For Adults

A Year Ago
Subject: Future in the Past
This game is designed specially for the last lesson before New Year.
Skills: Speaking, Listening
Level: Pre-Intermediate
Recommended Age: 18+
Number of Participants: 4-8 players
Time: 10-15 minutes
Place: Any
Equipment: Not required
Materials: Not required
Preliminary Preparation: Not required
Immediate Preparation (2-5 minutes).
1. If possible, arrange the game participants so that they are sitting or standing in a circle or
a semi-circle.
2. New Year is a time for reviewing progress. In this connection, invite the students to
recall events, which happened to them in the old year, but they had not expect them a year
ago. In order to give an example, you can say something like this:
'A year ago I didn't know that I would visit China'
How to Play. A typical game might start something like this:

Player А: A year ago I didn't know that I would change my job.
Player В: A year ago I didn't know that I would become an uncle.
and so on around the circle.
A student, who cannot make an appropriate sentence, drops out of the game. The
activity continues around the circle as long as only one participant is left. This last remaining
player becomes the winner of the game.
Alien
Subject: Relative clauses

Participants Number: 4-12 players
Time: 15-25 minutes
Place: Any
Immediate Preparation: If possible, arrange the game participants so that they are aitting or
standing in a circle or a semi-circle.
How to Play. In the first round, it is you, who play the Alien. A typical role-play might start
something like this:
You (addressing to Player А): What's an airport?
Player А: This is a place where planes land and take off.
As a result of a correct answer, Player А gets one point.
You (addressing to Player В): What are planes?
Player В: They are machines that can fly.
As a result of a correct answer, Player В gets one point.
You (addressing to Player С): What are machines?
If Player С can not answer, invite them to come and stand in front of the other students in
the group. Now it is their turn to act as an alien in the second round. This time, it is Player D,
whose turn to ask the first question and so on. The game contunues around the circle as long
as each player, at least once, takes the role of Alien. At the end of the activity, the number
of points, accumulated by each participant during the whole competition, is counted up. The
player, who gets the most points in total, becomes the winner of the game.
World News
Subject: Storytelling + Spelling + Countries
Skills: Writing, Speaking, Listening

Time: 30-40 minutes
Place: Classroom
Equipment: A black- or whiteboard
Materials: A piece of chalk or a marker
Immediate Preparation: (10-15 minutes).
1. Ask the students, e.g.:'What country is Vienna the capital of?' The player, who first calls
out:'Austria!', comes to the board.
2. This player writes words, beginning with each letter of this country name like this:
Austria: actor, umbrella, salad, ticket, river, interview, armchair
3. Ask the same question with another capital and so on.

4. When each player has got a country, tell them to make up news from it in their notebook,
using all the words, written by them on the board. Allow the students a reasonable amount of
time for completing this task. While they are writing, circulate, monitor and assist, if
necessary.
How to Play. After everyone has finished, bring the class to order. Afterwards, invite the
players to take it in turns reading aloud their essays. The game continues as long as all the
'news' have been read aloud. The player, whose news is considered to be the best, becomes
the winner of the game. If necessary, you can invite the players to vote.
Find More Games
Application
Subject: Can + Vocabulary

Time: 15-20 minutes
Place: Any
Immediate Preparation. If possible, arrange the game participants so that they are sitting or
How to Play. To begin the competition, you ask the only question and the students take it in
turns to answer it. A typical game might start something like this:
You: How can you use a pencil?
Player А: I can draw with it!
As a result of a correct answer, Player А gets one point.
Player B: I can write with it!
As a result of a correct answer, Player B gets two points.
Player C: I can use it as a pointer!
As a result of a correct answer, Player С gets three points.
Player D: I can use it as a ruler!
As a result of a correct answer, Player D gets four points.
Player E: I can mark with it!
As a result of a correct answer, Player E gets five points.
Player F: I can use it as a bookmark!
As a result of a correct answer, Player F gets six points.
If Player G cannot answer your question, you ask it with another key word and the score
starts anew. Now this is Player G, whose turn to answer your question and so on. Follow the
same procedure with all key words. The activity continues around the circle as long as the
questions with all the key words have been answered. At the end of the activity, the number
Variation. Here are some ideas for other key words: belt, book, brick, chair, fork, glass, hat,
iron, plate, sheet, scissors, table, toothbrush.
Article
Subject: Creative writing

