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Games for the Classroom

Games can faciliatate learning second languages particularly for younger learners. Here are some games that I used in the class and there some links to other websites that have free games.

Snap

One game that students love (and all can participate in), is a game called Snap. This is a very simple game that gets a great reaction from all the kids in the classroom.

The children in the class work in pairs and cards are placed

between them face-up. These cards contain phrases or words that the children are studying. The children are told to put their hands behind their heads, then the teacher calls out a phrase such as; I went into the Kitchen or may I have a hamburger please. When the children hear a key word that they are studying they grab the card and keep it. The winner is the student who has the most cards at the end of the game.

You can really increase the excitement for the children by calling out a the phrase or words or irregular at intervals. When you call out the word you hear many hands hitting the desks and they usually yell quite loud. It is a lot of fun and the children learn their lesson without really knowing it.

Pin the Tail on the Donkey

Another good game for learning directions is "Pin the Tail on the Donkey". This works very well for younger children. Learning the Hocky Pocky (song and dance) is a good way to start. If the children dance the Hocky Pocky over a couple of classes they will learn left and right. When you feel they are ready you can add turn right, turn left, go and stop. Then it is just a matter of getting volunteers to put on a mask while the class gives directions to pin the tail on the donkey.

Stop the Bus

This game is a lot of fun for older children. It is played in groups and some students may not participate as much as others but I think that all the children will learn something from one another.

The materials are a sheet of paper with a table on it and a pen or a pencil. Print a table with three columns with about 12 rows. Each row represents a question. Then call out "name three items (such as capitals countries or verbs etc.). When the first group of student finish they call out "Stop the Bus!!!" . Collect the papers and award points for all correct answers.

The Fly Swatter Game

The materials for this game are; Flash Cards, Fly Swatters and of course Kids.

Line up four or five flash cards along the ledge of the blackboard. Have the children form groups and have one member of the group come to the front of the classroom. The student is given a fly swatter and when a key word or phrase is given to students must hit the flash card with the flyswatter. The first one to hit the correct card is the winner. My classes really love to play this game.


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