students make another 5 for the teacher or

their peers.

c. Good activity to use with false friends (stationary/ stationery).

Similar to bla bla bla 1. Give students a word, phrasal verb, expression and they have to paraphrase it

so their partner can guess another word or the meaning with the same

meaning:

a. Example bite to eat – is when you have something quick or small to eat

or to describe a small meal (usually lunch).

b. Pass on – (give) ‘pass on is when someone gives you information and

you relay it to someone else’ – you mean like convey, give, tell.

2. This is what you are looking for the students to do.

Paraphrase Activity 1. Give students difficult words and they have to explain it to the teacher.

2. Hand out cards with Portuguese words on them and have the students

paraphrase.

3. Need to give them the words in their own language.

4. Have all students make a paraphrase for the same word.

5. Notice the differences between the explanations.

6. Highlight the good methods and language used when paraphrasing.

Pass It On 1. Give students messages orally.

2. Students have to take down the important information from that message and

relay onto their friend.

3. Make authentic messages:

a. Hey … my brother and I are going to watch a movie tomorrow night,

do you and a friend want to come with us? We are meeting at Igatemi

at 8pm and then having a bite to eat before the film. The movie is The

Castle it’s about a struggling family that comes out on top in the end.

Hope you can make it, ciao!

4. Try to act like you are on a telephone where they can’t see your gestures.

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5. Try to leave messages for them on their phone to practice or make a recording

of various messages that they can listen to.

6. See if their partner gets the gist of the message.

Thinking Skills / Quick Answer 1. Write an interesting question on the board for the students:

o Example: ‘What DIDN’T you do on the weekend?’ or ‘A mouse is

chasing a dog, why?’

2. Give the students 30 seconds – 1 minute to think of a response.

3. Randomly select students to give you an answer.

4. After selecting one student and listening to their answer have them select a

number between 3 – 8 (for example.)

5. Count pointing at different students until you get to the number they said.

6. Where the number finishes is the next student who must give their response.

7. That student then selects a number and you randomly count and select again.

8. Continue for 5 minutes or until students seem bored.

9. This game keeps everyone on their toes, they don’t know if they will be

selected next (therefore, count students randomly not in any order).

Perfect Marriage 1. You have free time on Sunday! Students must invite you to do something with

them…

2. Students should think of an interesting invitation for you and write it down.

3. Choose any five students and give them a small piece of paper to write their

invitation.

4. Invite the five students to the front of the class and hand you their piece of

paper.

5. You will then read out their responses without saying who wrote which one.

6. The rest of the class will listen then guess who they think wrote each response.

7. After everyone has guessed marry the correct invitations with the students

who wrote them.

8. VARIATIONS:

a. Do in groups of 6-8 with one person collecting the pieces of paper and

reading them.

b. When the students are guessing choose some students to get the piece

of paper and give it to the person they think wrote it, if they are correct

they can sit down, do one at a time.

Things 1. Give students a task where they must write an interesting response.

2. Example: Things you should never give to a baby… Things you think a dog

says… etc.

3. Students should think of an interesting response and write it down on a scrap

paper.

4. Do this in groups of 6-8 with one person collecting the pieces of paper and

reading them.

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a. They must remember the responses and match a response with

someone.

b. If they are correct that person is eliminated.

c. Continue until there is only one person left.

Which One is the Teacher’s (‘Things’ variation) 1. The rest of the class will listen then guess which one they think is your

sentence. 2. VARIATIONS:

a. Do in groups of 6-8 with one person collecting the pieces of paper and

reading them. The others have to guess which sentence is theirs

i. Using this method you can have the group sit in a circle to play

a game.

ii. They must remember the sentences and match a sentence with

someone.

iii. If they are correct that person is eliminate.

iv. Continue until there is only one person left.

b. When the students are guessing choose some students to get the piece

of paper and give it to the person they think wrote it, if they are correct

they can sit down, do one at a time.

My Answer is… 1. Write an answer on the board. E.g. No, I can’t.

2. My answer is: ‘No, I can’t.’

3. Students must ask me questions and if my answer IS ‘No I can’t’ they can sit

down.

4. If they ask me a question and my answer ISN’T ‘No, I can’t’, they must

remaining standing.