Time: 20-25 minutes
Place: Classroom
1. If possible, arrange the game participants in a circle or a sem-circle in front of the board.
2. Explain to the students that each of them should find in their coursebook the first word,
beginning with the letter in the same alphabetical order as they are sitting, i.e. Player A
searches for the first word, beginning with the letter 'A', Player B does the same for the
letter 'B' and so on. As they do it, you write the found words on the board.
2. When every word is on the board, explain to the game participants that each of them
should, on their own, write an article in their notebook, using all of the foundings. Allow a
reasonable amount of time to the students for completing this task. While they are writing,
circulate, monitor and assist, if necessary.
How to Play. When everyone has finished, bring the class to order. Afterwards, invite Player
A to come to the borad, to stand facing the other game participants and to read out their
article. Then it is Player B, whose turn to come to the board and so on. The game continues
around the circle as long as all the acticles have been read out. The winner of the game is the
student, whose article is considered to be the best. If necessary, you can ask the game
participants to vote.
Advice.
1. Since the task takes a long time to complete, it would be more feasible to set it
for homework. In this case, the game itself should be carried out in the next lesson.
2. In order to orginize the assessment or/and vote, after Player A has read out their essay,
you might give them an average mark, for example five points. Then you or/and other game
participants assess the essay of Palyer B in comparison with that of Player A and so on.
Bad Advice
Subject: Imperative

Level: Elementary
Time: 20-25 minutes
Place: Classroom
Materials: A piece of chalk or marker
Preliminary Preparation. Not required
1. If possible, arrange the game participants in a circle or a sem-circle in front of the board.
2. Write on the board the following or any similar questions:
How to lose your job?

How to quarrel with your neigbours?
How to spoil your holiday?
How to fall into depression?
How to gain weight?
How to catch a cold?
How to weaken your eyesight?
How to be always late?
2. Ask each player to choose one of the topics and to write, on their own, bad advice for it in
their notebook. Allow them a reasonable amount of time for completing this task. While the
students are writing, circulate, monitor and assist, if necessary.
How to Play. When everyone has finished, bring the class to order. Aferwards, invite Player
A to read out their advice. It might look something like this:
How to gain weight?

1. Eat fatty food.
2. Have dinner late.
3. Don't walk.
4. Don't do exercises.
5. Don't weight.
As a result, Player A gets five points by the number of grammatically correct items of their
bad advice. After that, you ask the rest of the group what another advice they can give to
someone, who would wish to gain weight. For each tip, unsaid before by Player A, the game
participant gets one point. This time, it is Player B, whose turn to read out their bad advice
and so on. The game continues around the circle as long as all the pieces of bad advice have
been read out and suggested. At the end of the activity, the number of points, accumulated by
each participant during the competition, is counted up. The player, who gets the most points in
total, becomes the winner of the game.
Variation. You may wish to extend this activity for stronger groups or higher levels. To that
end, ask the students to write questions similar to ones on the board on separate pieces of
paper. When everyone has finished, collect them and redistribute. Writing bad advice for
these topics may be set as homework. In this case, you might continue the game in the next
lesson by adding the old and new results.
Busy Day
Subject: Present Simple
This game is designed specially for helping new classmates to get to know each other in first
lessons.
Level: Elementary
Time: 20-25 minutes
Place: Any
1. If possible, arrange the game participants so that they are sitting in a circle or a semi-
circle.
2. Explain to the players that each of them should, on their own, write ten sentences in their
notebook, which describe the beginning of their typical working day. Allow them a reasonable
amount of time for completing this task. While the students are writing, circulate, monitor
and assist, if necessary.
How to Play. When everyone has finished, bring the group to order. Then invite Player A to
stand in front of their new classmates and start reading out their list. After each sentence,
they pause for giving a chance to the other students to guess their job. A typical game might
begin something like this:
Player А: I start work at 9 a.m.
Player B: Are you a bank clerk?
Player А: No, I'm not. First of all, I check my e-mail.
Player C: Are you a receptionist?
Player А: No, I'm not. Secondly, I make coffee for my boss.
Player D: Are you a personal assistant?
Player А: Yes, I am.
As a result of the right answer, Player D gets one point. This time, it is Player B, whose turn
to read out their description, and Player C, whose right to ask the first question, and so on.
The game continues around the circle as long as all the jobs have been revealed. At the end of
the activity, the number of points, accumulated by the participants during the whole
competition, is counted up. The player, who gets the most points in total, becomes the winner
of the game.
Holidays
Subject: Complex sentences

Time: 10-15 minutes
Place: Classroom
1. If possible, arrange the game participants so that they are sitting or standing in a semi-
circle in front of the board.
2. Write on the board:
Holidays is a time, when ...
3. In order to give an example, you can say, e.g.:
'Holidays is a time, when I get in touch with all my friends!'.
4. Ask the players to take it in turns to say similar phrases.

