Home / 12 Quick & Easy Classroom Games for Teaching English to Children!
children reading

Need some ideas to make your TEFL classroom more enjoyable? Do you want some quick and easy classroom games for teaching children English? Then you’ve arrived at the right location!  So, choose your poison and thank us afterwards!

1. Name games

Name games are a great way to start a class, and they are instrumental at the beginning of the year to help you remember your new pupils’ names! As you go around the circle, have each child give their name and one of their favourite things. When the next child introduces themselves, they must first raise the child who came before them, and so on, until the last child remembers everyone’s names and favourite things! This can be made more difficult for older kids by requiring that their favourite object begins with the same letter as their first name or easy for younger pupils by just asking them to recall the words.

2. Charades

This game, I’ve discovered, is popular with kids of all ages! I’ve used an envelope full of cut-out words or picture flashcards for smaller pupils to play this game. Show a student a comment or flashcard in secret and then have them silently act it out in front of the class while the other students call out – in English – what they believe the hidden word is. The kids are competitive, and the mimes can be funny! Charades may also acquire nearly any vocabulary, including animals, sports, hobbies, and emotions, making it infinitely useful!

3. Pictionary

Like charades, the children sketch it instead of acting out the hidden word. I’ve discovered that children enjoy having the opportunity to use a marker and a whiteboard – and to demonstrate their artistic abilities.

4. Stand up if you…

This game works better with a larger group and requires an open location to play in (it would work well outside if you can!). Form a large circle with all of the children, with you in the centre. You should then provide an instruction, such as “Stand up if you’re” wearing shorts,’ and everyone wearing shorts should move places in the circle while you try to steal one of their slots. The child in the middle is then allowed to call out the following command. This game is terrific since it can be readily altered to meet the terminology the class is studying, such as looks, attire, likes/dislikes, family members, and holidays.

5. Guess the Flashcard

This game is straightforward but effective. Holding a hidden set of flashcards in your hands, gradually unveil them one at a time as the pupils guess what they are. The child who correctly guesses gets to retain the flashcard, which they like, and the child with the most flashcards at the end is the winner! 

6. Slam

Another flashcard game that works well in small groups. Place all the flashcards on the floor and assemble the kids around them. Then, once the name of the flashcard is called out, have the children’s hands on the sound card. The child with the arrow at the bottom of the pile, and hence the fastest, wins! So kids don’t hover over the photos, have them keep their hands on their heads until you say a word!

children in classroom
 

7. Memory

This game requires two sets of matching flashcards or a pair of pictures and accompanying words. Place all the cards face down on the floor and have the kids pick two cards until they get a couple. Children enjoy this game, and I’ve found that it keeps even the most easily distracted students interested. Again, it can be altered to teach a wide range of vocabulary; this week, I used it to teach Halloween phrases, and it worked wonderfully!

8. Bingo

To play, you’ll need a Bingo grid with photos, words, or required terminology (which you may find online for free), or you can design your own! Give each youngster a grid to mark off as you say words; the first child to get a row or complete their grid wins. Check the winner’s grid to ensure they have correctly matched the words! This can be made more difficult by providing students with clues to the proper picture rather than the word itself.

9. 20 Questions

This game is fantastic since it allows students to practice constructing inquiries in English while revising target vocabulary. Allow one student to think about a secret word while the other takes turns asking questions and attempting to guess their thoughts. You can either teach them subject-specific language or let them utilise their imaginations!

10. Find the Colour/Colour Touch

This game is a great technique to introduce colours and is quite popular among younger children. The guidelines are simple: collect all of the pupils and cry out, ‘Find something….’ The youngsters must then run around the classroom touching everything the same colour. This is an excellent method to get the kids moving, active, and interested. Plus, it might be rather amusing when they discover the colour on you!

We’re sure you’re eager to get started! Do you need to find a TEFL job initially? Check out our TEFL jobs board and apply right away! Or look at our paid TEFL internships for a fully supported approach to getting your first TEFL role.

 

We can assist you! Check out our TEFL courses or request a free call back from our TEFL specialists to go over your alternatives. You may also use our fast course matching quiz to determine your best fit.

Good luck with your TEFL teaching!

Shopping Basket
0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyBrowse Courses