5. Continue until everyone sits down.

6. If there are many students, a whole row can sit down or the 4 students around

them etc…

2 True 1 False or 1 True 2 False 1. Teacher or students makes three statements, 2 true and 1 false:

a. Example: I like the outdoors and nature (true); I like reading fiction

books (false); I like listening to rap music (true).

2. Ask others which one they think is false.

3. If they guess correctly they get 1 point.

4. If they guess wrongly you get 1 point.

5. Keep asking people until you have 3 points.

6. The game can be changed with 1 true and 2 false and people guess which one

is true.

20 Questions… (Three 3 Student Version)

1. Have three students at the front of the class sitting in front of the board facing

the class.

2. Write above their heads either three people, things, places or times.

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3. Each of the three students takes on the identity written on the board above

their head BUT they must not look and see it is top secret! 4. They take turns asking YES/NO questions.

5. The rest of the students answer their questions with yes or no.

6. If the answer is yes that students can continue asking questions.

7. If the answer is no the next student can now ask questions.

Example of questions:

Am I a person? Do I live in the sea? Am I bigger than a human? Do I

eat meat? Can I climb trees? Do I attack people? Do I attack mice and

birds? Am I a cat?

8. The first student to guess who/what/where/when they are wins and you replace

the other two students with new students and write new things on the board.

Guess Who / What / Where / When… 1. Have a list of facts about someone, something, some place or some time:

a. Example: I like playing football. I have three sisters, I’m from Chiri, I

am a third year student, I am 21 years old, and my name starts with a

B… Who am I?

2. As you are calling out the facts the students need to guess who they think it is.

3. Variations:

a. Have the students make their own facts and call in front of the class.

b. Give the students points as they guess. If they guess correctly after one

fact (5 points), guess after two facts (4 points), etc…

c. The first student to guess correctly can now be the one to think of

something.

EYE SPY 1. Explain the use of it: It’s a guessing game that children lay in groups. One

gives one clue and the rest try to figure it out.

“Eye spy with my little eye something…”

a. starting with the letter…

b. that is the colour…

c. that is smaller than a mouse or larger than a television.

d. that is inside / outside.

2. Can also do this version: “Riddley-riddley-ree, there’s something I can see…”

Name Game 1. Students and teacher sit in a circle.

2. Group of no more than 20 people, if more people make more groups.

3. People must say their name and another word starting with the same letter as

their name:

Example: d'Arcy donkey

a. A theme can be chosen like name and animal or name and food etc…

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b. First person says their name and word.

c. The second person says the first person’s name and word and then their

name and word.

d. The third person says the first and second persons’ name and word and

then theirs.

e. This continues until the last person who has to remember each person’s

name and word.

Example → name and animal:

i. First person: ‘d'Arcy donkey’

ii. Second person: ‘d'Arcy donkey’; ‘Belay bee’

iii. Third person: ‘d'Arcy donkey’; ‘Belay bee’; ‘Kim kangaroo’

etc…

f. If there are 10 or less people you can have name and two themes:

Example: name, animal and food. d'Arcy donkey donut

g. Other themes you could choose: animals, foods, countries, sports,

adjectives, transport, verbs, cities, things found in a school, etc…

h. This is a great game to do in your first lesson with new students to

remember their names!

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Word Search 1. Work in small teams.

2. This kind of activity is called a word search.

3. There are 10 English words hidden in the square that describe the

characteristics of all language games:

Example: the word ‘motivating’

4. The words can be hidden in any direction (forward, backward and

diagonal).

5. Work as a team & try to find the 10 words as quickly as possible.

F L E X I B L E E Z W

Y U G N I V L O V N I

P F N O A E B E I P O

E G N I T A V I T O M

S N W U Q I A D I H V

I I A E T U L S T E S

T N T C B C U G E L H

C A A Q D X A O P P F

A E T L J C B E M F C

R M S A V U L Y O U M

P W A O Z K E N C L A

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Active Chinese Whispers (Primary / Secondary) 1. Students are in two teams.

2. Ask them to sit in two straight lines. The student at the front of each line stands up and

comes to the front of the class.

3. Very quietly, give them an instruction. (Walk to the board and write your name.) They

must very quietly repeat this to the next student in their team, who repeats it to the next

one, and so on.

4. The person at the back (the last to hear the instruction) has to do it.

5. The first team to carry out the instruction correctly wins a point. The student who was at

the front now goes to the back of the line.