Player А: Holidays is a time, when there are a lot of decorations everywhere!
Player В: Holidays is a time, when I usually visit my relatives!
A player, who cannot make an appropriate sentence, drops out of the game. The
activity continues around the circle as long only one participant is left. This last remaining
player becomes the winner of the game.
Fairy Tale
Subject: Spelling + Storytelling

Time: 30-40 minutes
Place: Classroom
1. If possible, arrange the game participants so that they are sitting in a semi-circle in front
of the board.
2. Write in big letters on the board:
FAIRY TALE
3. Ask the students to make as many words as possible from these letters. So the
letter'S' can be used twice in one word. While the game participants say their words, write
them down on the board.
4. When there are no new ideas, ask each player to write a Christmas fairy tale in their
notebook, using all the words from the board. Allow them a reasonable amount of time for
completing this task. While the students are writing, circulate, monitor and assist, if
necessary.
fairy tale. Then it is Player B, whose turn to come to the board and so on. The game continues
around the circle as long as all the fairy tales have been read out. The winner of the game is
the student, whose fairy tale is considered to be the best. If necessary, you can ask the game
Advice.
Advertisement
Skills: Writing, Listening, Speaking

Time: 20-30 minutes
Place: Classroom
Preliminary Preparation (5-10 minutes).
1. Think of a product, e.g. toothpaste.
2. Write a small advertisement for it, which might look something like this:
Wake up with it! It's made of a refreshing mixture of peppermint and eucalyptus, leaving your
mouth clean, fresh and ready to start the day!
Immediate Preparation (5-7 minutes):

1. If possible, arrange the game participants so they are sitting in a circle or a semi-circle.
2. Explain to the students that they are going to hear an advertisement. Invite them to guess
the product that it advertises.
2. Read out your advertisement at normal speaking speed. The player, who is the first to
guess the product, gets one point.
3. Explain to the game participants that each of them should think of a product and write, on
their own, a similar advertisement for it in their notebooks. Allow the students a reasonable
amount of time to complete this task. While they are writing, circulate, monitor and assist, if
necessary.
How to Play. When all the students have finished, bring the class to order. Afterwards,
invite Player A to come and stand in front of their classmates. Next they should read out
their advertisement. The other students in the group must try to guess the product. Then it
is Player B, whose turn to come and so on. The game continues around the circle as long as all
the products have been revealed. At the end of the activity, the number of points,
accumulated by each participant during the whole competition, is counted up. The player, who
gets the most points in total, becomes the winner of the game.
Decade
Subject: Can / Could

Level: Elementary
Time: 10-15 minutes
Place: Any
Immediate Preparation (1-5 minutes):
1. If possible, arrange the game participants so tha they are sitting or standing in a circle or a
semi-circle in front of the board.
2. Ask the players to take it in turns saying what they could not do a decade ago, but can do
now.
3. In order to give an example, you can say, e.g.:
'A decade ago I could not play tennis, but I can do it now!'
For weaker groups, you can write it on the board.

Player A: A decade ago I could not drive a car, but I can do it now!
Player B: A decade ago I could not bake cakes, but I can do it now!'
Of course, the sentences must not be repeated during the whole competition! A player,
who cannot make an appropriate sentence, drops out of the game. The activity continues
around the circle as long as only one paticipant is left. This last remaining player becomes the
winner of the game.
Definitions
Subject: Vocabulary + Listening
This game is a playful way to introduce new vocabulary.

Skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading
Time: 15-20 minutes
Place: Classroom
Equipment:
- An English dictionary
- A black- or whiteboard
Preliminary Preparation (5-10 minutes). For each new word, write out three definitions
from the dictionary: one true and two false (taken from other articles) . Let us consider the
word 'shelter':
a) a person who has a love and understanding for beautiful things;
b) a building that provides a place to stay for people without home;
c) a piece of equipment for receiving and sending radio signals.
Immediate Preparation: If possible, arrange the game participants so that they are sitting or
How to Play. To start the game, write the first new word on the board and read out twice
the definitions, chosen for it, at normal speaking speed. Next the players take it in turns to
give their opinions like this:
Player А: I think it's 'c'!
Player В: I think it's 'a'!
After everyone has spoken out, you give the right answer. The players, who guess the
right defintion, get one point. Then you write the second new word on the board and so on.
The game continues around the circle as long as all the definitions have been revealed. At the
end of the activity, the number of points, accumulated by each participant during the whole
aompetition, is counted up. The player, who gets the most points in total, becomes the winner
of the game.
Advice. Next time you can choose two or three true definitions. This makes the game even
more exciting!
Detective

Time: 30-40 minutes
Place: Classroom
Preliminary Preparation. Not required.
1. If possible, arrange the game participants so that thay are standing in a semi-circle infront
of the board.
2. On the board, write down the following or any similar quiestions:
How many guests knew the secret?

