Vocabulary Games
One key area where some of our students need extra help is with vocabulary expansion. Reading is a key support in this area, as are games which students often enjoy without always realising they are learning.
Suggested games:
Bingo - use a grid to check key words/definitions from a topic
In a minute… - e.g. students are given one minute to write as many synonyms as they can for e.g. shows/small/bright…
How many words? Students are given a selection of letters on the board and have to try and make as many words as they can from them. The person who gets the most then explains how the word works and/or students put words into sentences. Would be good with mini whiteboards.
Cloze exercises are often used with the words provided, but students can work in pairs to decide their own words to fill the gaps, so they are actually thinking about which words to use.
Charades
Hang Man
Pictionary
Pair up - 2 students sit with their backs to the board. The teacher has compiled a list of individual words associated with a topic on Google slides e.g. Romeo and Juliet so words like: Montagues, hatred, Verona…
The rest of the class have one minute to describe the slide to the pair. They have a 1 minute timer to get as many correct as possible. Then another pair have a go.
Blockbusters - students form 2 teams with the objective of getting from one side of the board to another, answering questions on a topic. The answer begins with the letter. (Interactive one does not always work, so can use 2 different colours)
Find... - stick facts/words/phrases around the room and students have to find it/them following clues from the teacher. They then explain why they have chosen that answer.
Key words/definitions - this can often be a good lesson starter. Students use mini whiteboards to write their responses either in groups or individually. Can be expanded to add examples etc.
Question dice - can be useful when students are trying to formulate questions for their own inquiry OR interviewing a character OR practising (in)formal interview techniques.