6. Give another instruction to the next player from each team (e.g., close the door with your

left hand. / Turn the light on and off three times. / Shake hands with your teacher. / Take

your right shoe off…)

Chinese Whispers 1. Have a leader of a group of 10 students.

2. The leader whispers a sentence from one of the stories below to a group

member. Who in turn whispers it to another group member, and so on.

3. The final person says it aloud to the group.

4. The group compares the last person to the written text.

5. For more advanced students, read the whole story at once and then whisper it.

STORY 1.

Tomorrow morning I must go down to the market, but before I go I must meet my

friend for coffee. I have told my family that I will go and see them in the afternoon,

so I must not waste time at the market. I will buy a pan, some coffee, onions,

bananas, sugar and some matches. Oh, I must not forget to buy some sweets for my

younger brother, he likes chewing gum.

STORY 2.

The foreigner arrived in Abbiya Addi just over a month ago. She has come to the

College as a Higher Diploma Leader. She comes from England, in a city called

Liverpool. She worked as a Psychology lecturer in her homeland, and has much to

learn about living in Ethiopia, like how to eat ingera properly, how to speak

Tigrinian and how to dance to Tigrinian music. She has no idea at the moment,

maybe she will take lessons.

STORY 3.

Next week on the foreign calendar, is World Aids Day. All over the world there

will be services in which people gather together to increase awareness, show

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support and remember those who are suffering or have died from the disease. In the

College we will be having a candlelight service for all students and staff to attend.

Students will be reading out poems and short stories that they have written.

Picture Drawing 1. Ask for a volunteer from the class.

2. Tell him/her a word in which he/she must draw. Have the class guess.

a. Have a student draw with their eyes closed:

Examples: The moon, football, spaghetti, yacht, hot dog, snake, a

butterfly, a banana, a t-shirt, etc.

b. Now with their eyes open:

Examples: School, a toilet, Australia, beach, tractor, a net, an onion,

Christmas, a pen, a computer, a city.

Acting 1. Ask for a volunteer from the class.

2. Tell him/her a word in which he/she must act. Have the class guess.

Examples: Fishing, war, fairy, queen, rock star, teacher, Wayne Rooney,

gorilla, nurse, sumo wrestler, truck driver, pirate, bear, sleepy lizard

Humming 1. This only works after having a repertoire of songs that the students know.

2. Hum the songs and ask the students to guess what they are:

Examples: London Bridge, Happy Birthday, Wish You A Merry Christmas,

Away In A Manger, Head Shoulders Knees And Toes, Twinkle, Twinkle

Little Star, Mary Had A Little Lamb, Humpty Dumpty, etc.

Word Games

Unscramble letters for 20 students

1. This can be done as a vocabulary review.

a. gegs, aaannb, atc, rac, dab, dogo, boofllta, chbea, reccos, roogknaa,

ailartsuA, deeldiAa, ysickt apte, uns ssslgae, pihs, weylol, pam, rofk,

gba, cinple, shceee.

b. eggs, banana, cat, car, bad, good, football, beach, soccer, kangaroo,

Australia, Adelaide, sticky tape, sun glasses, ship, yellow, map, fork,

bag, pencil, cheese.

Use these words in a sentence: 1. This can be done with any terms or phrases as a vocabulary review.

2. Unhappy clown, beautiful cockroach, tiny giraffe, pink camera, loud ant, quiet

jackhammer, pineapple printer princess, gigantic gutter, swim Sunday stinky,

terrific trouble teach.

Scattergories Competition 1. Create teams of 6 or so students.

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2. Student(s) have to answer as many Q’s in 30 seconds.

3. See how many they can answer.

Example: Name a … that starts with the letter …

Hello Game 1. One student stands with their back to the class another student calls out a

word.

2. The one with their back to the group turns around and guesses who said it.

3. They get 3 chances.

Rhythm Game 1. Sit in circle.

2. One student is asked to close their eyes.

3. Teacher assigns someone in the circle to be responsible for changing the

rhythm by clapping, snapping fingers, stomping feet or a combination of all

three.

4. The student opens his/her eyes and watches everyone in the circle and tries to

guess who is changing the rhythm.

Ethiopian Animal Fruit Salad 1. Introduce about 4 animals found in Ethiopia.

2. The students sit in a large circle.

3. Students are assigned an animal and its actions.

Example: Hyena: running on the spot, donkey: carrying a load in the market,

Crocodile: snapping hands, baboon: climbing a tree.

