English Class: Play WithВ Us. Quick Fun Activities
Irina Borisova
English Class: Play With Us is a collection of games and activities ranging from beginner to advanced level. Teachers can use them when doing particular exercises, organizing a short break or carrying out a warm up. The activities are designed for pair work, group work or can be carried out with the whole class. Some games are based on popular pastimes; others contain new ideas that might help make the teaching and learning process more joyful and effective.
English Class: Play WithВ Us
Quick Fun Activities
Irina Borisova
Cover designer Arina Zheleznyh
© Irina Borisova, 2021
© Arina Zheleznyh, cover design, 2021
ISBNВ 978-5-0055-7479-4
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
Introduction
English Class: Play With Us contains aВ collection ofВ games and activities for teaching and revising English. It includes vocabulary, pronunciation, speaking, writing and grammar activities ranging from beginner toВ advanced level. Teachers may find them helpful when doing certain themes ofВ the academic curriculum, as well as use them as aВ short break before proceeding toВ the next В«seriousВ» exercise inВ the textbook. Another good idea is toВ employ some ofВ those activities for warming up. Besides, if you organize such a quick fun at the end ofВ the class, the students will definitely leave the classroom inВ aВ great mood which, undoubtedly, will exert positive influence on their English studies.
The games and activities have been grouped into five categories inВ accordance with the aspect they belong toВ and the skill they develop:
• Vocabulary
• Pronunciation
• Grammar
• Speaking
• Writing
Some ofВ the activities described below are meant toВ be carried out as whole class activities. Others are designed for pair work or group work. Working with classmates makes the lesson more lively and enjoyable. Dealing with cards, aВ blackboard, crayons and other stuff involves more senses inВ the learning process making it, therefore, more effective.
All the activities introduced inВ the book have simple and clear rules and do not require much time toВ do. Time-limit is suggested for each activity though it depends on the group and may vary. The assumed class size is about 15В students. It is important not toВ spin out the activity, stop it when the time is over and sum up the results, preferably with the whole class.
Finally, there are games inВ this book based on popular pastimes, such as playing crocodile. Both adults and children love these games, they inalterably produce aВ cheerful atmosphere inВ the class. Alongside with this, you will find some new ideas that might be ofВ interest toВ your students and help them learn English with fun and pleasure.
For feedback, please, contact: engteachirina@gmail.com
VocabularyВ fun
Word Auction
Core language: Any parts ofВ speech, word groups referring toВ aВ definite topicВ etc.
Level: Beginners-advanced
Number ofВ students:В Any
Stuff needed:AВ toy wooden hammer for operating the process. Another good idea is toВ use aВ toy rubber hammer producing aВ funny squeaking noise. But if you do not have aВ hammer, simply use aВ pencil or aВ pen.
Time: 7В minutes
People/characters involved:
– “An auctioneer” – the person conducting the “auction”. The job is usually done by the teacher. It may also be performed by a student if the game has already been played in the class before.
– “Bidders” or “participants” of the “auction” – all the students.
Procedure:The auctioneer announces the topic ofВ the auction. The participants call out words on the topic given. Every word is followed byВ aВ number (one, two, three) and certain В«fillersВ» uttered byВ the auctioneer inВ that special rhythmic- repetition- auction -chant manner and aВ blow ofВ his/her hammer. The bidder who says the last item wins the game.
Example:
The auctioneer: Ladies and gentlemen! The topic of today’s auction is «Jobs». You are to call out as many names of jobs, professions and occupations as possible while I am counting from one to three. The auction ends the moment I say «Three!» The participant who says the final word is the winner. So, the subject is «Jobs». Right, here we go!
Student A: Doctor!
The auctioneer: Doctor one!…
Student B: Pilot!
The auctioneer: Pilot one!…
Student C: Teacher!
The auctioneer: Teacher one! … Teacher two!…
Student D: Builder!
….
Student N: Conductor!
The auctioneer: Conductor one! … Conductor two! … Conductor three! … Done! The winner of the auction is Student N!
Variations: The range ofВ topics for Word Auction game is immense. Here are just aВ few suggestions below:
• Goods and services: “Clothes”, “Food and drinks”, “Hotels”, “Restaurants and cafes”, “Real estate”
• Art: “Literature”, “Music”, “Fine arts”
• Education: “Classroom activities”, “School subjects”
• Health and Medicine
• Climate and weather
• Sports
• Leisure activities
• Hobbies and interests
• The mass media
• Language issues: “Adjectives beginning with “s”, “Irregular verbs” etc.
Some helpful ideas: It seems toВ be aВ nice idea toВ present the winners with little prizes such as sweets, candies or chocolates.
Word Categories
Core language: Word groups referring toВ definite topics
Level: Beginners-advanced
Number ofВ students:В Any
Stuff needed: AВ white/blackboard
Time: 7В minutes
People/characters involved:
– A presenter – the teacher or one of the students.
– Participants – all the students.
Procedure: The presenter writes/types aВ list ofВ category headings on the board. The participants choose aВ letter ofВ the English alphabet. Now they should name at least two words for each category beginning with this letter.
