Objective: Review vocabulary
Level: Adaptable
Materials Needed: None
Choose a word from the vocabulary you want to review. Show a St who will then mouth the word to the class (no voice or actions). Ss must call back the word they think he is saying.
Objective: Review vocabulary
Level: ADAPTABLE
Materials Needed: Realia and a backpack
Choose objects (realia) to show to the class, reviewing the pronunciation of each item. Give Ss a moment to take mental note of the objects. Then put all the objects into a box, bag, or backpack (something not transparent). Ask Ss to write down as many objects as they remember. The team with the most correctly-spelled words wins.
Objective: Ear-training / Numbers 1 – 10
Level: True Beginner
Materials Needed: None
Note: More appropriate for young Ss or enthusiastic adults
Ss walk around. Randomly call out a number between 1 – 10. Ss must quickly form groups of that number. Odd Ss are eliminated from the game (or 3 strikes -You’re out!)
Objective: Review classroom objects
Level: True Beginner
Materials Needed: Marker/Sticky notes (slips of paper and tape)
As a class, elicit the names of classroom objects and label the room. Fan, Board, Pencil, Teacher, Student (Try not to repeat items). When finished, quickly review the pronunciation as you point at each sticky note.
Ask one St to go outside for a moment. With the attention of the class, switch 2 sticky notes. Ask the St to return. Don’t use L1 to explain – Demonstrate! Look at each sticky note and say “Good, no problem.” Let the St continue until he finds the errors.
Ss tend to go a little crazy for the next rounds; you may need to control how many switches they make.
Objective: Memory training / vocabulary review
Level: Adaptable to all levels/ages
Materials Needed: White Board / Marker / Eraser
Write several of your target words sporadically all over the board. Take the opportunity to practice the pronunciation and review the meaning. Ask a St to stand outside. Indicate that the class should be quiet, and with their attention, erase ONE word.
Invite the St to come back in and replace the missing word. If he can’t remember, the class can give hints.
Objective: Recall English words and spelling
Level: Adaptable to all levels / ages
Note: Not appropriate for first few classes of true beginners
Materials Needed: Marker/White Board
Divide the board in 2 sections. Write the same word at the top of each side. Demonstrate how each team must look at the final letter of the previous word and write a new word starting with that letter. Set a time limit. The team with the most correctly-spelled words wins.
Example:
car car
red ring
dresser green
radio no
orange one
eraser excellent
Objective: Review vocabulary groupings
Level: Adaptable to all levels / ages; Fun for large groups
Note: Not appropriate for first few classes of true beginners
Materials Needed: Slips of paper prepared with one vocabulary word for each St.
Ss may want to play again, so keep a second set of words separate.
Decide which groups of vocabulary you want to review with your Ss. (Ideas: Days of week / Months of year / Colors / Body Parts / Health Problems / Pronouns / Clothes / Furniture …)
On each slip of paper write ONE word. Give one slip to each St. The St can never show his paper. He can only repeat what it says. When you say ‘Go’, Ss must walk around chanting the word in order to find classmates who have words from the same category.
Extension: Each group of Ss can write their list of words on the board and write the name of the category at the top. The teacher can then use this to practice the pronunciation and even elicit a few more words to add to each category.
Objective: Review vocabulary groupings / Answer questions
Level: Adaptable to all levels / ages
Note: Not appropriate for first few classes of true beginners
Materials Needed: Slips of paper prepared with questions / tasks
Write a basic question on a piece of paper. Crumple it up. Write another question, and crumple this over the original. Wrap 10 pieces of paper over...each one with a question or a task.
Example: What is your last name? Say the days of the week. Name 5 body parts/colors... The possibilities are endless. Play music. Ss toss the ball. When the music stops, the person holding the ball peels off the outer layer and answers the question or does the task.
Objective: A counting game to practice numbers
Level: Adaptable to all levels / ages
Materials Needed: A ball or an object to pass (optional)
Ss pass the ball around while counting (1, 2, 3, etc.). When the number reaches 5 the St must say 'buzz'. Any number with a 5 in it must be substituted with 'buzz' (5, 15, 25, 35, etc.) in addition to any multiple of 5 (5,10,15,20,25, etc.).
Extension: If this becomes too easy, use the number 7. Any number with a 7 (7, 17, 27, 37, etc.) and any multiple of 7 (14, 21, 28, 35, etc.) should be substituted with a 'buzz'.
Extension: For an additional challenge, change the 'buzz' to a category. For example, instead of the word 'buzz', the St must say a color but without repeating any that were previously mentioned. This keeps all Ss paying attention. Other possible categories: furniture / body parts / clothes.