When was the champagne poisoned?
Who locked the door?
Why was the body near the window?
What was burnt in the chimney?
Whose footprints were in the garden?
Where is the diamond?
3. Explain to the players that each of them should, on their own, write a short detective story
in their notebook, answering these quiestions. Allow them a reasonable amount of time to
complete this task. While the students are writing, circulate, monitor and assist, if necessary.
detective. Then it is Player B, whose turn to come to the board and so on. The game continues
around the circle as long as all the detectives have been read out. The winner of the game is
the student, whose detective is considered to be the best. If necessary, you can ask the game
Advice.
Variation. If you wish, you can extend this activity. To that end, invite the players to write
questions similar to ones on the board on separate pieces of paper. When everyone has
finished, collect them and redistribute. Writing detectives by these questions may be set
for homework. In this case, you might continue the game in the next lesson by adding the old
and new results .
Famous Namesakes
Subject: Jobs
This game is designed specially for helping you and your new students to get to know and to
faster memorize their names on the first day of class.
Level: Elementary
Time: 15-20 minutes
Place: Any
Immediate Preparation: If possible, arrange the game participants so that they are sitting
or standing in a circle or a semi-circle.
How to Play. To begin the competition, Player A comes to the front of the class. A
typical game might start something like this:
You: What's your name?
Player A: My name is Fyodor.
You: Do you know any of your famous namesakes?
Player A: Yes, I do. Fyodor Shalyapin.
You: What was his job?
Player A: He was a singer.
As a result of a correct answer, Player A gets one point.
You (addressing to the other players, but giving a word to each in turns):
Who knows other famous men named Fyodor?
Player B: I know nobody.
Player C: I know Fyodor Bondarchouk, an actor, and Fyodor Dostoevsky, a writer.
As a result of two correct answers, Player C gets two points,
Names without indicating jobs are not accepted! After all the students have commented the
name Fyodor, Player A is replaced by Player B and so on. The game continues around the circle
as long as all the players have introduced themselves. At the end of the activity, the number
of points, accumulated by each participant during the whole competition, is counted up.
The player, who gets the most points in total, becomes the winner of the game.
Debate
Subject: Speaking

Level: Elementary
Time: 10-15 minutes
Place: Classroom
Equipment: Black- or whiteboard
a semi-circle in front of the board.
2. Write a topic for discussion on the board, e.g.:
Living in a big city
3. Explain that each player should object to the argument of the previous speaker, beginning
with "Yes, but...".
How to Play. A typical game might start someting like this:
You: Living in a big city gives more job opportunities!
Player A: Yes, but big cities are too polluted!
Player B: Yes, but they offer a lot of amusements!
A player, who can not make an appropriate sentence, drops out of the game. The activity
continues around the circle as long as only one student is left. This remaining player becomes
the winner of the game.
Variation. Here are some ideas of other topics for discussion:
- Having a pet;
- Travelling by train;
- Working with a friend.
Gossip
Subject: Modals + Complex sentences

Level: Elementary
Time: 15-20 minutes
Place: Any
How to Play. Before starting the competition, explain to the students that they are going to
hear the beginning of a complex sentence, and they must take it in turns to finish it, using any
modal verb. A typical game might start something like this:
You: People, who travel a lot, ...
Player А: ... can see many interesting things.
Player В: ... might be very rich.
Player С: ... should speak English well.
After everyone has exptessed their opinion, Player A begins their own sentence, e.g.: 'People,
who smoke, ...'. This time, is is Player B, whose turn to finish it, and so on around the circle. A
student, who can not begin an appropriate sentence or finish the given one, drops out of the
game. The activity continues around the circle as long as only one participant is left. This last
remaining player becomes the winner of the game.
Johnny is Going to Work

