Hot Verb-Tato

Ever heard of the game Hot Potato? Well, Hot Verb-Tato is actually the variation of this
timeless schoolyard game. But instead of just tossing a bean bag, balloon, ball or even a
real potato to each other, the student with the “potato” needs to say a verb before passing
the “potato” to another student.

Directions:
Arrange the students in a circle. Pick a round, easy-to-handle object as your “potato.” Put
on some lively music (ESL music or nursery rhymes are great choices). On start, each
student must say a verb and pass the “potato” to another student. When time runs out, the
student holding the potato is subject to some lighthearted punishment.

To make the entire experience educational and fun, the punishment can be anything from
singing the ABC song to answering three questions in English. Students may also be given
three random verbs and asked to use them in three meaningful and related sentences (like a
three-sentence story).

Alternative:
In classes with more advanced students, you can challenge students by limiting verb
varieties by only allowing verbs that start with certain letters. For example, you could say,
“For this round of Hot Verb-Tato, we can only say verbs begin with a, b and c.”
2. Pantomime Verbs
This is the perfect game for all levels, but especially for shy beginners. The game is great
for expanding verb vocabulary, while teaching students about rhyming in English.
Directions:
Explain the meaning of “rhyme” to your students and start practicing with nouns. After the
students get the hang of the game, start with verbs by dividing the class into two to three
teams (depending on your class size).

Begin by saying, “I’m thinking of a verb that rhymes with ______.” (Try to use single
syllable words and verbs). Students will raise their hands when they have a guess. The first
student who asks, “Is it this?” and acts out the right verb, earns a point for his/her team. Set
the goal for points and the team that reaches the threshold wins the game.

Alternative:
For advanced classes, the student who first pantomimes the right verb can start the game.

Verb Snip
This is a great activity for all ESL levels. Verb Snip is a perfect game to challenge students
to think creatively and expand their verb inventory. Because of the nature of the game, you
may also use Verb Snip as a game for spelling practice!

Directions:
Arrange the students in a circle with one student in the center. As the pointer, the student in
the center will count to five, point at someone, and ask him/her to spell a three-letter word
(For example, “Dog, D-O-G”).

Then the student in the center will slowly count to ten, and then point at a different student
and say “Snip!” The selected student must name three verbs that start with the letters
spelled in the previous word. So for the dog example, D-O-G, the student can say, “Draw,
Order, Go.”

Then the pointer will sit down and the student who just answered the pointer will continue
the game by choosing a new three-letter word for someone to spell.

Alternative:
In a more advanced class setting, allow the pointer to choose words with four letters or
more. However, students are not allowed to repeat words. You also could ban words with
certain letters (like “x”, “y” and “z”).
5. Story Time
Story time is a combination of story and memory game. Students love the game because it
challenges their language skills and linguistic creativity.

Directions:
Prepare a bag with verb cards. Form a circle. The teacher begins by picking a verb card
from the bag and forming a sentence with the verb.

The bag will be passed to the next student in the circle who will pick a card, repeat the
teacher’s sentence, and form another sentence that contains the verb on his/her card.

The game continues with more sentences that need to be repeated (this is where the
memory part comes in). The goal is for students to use verbs to make meaningful sentences
while connecting them to the other people’s sentences to form a story.

Alternative:
You can also turn Story Time into a written game by dividing the class into different
groups. Each group should have their own bag of verb cards. At the end of the game, each
team will send a representative to the front of the class to read their story aloud. The class
then gets to vote for the “Most Creative Story.”
By spicing up your ESL lessons with some of these games, your students will learn verbs
in a fun, interactive way – which is sure to make the words stick. And now that you have
seen the power of ESL verb games, it’s time to enjoy the creativity and even make some of
your own!

Verb Vine (Various Tenses)

If you are looking for a simple verb tense review, this print and go game may be perfect for you.
For each group of three to four students you will need a printout of the game and one standard six
sided die as well as markers for each player. (I like to make personalized markers for my in class
games, but you can also use coins, paper clips, buttons, or any other small item for players to mark
their places.) To play, the first person rolls the die and moves that many spaces. He then draws a
verb card and must give a sentence that uses that verb in the tense written in the space he is now
on. If he gives a correct sentence, he stays on that space. If his sentence is incorrect, he must
return to the space he was on previously. The first person to the end of the game board wins