4. The teacher calls out an animal and those animals have to run around the

circle doing their actions.

5. Last one back goes into the ‘zoo’ in the middle.

Find Someone who… 1. Tell the students to stand up.

2. Ask them to find someone who has the same:

a) Coloured socks

b) Number of sisters

c) Age

d) Birth place

e) Birthday month

f) Music or sports tastes

g) Can do a trick like you

h) Shoe size

i) Likes an animal

j) Coloured hair

k) Favourite food

l) Drinks yogurt

m) Favourite kind of book

n) Interests

o) Favourite place (river, town etc.)

p) Enjoys English as much as you!

3. Variation: Find someone who has different...

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Magical Banana 1. One student starts the rhyme and beat

a. Magical banana… what comes after bana-na

b. After banana comes ap-ple

c. After apple comes or-ange

2. You can change the word based on a theme or the last letter of the word before

it.

a. After banana comes ap-ple

b. After apple comes e-gg

c. After egg comes gre-en.

3. Hard game to get off the ground but once up and running will be very popular.

4. Best used with students with a good amount of vocab.

Speed Tasks 1. Have each student prepare a list of questions or tasks (about 10).

2. In pairs, have one student ask the questions and the other student respond.

3. Time how long it takes to answer all the questions.

4. Change roles.

5. The student answering will know the questions but they must give a different

response to their partner.

Example Lists:1. Name something red.

2. “ “ big.

3. “ “ slow.

4. “ “ round.

5. “ “ heavy.

6. “ “ fast.

7. “ “ small.

8. “ “ white.

9. “ “ boring.

10. “ “ scary.

My Answer Is… 1. Pick a grammatical example you want to review: e.g., verb tense.

2. Give students an answer to a possible question: “Yes I have, many times.”

3. They may be put into groups of 3 or 4. Have different students in the group be

the spokesperson.

4. Students must ask questions so you can use that answer.

E.g. Have you brushed your teeth before?

5. If the spokesperson asks a question where your response makes sense, this/her

group can sit down.

6. Continue until everyone sits down or most groups sit down.

7. If there are many students in the class, the entire row can sit.

8. Be aware of the last students who may feel intimidated, their classmates can

help them.

1. Name a fruit.

2. “ “ motorbike.

3. “ “ land animal.

4. “ “ city.

5. “ “ school subject.

6. “ “ piece of furniture.

7. “ “ country.

8. “ “ sport.

9. “ “ country.

10. “ “ vegetable.

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Classroom Games by Paul Charles

Running Dictation (Secondary) 1. Cut up three short reading texts and stick them on one wall of the class with scotch

tape. 2. Ask the students to work in pairs. Three pairs work on text (a), two pairs work on text

(b) and two pairs work on text (c). 3. In each pair, one student is the ‘runner’ and one is the ‘writer.’ The writers sit with

their backs to the wall of the class, opposite the texts. 4. In each pair, the runner stands up, runs to the text, memorises a line, comes back

and says the line to the writer. 5. The writer writes the line down on paper. The runner runs back and memorises the

next line, comes back and dictates to the writer, who writes it. 6. The first group to have the full text written perfectly (or the best after 10-15 minutes)

is the winner.

The Interrupting Game (Secondary)

1. On the board, write a number of ways you can politely interrupt somebody who is speaking. Some examples are:

Excuse me, but… Sorry, but… Can I interrupt you for a moment / second… Sorry for interrupting, but… Can I just ask… Can I stop you for a second…

2. In another column, write ways you can continue a story after an interruption: Anyway… As I was saying… Now, where was I… So, coming back to the story…

3. The students work in pairs. Explain that you are going to tell them a story, and every time they interrupt using one of the functions and ask a question, their team wins a point.

4. The story can be very simple – maybe about your favourite book or film or (in great detail) everything you have done since waking up this morning. For example: For example: For example: For example:

A)A)A)A) I woke up at seven o’clock, and… B)B)B)B) Excuse me, but have you got an alarm clock? A)A)A)A) Yes, I have. Now, as I was saying, I had breakfast… B)B)B)B) Sorry for interrupting, but what did you eat? (etc.)

5. After this, you could ask a confident student to tell a different story, and play the

same game. Other ideas for stories are The Happiest Day of My Life, My Favourite Place, My Favourite Person, What I Did Last Weekend, etc.

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Speaking Game

Finish [10 bonus points]

Talk about your future [job, family, house etc.]