Subject: Can + Transport

Time: 10-15 minutes
Place: Any
a semi-circle.
2. Explain to the students that in this game each player must anticipate the previous speaker,
giving a reason why the hero can not go to work by the mentioned kind of transport.
You: Johnny's going to work by car!
Player А: No, he can't go by car, because his car is broken. Johnny's going to work by bus!
Player B: No, he can't go by bus, because he's missed one. Johnny's going to work by tram!
Player C: No, he can't go by tram, because electricity is out. Johnny's going to work by plane!
A player, who can not give an appropriate argument or name a new kind of transport, drops out
of the game. The activity continues around the circle as long as only one student is left. This
last remaining player becomes the winner of the game.
Letter to Santa
Subject: Writing
This game can be great fun in the last lesson before Christmas. But, in order not to cause
offence, it would be better to carried it out in a mature class, where the students know each
other very well.
Level: Elementary
Time: 15-25 minutes
Place: Classroom
a semi-circle.
2. Invite each student to write in their notebook a letter to Santa Claus on behalf of the
person on their right, i.e. Player A writes for Player B, Player B for Player C and so on. Allow
them a reasonable amount of time for completing this task. While the students are writing,
How to Play. When everyone is ready, bring the class to order. Next ask the participants to
hand the letters to 'their authors'. To start the competition, invite Player A to read
aloud the letter to Santa, written for them by the last player. After finishing, Player
A estimates this letter. This time, it is Player B, whose turn to reads aloud their false letter
and so on. The player, who gets the highest mark, becomes the winner of the game.
Advice. To make the game even more competitive, you may wish to invite the other students in
the class to vote for the best letter and then award a bonus point to its author.
Parable
Subject: Storytelling

Level: Elementary
Time: 20-25 minutes
Place: Classroom
Preliminary Preparation (7-10 minutes). First choose a short parable, according to the level of
your students. Next, highlight one key word in each sentence.
1. On the board, write the key words in chronological order.
2. Explain to the players that each of the should, on their own, restore the parable in their
notebook, respecting the chronology and using one given word in each sentence. Allow them a
reasonable amount of time for completing this task. While the students are writing, circulate,
monitor and assist, if necessary.
How to Play. When everyone has finished, bring the class to order. Next invite the players to
take it in turns reading aloud their essays. After their finishing, you read out the original. The
winner is the student, whose parable is the closest to the original. If necessary, you can invite
the players to vote.
President
Subject: Modals

Level: Pre- Intermediate
Time: 20-25 minutes
Place: Classroom
Preliminary Preparation (7-15 minutes). Write an election programme of five items, using
modal verbs. It might look something like this:
1. Animal hunting must be prohibited.

2. Drug advertising have to be banned.
3. Littering the streets should be fined.
4. School kids don't have to wear a uniform.
5. People under 21 mustn't get a driving licence.

1. In the first round, this is you, who plays the President. In order to carry out a
demonstration game, tell the players to clap, if they like your 'election promise'. Being sure
that they understand the task, read aloud your 'election speech'.
2. Invite each player to make a similar programme in their notebook. Allow the students a
reasonable amount of time for completing this task. While they are writing, circulate, monitor
and assist, if necessary.
A to stand in front of the other students and to read aloud the first promise of their
'election programme'. As a result, Player A gets as many points as the number of clapping
participants. Next, they read aloud the second item of their 'election speech' and so
on. The game continues as long as all the 'candidates' have read out their 'election
programmes'. At the end of the game, all the gained points are counted up. The player,
who gets the most points in total, becomes the 'president'.
Report
Subject: Storytelling

Level: Inermediate
Time: 30-40 minutes
Place: Classroom.
Preliminary Preparation. Write out the first sentence from one article and the last one from
another.
1. On the board, write the chosen sentences like this:
Today advertising persuades people of different nationalities to use the same products.
...
However, many people, getting older, prefer peace and fresh air of countryside.
2. Invite each player to write in their notebook a short report, beginning and ending with the
given sentences. Allow the students a reasonable amount of time for dompleting this task.
While they are writing, circulate, monitor and assist, if necessary.
How to Play. When everyone has finished, bring the class to order. Afterwards, invite the
players to take it in turns coming to the front of the other students and reading aloud their
essays. The player, whose report is considered to be the best, becomes the winner of the
game. If necessary, you can invite the players to vote.
Advice. Since the task takes a long time to complete, it would be more feasible to set it
Roulette
Subject: Storytelling + Cardinal numbers

Time: 20-25 minutes
Place: Classroom
Equipment:
- An English dictionary
- A black- or whiteboard
1. First, the players take it in turns to say a number, and you open the corresponding page of
the dictionary. Next, you write on the board the first word on this page, known to all the
students in the class.
2. When there are 10-15 words on the board, you ask each player to make up a short story in
their notebook, using all of them. Allow the students a reasonable amount of time for
completing this task. While they are writing, circulate, monitor and assist, if necessary.
players to take it in turns reading aloud their essays. The player, whose story is considered to
be the best, becomes the winner of the game. If necessary, you can invite the players to vote.
Souvenir
Subject: Questions vs Answers

Level: Elementary
Time: 20-30 minutes
Place: Any
Preliminary Preparation: In the previous lesson, ask the students to bring a souvenir from a
long trip.
standing in a circle or a sem-circle.
How to Play. For starting the competition, invite Player A to come with their souvenir and
stand in front of the other class. A typical game might begin something like this:
Player B: Where's it from?
Player A: It's from Sri-Lanka.
Player C: Where did you buy it?
Player A: In a gift shop.
Player D: Was it big or small?
Player A: It was a very small shop.
Player E: Was the seller a man or a woman?
Player A: This was a man.
Player F: Was he old or young?
Player A: I can't remember.
A student gets 1 point for each correct question or answer. If Player A can not answer or the
questions run out, the first round ends. This time, it is Player B, whose turn to come with their
souvenir and stand in front of the other colass. Now it is Player C, whose turn to ask the first
question ansd so on. The game continues around the circle as long as all their participants have
told about their souvenirs. At the end of the activity, the number of points, accumulated by
each participant during the whole competition, is counted up. The player, who gets the most
points in total, become the winner of the game.
Time Capsule
Subject: There is + Vocabulary

Level: Elementary
Time: 20-30 minutes
Place: Classroom
1. If possible arrange the game participants so that they are sitting in a circle or a semi-
circle.
2. Tell each player to make a list of ten objects, which they would put in a time capsule to give
descendants an idea about life in the 2010s. Allow the students a reasonable amount of time
for completing this task. While they are writing, circulate, monitor and assist, if necessary.
How to Play. When everyone has finished, bring the class to order. A typical game
might start something like this:
Player А: Is there a smartphone in your lists?
Players С, D, F, G: Yes, there is.
Player A gets five points by the number of students, who have included this item on their
lists. Besides, all of them cross out this word from their lists.
Player В: Is there a mat for yoga in your lists?
If nobody answers, Player В gets one point.
and so on around this circle.
The game continues as long as all the lists have been read aloud. At the end of the
activity, the number of points, accumulated by each participant during the whole competition,
is counted up. The player, who gets the most points in total, becomes the winner of the game.
Find More Games
Wish
Subject: Speaking

Level: Elementary
Time: 15-25 minutes
Place: Any
a semi-circle.
2. Tell each player to think about what they wish at the moment.
How to Play. When everyone is ready, a typical game might start something like this:
Player А: I wish to go to the sea!
You: Why?
Player A: Because I feel tired.
You: Why?
Player A: Because I work a lot.
You: Why?
Player A: Because I need more money.
You: Why?
Player A: Because I plan to buy a car.
You: Why?
Player A: Because I hate public transport!
You: Why?
If Player A can not answer your question, they get five points by the number of their replies.
This time, it is their turn to ask Player B, and so on. The game continues around the circle as
long as all the wishes have been revealed. The player, who gets the most points, becomes the
winner of the game.
World News
Subject: Storytelling + Spelling + Countries

Time: 30-40 minutes
Place: Classroom
1. Ask the students, e.g.:'What country is Vienna the capital of?' The player, who first calls
out:'Austria!', comes to the board.
2. This player writes words, beginning with each letter of this country name like this:
Austria: actor, umbrella, salad, ticket, river, interview, armchair
3. Ask the same question with another capital and so on.

4. When each player has got a country, tell them to make up news from it in their notebook,
using all the words, written by them on the board. Allow the students a reasonable amount of
time for completing this task. While they are writing, circulate, monitor and assist, if
necessary.
How to Play. After everyone has finished, bring the class to order. Afterwards, invite the
players to take it in turns reading aloud their essays. The game continues as long as all the
'news' have been read aloud. The player, whose news is considered to be the best, becomes
the winner of the game. If necessary, you can invite the players to vote.
Find More Games
New Year's Resolutions