Where would you go if you

could travel anywhere in the world?

?17 What would you do if you were very rich?

?16

?14

Talk about your greatest ambition

Talk about the future of Ethiopia

?15

Talk about something exciting you have done

Go forward 1 space ?13 ?12

Go back 6

spaces

Talk about Ethiopian history

?11

Talk about your school

?9 ?10

Talk about a beautiful place you have visited

?8 Talk about a childhood memory

Miss a Turn

Talk about a dream you remember ?7

?5

?6

Talk about your normal Saturday

and Sunday

Talk about a person you love very much

Talk about your home

town ?4

Go back to

Start

?3

Talk about

your favourite sport

Give 3

reasons why you love Ethiopia

Start Talk about your family

Talk about your

favourite book, film or

song

?1 Talk about your house

Go forward five

spaces ?2

Materials Needed:Materials Needed:Materials Needed:Materials Needed:

• A stop watch (mobile with built- in timer is fine)

• Dice (easy to make) or use 2 bottle caps (label side=1, inside =2)

• NOTE:NOTE:NOTE:NOTE: Questions can be easily changed to suit level of students

RulesRulesRulesRules:::: 1. Throw the dice and follow the instructions. If you land on a Talk About square, you

have to talk for one minute about that subject (another student will time you.) If you talk for a minute, you receive three points.

2. If you land on a “? Square”, the group has to discuss one of the questions below for two minutes. Everybody who speaks receives one point.

3. When one player finishes, they receive ten extra points and the game ends. 4. The player with the most points is the winner.

Questions for Questions for Questions for Questions for “? S“? S“? S“? Squaresquaresquaresquares””””

Every time you land on one of these squares, the whole group debates the seEvery time you land on one of these squares, the whole group debates the seEvery time you land on one of these squares, the whole group debates the seEvery time you land on one of these squares, the whole group debates the sentence ntence ntence ntence for two minutes.)for two minutes.)for two minutes.)for two minutes.)

1. Watching TV is a complete waste of time. 2. Globalisation is good for Ethiopia.

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3. Teachers are as important as doctors or politicians, and they should be paid the same.

4. Rich countries have a duty to help poor ones. 5. Britain and America are immoral societies. 6. Love is more important than money. 7. Smoking should be illegal. 8. AIDS is the world’s most important problem. 9. The internet is dangerous. 10. Football is boring. 11. Films are better than books. 12. Awassa is the best city in Ethiopia. 13. Africa is poor because of the actions of Europe and America. 14. It is important to think about the environment. 15. Arsenal is better than Manchester United. 16. Every school in the world should teach in the medium of English. 17. Students should be paid more.

Mad Debates (Secondary) 1.1.1.1. Give a controversial topic:

a. Ethiopia is better than Britain. b. Books are better than TV. c. Money can buy happiness. d. Girls are better than boys. e. Teaching is a great job. f. Smoking (or ch’at) should be banned g. Or the topics from the Speaking Game

2.2.2.2. Give the students two minutes to argue with the person opposite. 3.3.3.3. Everybody on the left hand side argues yes, everyone on the right hand side argues no.

4.4.4.4. Stop after two minutes and ask every student to move around one place in a clockwise direction so everybody is facing a new partner - and the people on the ends have changed sides.

5.5.5.5. Start another two-minute debate!

Bingo (Primary / Secondary) 1. Students draw a 3x3 square on paper. 2. Give 15 or 20 irregular verbs, and tell them to choose any nine and write the past

simple of one verb in each square. 3. When they have finished, call out the verbs in random order. 4. Every time a student hears a word they have written, they cross it out on their paper. 5. The first student to have three words in a vertical or horizontal line wins the ‘line’

prize. 6. The first student to have all nine words wins the overall prize. Note:Note:Note:Note: You can play this game with any vocabulary – animals, transport, classroom objects, etc.

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Categories (Primary / Secondary) 1. Write five common categories of words on the board, like this:

Animals Food or drink Sports Places School

2. Students work in pairs. Give one letter (for example, s.) 3. Students have to think of one word related to each category that starts with that

letter (for example, snake, strawberry, swimming, Somalia, student.) 4. The first team to finish says “Stop!” and gets ten points. 5. The other teams get one point for each word they have written. Play a few times with

different letters.

Quickpix (Primary / Secondary) 1. The students work in two teams. 2. In each team, the students each have a unique number (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.) 3. Call a number and a letter (e.g., 4 P). The #4 student from each team will have to

stand up, run to the board and draw something that starts with that letter (in the example, the number four students will stand up and draw something starting with P, like a pirate or a pencil.)

4. The rest of the team has to guess what the drawing is. 5. The first team to guess wins one point.

What am I doing? (Primary / Secondary) 1. Review present continuous: I am….ing. 2. Ask one student to mime an action without speaking (making coffee, eating

spaghetti, drinking milk, driving a bus, teaching a class, fighting a crocodile…) 3. The other students have to guess what they are doing. 4. The first student to guess comes to the front and mimes the next sentence.

Kim’s Game (Primary / Secondary) 1. Bring a number of different objects (maybe 15 or 20) into the class. 2. Allow the students one minute to look at them and try to remember what they are. 3. After one minute, cover the objects and ask the students to work in pairs and make a

list of all the objects they remember. 4. The team that can remember the most is the winner.

Alphabet Circle (Primary / Secondary) 1. All students sit in a circle. 2. Give one student a letter (e.g. A). That student has to say a word starting with that

letter (e.g., apple.) 3. The next student has to say a word that starts with the last letter of the first student’s

word (e.g. elephant.) 4. The next student has to say a word that starts with the last letter of that word (e.g.,

tomato.) 5. Any student who hesitates for too long or says a word that has already been used is

eliminated.

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Change Places If… (Primary / Secondary) 1. Students sit in a circle. 2. Say ‘Change places if you are wearing a blue t-shirt.’ 3. Anyone wearing a blue t-shirt has to stand up and move to another chair. Continue

like this: a) Change places if you’re from Awassa. b) change places if you like chocolate. c) change places if you can swim. d) change places if you’ve got more than two brothers.

4. You can also take away one chair, so that one student each time will not be able to sit down. That student then gives the next instruction and tries to sit down.

20 Questions (Secondary) 1. One volunteer thinks of a famous person. 2. The rest of the class has 20 questions to find the name of that person, but the

answers can only be ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ For example, “Are you a man?” is OK because the answer is yes or no. But “Where do you live?” is not OK.

3. You can play this game with things other than famous people, for example, jobs or common nouns.

Pass the Parcel 1. This game is one in which the students have to continue an improvised story around their

group until it breaks down or stops making sense.

2. The first person starts the story: Example: “The other day I was feeling sick so I did not

go to work. I stayed at home in bed.”

3. The next person has to continue: E.g. “Outside my room I heard a terrible noise. There

were two dogs fighting in the road.”

4. Then the third: E.g. “I got out of bed and went out into the street. I took a stick with me

and….”

Follow the Instructions 1. Make sure all students are sitting facing the front of the class, if possible, with enough room to

stretch out their arms to the side and their legs in front of them.

2. As you give the following instructions you should be sitting in a chair facing the students and

doing as you ask them to do.

3. Give the instructions slowly and clearly. Students should follow your instructions and those

whose English is weaker can follow your demonstrations:

a. Raise both arms full-stretch above the head and breathe in deeply.

b. Lower both arms, and release your breath.

c. Repeat twice.

d. Fold arms over chest and raise legs slowly off the ground, breathing in deeply.

e. Lower both legs slowly back to the floor, releasing your breath.

f. Repeat twice.

g. In turn shake all your limbs one by one – right arm first, then left arm followed by right

leg and then left leg.

h. Clap your hands together loudly and SLOWLY 10 times.

i. Now clap your hands together QUICKLY 20 times.

j. Relax!

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4. Now invite a volunteer student to come up and lead the same exercise….tell the student he/she is

free to change some of the instructions if he/she wants to.

Add on / Memory 1. Put students into a group of 6 or so.

2. The first person starts by saying, “I went to Awassa and at the market I bought……” or

I’m going camping and will need… and they say an object, e.g. “….a kilo of bananas.”

3. The second person has to add their own idea/item: For example: “I went to Awassa and

at the market I bought a kilo of bananas and a tin of paint.” The third person says, “I went

to Awassa and at the market I bought a kilo of bananas, a tin of paint and a red bucket.”

4. And so on round the group.

5. Encourage the group to make a phrase…not just a single word. For example a “necklace

for my mother” or “six ripe avocados”, etc.

6. See how far the groups can get without someone forgetting the list of items!