Subject: Future Simple
This game is designed specially for the last lesson before New Year.
Time: 20-25 minutes
Place: Classroom
Preliminary Preparation: (5-7 minutes). Think of a superstar and write three New Year's
resolutions for them. It might look something like this:
a) I'll never exceed the speed limits.
b) I'll never kick a row in hotels.
c) I'll never break paparazzi's cameras.
1. If possible, arrange the game participnats so that they are sitting in a circle or a semi-
circle.
2. Read aloud 'your resolutions' to the players and ask them to take it in turns guessing 'who
you are'. After everyone has given their opinion, you say the right name. The players,
who guess the celebrity, get one point.
3. Invite each player to think of a star and write three New Year's resolutions for them in
their notebook. Allow the students a reasonable amount of time for completing this task.
While they are writing, circulate, monitor and assist, if necessary.
A to read aloud 'their celebrity's resolutions' and the other class to take it in turns guessing
who this person is. This time, it is Player B, whose turn to read aloud their resolutions an so
on. The game continues around the circle as long as all the stars have been revealed. At the
end of activity, the number of points, accumulated by each participant during the whole
of the game.
Lullaby
Subject: Phonetics
This game is based on a famous nursery rhyme.

Level: Intermediate
Time: 20-25 minutes
Place: Classroom
1. If possible, arrange the game participants so that they are sitting or standing in a semi-
circle in front of the board.
2. Write on the board and say the following demonstration sentence:
There was an old lady, who swallowed a fly,
3. Invite each player to find a rhyme for this sentence and to write down it in their notebook.
Allow the students a reasonable amount of time to complete this task. While they are working,
players to take it in turns reading aloud their sentences. A typical game might start something
like this:
You: There was an old lady, who swallowed a fly,
Player А: And just after that she flew in the sky!
Player В: But I don't think that she will soon die!
Player С: Did she? It's amazing! But why?
A student gets one point for each sentence, approved by you (which can be more than one).
A player, who cannot compose an appropriate rhyme, misses their turn, but does not leave the
game. When everyone has expressed their idea or missed their turn, you
change 'fly' to 'spider' on the borad and say:
There was an old lady, who swallowed a spider!
After that, invite the students to rhyme this sentence. Then follow the same procedure with
the words bird, cat, dog, goat, cow and horse. At the end of the activity, the number
Advice. Since the task takes a long time to complete, it would be more feasible to try only the
demonstration sentence in the first lesson and to set the others for homework. In this case,
the game itself should be carried out in the next lesson.
Munchausen
Subject: Present Perfect + Past tenses

Level: Elementary
Time: 20-25 minutes
Place: Any
a semi-circle.
2. Explain that each player should recall their real unusual experience or invent one. It
might be something like this:'I've flown in a helicopter!'
How to Play. When everyone is ready, bring the class to order. After that, give Player A the
role of Munchausen and invite them to stand in front of their classmates.
A typical role-play might start something like this:
Player А: I've seen Prince Charles!
Player B: Where did you see him?
Player А: In London, near Buckingham palace.
Player C: Who was he with?
Player А: He was with his wife.
Player D: What were they doing?
Player А: They were walking towards the palace.
After everyone has asked their question to Player A, invite the rest of the group to take it in
turns saying if they believe the 'Munchausen' or not. When everyone has given their
opinion, Player A says if their statement is true or false. As a result, the 'Munchausen' gets
as many points as the number of players, fooled by them. This time, it is Player B, whose turn
to stand in front of the other class and so on. The game continues around the circle as long as
all the students act as a famous baron. At the end of the activity, the number of points,
accumulated by each participant during the competition, is counted up. The best
'Munchausen' is the player, who gets the most points.
Never
Subject: Present Perfect

Level: Elementary
Time: 10-15 minutes
Place: Any
a semi-circle.
2. Ask the students to take it in turns telling about experience, which they have never had in
their lifetime.
Player A: I've never been to Japan.
Player B: I've never played golf.
Player C: I've never ridden a bike.
The verbs must not be repeated! A player, who can not say an appropriate sentence, drops out
of the game. The activity continues around the circle as long as only one student is left. This
last remaining player becomes the winner of the game.
Lifestyle
Subject: Gerund
This is an adopted version of the popular Heads & Tails game.

Level: Elementary
Time: 10-15 minutes
Place: Classroom
Equipment:
- A large coin
- For a class of many students, a game table, which can be replaced with 2 desks, put
together.
1. Arrange the players around the game table.
2. Make sure that the students are familiar with the game of Heads & Tails. If they are not,
it would be feasible to explain the general rules of the classic version.
How to Play. To start the competition, invite the players to take it in turns tossing the coin.
If it lands up heads, the player should say a habit, typical for healthy lifestyle, e.g.: 'Going to
bed early!'. If it lands up tails, the player should say a habit, typical for unhealthy lifestyle,
e.g.:'Drinking a lot of coffee!'. A player, who can not make an appropriate sentence in their
turn, drops out of the game. The activity continues arond the circle as long as only one
student is left. This last remaining player becomes the winner of the game.
Innermost Words
This game is based on real statistics.

Level: Elementary
Time: 15-20 minutes
Place: Classroom
Preliminary Preparation (3-5 minutes). Copy for yourself the following list of words:
love, life, heart, soul, eyes, song, happy, sad, I, you.

1. If possible, arrange the participants in a semi-circle in front of the board.
2. Tell the players, that analysing some thousand songs in different languages showed, that
ten words occur in them most of all.
3. Ask the players to guess these words.
Player A: Is there 'love' in this list?
You: Yes, of course!
Player A gets one point for the right answer and you write 'love' on the left of the board.
Player B: Is there 'world' in this list?
You: No, there isn't.
You write 'world' on the right of the board.
and so on.
The game continues around the circle as long as all the list has been revealed. At the end of
the activity, the number of points, accumulated by each participant during the whole
of the game.
Two Truths and a Lie
To start, write down three sentences on the board about yourself. One sentence should be a
lie or a false statement about yourself. The other two sentences should be true statements.
Here is an example of what you could write for a lower level class:
1. I have a cat.
2. traveled to Spain.
3. My father is a dentist.
In this particular example, the teacher’s false statement is number 2.
However, the class has no idea which sentences are true or false. In order to guess which
statement is false, the students must ask the teacher questions relating to the three
statements written on the board. Therefore, the teacher should encourage the students to
ask questions and perhaps provide a few examples so they get the idea of the game.
For instance, students could ask questions like:
“Where does your cat sleep?”

“When did you go to Spain?”
“What is the name of your father’s dental office?”
Then, students would have to judge the teacher based on the quickness of his or her response
to see if they are lying. If the teacher is a good actor, then it will make the game more
challenging.
After you have given students time to ask questions, put them in discussion groups. In the
groups, or with partners, they can talk about what they think the false statement is. Give
them a few minutes to discuss their opinions.
Next, stop the discussions, and have each student tell you what they think the false
statement is. Write their name or initials next to the number which they selected.
Once every student has guessed their answer, tell them which statement is false.
The losers congratulate the students who selected the false statement. Alternatively, you
could award a small prize to those who guessed correctly.
If time permits, you can divide the students into groups and have them do the same activity
together in their small groups. They can all write their three sentences down about
themselves and have other students in the group guess which sentence is false.

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A Year Ago

Subject: Future in the Past

'A year ago I didn't know that I would visit China'

How to Play. A typical game might start something like this:

Skills: Speaking, Listening

Skills: Writing, Speaking, Listening

Austria: actor, umbrella, salad, ticket, river, interview, armchair

3. Ask the same question with another capital and so on.

Skills: Speaking, Listening

Skills: Writing, Speaking, Listening

Skills: Writing, Speaking, Listening

How to lose your job?

How to gain weight?

Skills: Speaking, Listening

Holidays is a time, when ...

3. In order to give an example, you can say, e.g.:

'Holidays is a time, when I get in touch with all my friends!'.

4. Ask the players to take it in turns to say similar phrases.

Skills: Writing, Speaking, Listening

Skills: Writing, Listening, Speaking

Immediate Preparation (5-7 minutes):

Skills: Speaking, Listening

For weaker groups, you can write it on the board.

This game is a playful way to introduce new vocabulary.

Skills: Writing, Speaking, Listening

How many guests knew the secret?

Skills: Speaking, Listening

Living in a big city

Skills: Speaking, Listening

Johnny is Going to Work

Skills: Speaking, Listening

Skills: Writing, Speaking, Listening

Skills: Writing, Speaking, Listening

1. Animal hunting must be prohibited.

Immediate Preparation (5-7 minutes).

Skills: Writing, Speaking, Listening

Skills: Writing, Speaking, Listening

Skills: Speaking, Listening

Skills: Writing, Speaking, Listening

Skills: Speaking, Listening

Skills: Writing, Speaking, Listening

Austria: actor, umbrella, salad, ticket, river, interview, armchair

3. Ask the same question with another capital and so on.

New Year's Resolutions

This game is based on a famous nursery rhyme.

There was an old lady, who swallowed a fly,

There was an old lady, who swallowed a spider!

Skills: Speaking, Listening

Skills: Speaking, Listening

This is an adopted version of the popular Heads & Tails game.

This game is based on real statistics.

Immediate Preparation (3-5 minutes).

Two Truths and a Lie

In this particular example, the teacher’s false statement is number 2.

For instance, students could ask questions like:

“Where does your cat sleep?”

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