games 2

1. Memory

2. Picture match 

3. vocab slide

4. Card dash

5. Undercover Hunt

6. Card jump

7. Card run

 

Card Hunt Challenge

Listening Skills: Develops the ability to follow instructions carefully.

  • Vocabulary: Enhances language skills by reinforcing vocabulary through repeated exposure.

  • Social Skills: Teaches turn-taking, following rules, and socializing with peers.

This is a fun game, similar to Memory, but it can be played with one set of cards and doesn’t require pairs. The teacher calls out a card, and players take turns turning over one card, showing everyone the card they turned over, until a student finds the card the teacher called out.

Number of Players:

2 or more

Set Up:

  1. Print, cut, fold, and laminate one set of cards.

  2. Shuffle the cards thoroughly.

  3. For quicker, easier games, use fewer cards; for harder games, use all the cards.

Gameplay:

  1. After shuffling the cards thoroughly, place them face down in a row.

  2. The teacher calls out one of the cards, for example, "eyes."

  3. The first player then turns over one of the cards, ensuring everyone can see it.

  4. If the player turns over "eyes," they keep that card and take another turn. The teacher then calls out another card, such as "nose."

  5. The player continues turning over cards, making sure all players can see each card they turn over, to try and find "nose."

  6. If the card is not "nose," the next player takes their turn, turning over any card to try and find "nose."

  7. Play continues until all the cards have been found.

Winning:

The player with the most cards at the end wins. When no cards are left, take turns counting the number of cards each player has to determine the winner!

Card Slide

 

  • Vocabulary Development: Helps with vocabulary recognition and recall.

  • Attention to Detail: Requires focus and quick reflexes.

  • Hand-Eye Coordination: Improves motor skills through physical interaction with the cards.

  • Observation Skills: Encourages careful listening and observation.

    •  

    A simple game that is remarkably fun for kids and allows you to assess which vocabulary students need to work on. The idea is to slide 2 or more cards slowly towards the student while calling out one of the cards being slid. The students need to hit the card that is called. They can only hit one time. If it is wrong, you can set the card they didn't know aside to play again and review later.

    Number of Players:

    1 or 2, taking turns

    Set Up:

    1. Get a set of flashcards or word cards of the vocabulary they are learning.

    Gameplay:

    1. Place 2 or 3 vocabulary cards about half a meter in a row in front of the student.

    2. With your hand, slide the 2 or 3 cards slowly towards the student while calling out one of the vocabulary words.

    3. Students need to correctly hit and call out the vocabulary being said before the cards reach them.

    4. If they hit the right card, put it in their "win" pile.

    5. If they hit the wrong card, set that card aside to use and play again later.

    6. Repeat the process and play until all the cards have been used.

    Winning:

    It's not so much about winning, but you can count how many cards they got right. Congratulate them on knowing so many. This is a great game to practice and review cards they don't know well.

     

     

     

    Card Dash

     

     

    • Vocabulary: Enhances language skills by reinforcing vocabulary through repeated exposure.

    Physical Activity: Promotes movement and physical exercise.

  • Teamwork and Cooperation: Encourages working together and healthy competition.

  • Quick Thinking: Develops the ability to think and react quickly.

  • Memory: Enhances memory by remembering the cards being called.

    •  

    Number of Players:

    2 or more

    Description:

    This is an active and exciting game that students love. It involves players searching as quickly as they can for the cards the teacher calls out.

    Number of Players per Round:

    2 players per round (players can be part of teams, or the winner stays on and plays the next round against a new challenger)

    Set Up:

    1. Print, cut, fold, and laminate two sets of each card with opaque backings.

    2. Place the cards face down in a random order on the floor or game area.

    Gameplay:

    1. Place all the cards face down and spaced out in a random order on the floor or game area. The bigger the area, the better.

    2. Choose a player from each team to play the first round. Make sure they are ready and equidistant from where the face-down cards are.

    3. Call out three cards, for example, "eyes, nose, head."

    4. The students race to flip over and find the three cards as fast as they can and bring them back to their team area.

    Note: Make sure players turn the cards back face down after every time they look during gameplay. Throughout the game, the cards should never be left face-up. This makes the game more fun and lasts longer as players are unsure which cards they have already checked.

    Winning:

    The player who finds the three cards and brings them back to their team area is the winner and earns a point for their team.

    Rounds:

    At the end of a round, bring all the cards back to the game area and turn them face down again for another round. Play as many rounds as you want. The winning team is the team with the most points after all the rounds have been played.

     

     

     

    Undercover Hunt

     

  • Memory:

    • As they remember which cards they have already checked, children enhance their memory skills.

  • Language Development:

    • Making sentences using the card the item was under helps improve vocabulary and sentence construction.

    • Patience and Perseverance:

      • Children learn to be patient and persistent in their search for the hidden item.

    • Fine Motor Skills:

      • Turning over cards and handling small items can help develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

     

    Cognitive Skills:

    • The game encourages critical thinking and problem-solving as children determine where the item might be hidden.

    •  

    This is a fun game that young children can easily play and understand. Players search to find the item hidden under one of the cards.

    Ages:

    3-6

    Number of Players:

    2 per round (players can be part of teams and swap each round, or the winner stays on with new challengers taking the place of the loser)

    Set Up:

    1. Print, cut, fold, and laminate 2 sets of cards.

    2. Find a small item that can be placed under a card and won't be visible (e.g., hairband, coin, small strip of paper, small piece of cardboard).

    Gameplay:

    1. Turn all the cards face down on the floor. The bigger the area, the better.

    2. Ask the players to turn around, ensuring they don't see which card you slide the small item under.

    3. Once ready, say "Go!" and the players turn over the cards until they find the item.

    Winning:

    1. The first player to find the item wins that round. Have them make a sentence using the card the item was under.

    2. If playing with teams, award a point to the team and get 2 new players for the next round.

    3. After all the rounds, the team with the most points wins.

    4. Another variation is the winner stays on, and a new challenger takes the place of the loser, with the objective to stay on and win as many rounds as possible.

    Make your EFL/ESL preschool or kindergarten lessons super fun with this awesome game that your kids will love and want to play again and again!

     This fun game practices their

    • listening,
    • speaking (making the vocabulary/ sentences after each round)
    • fluency building (quick vocabulary/sentence recognition)

    This game is easy to tailor to different levels (see tips below) and is for everyone from more advanced to complete beginners. My kindergarten students love this game!

     Check out these videos to see it in action!

    Resources:

    2 sets of game cards!

     The setup:

    Print 2 sets of flashcards or game cards. I highly recommend using cards with 100% opaque backing so your young learners can't cheat by seeing through them before the game starts (this makes the game more enjoyable).

    Place the cards randomly face down around the game area (ensure the area is open and safe for kids to move around without obstacles). The more cards you use, the more challenging it will be. For younger children, start with fewer cards or simplify the game.

    Position 2 chairs equidistant from the cards in the game area. These chairs will serve as starting points and where players will place the cards they find.

    Explain to the students that they must return cards to face down after looking at them. This ensures better gameplay.

     

    How to play:

    Ask for 2 players. Each player sits in one of the chairs. 

    1. Call out 3 vocabulary words or sentences related to the cards in the game area (e.g., 'car', 'submarine', 'helicopter').

    2. Ready, Steady, Go! Players race to find and bring back all 3 vocabulary cards to their chair.

    3. Again, make sure students turn the cards back to face down while they play. This makes the game more fun and challenging

    The first player to bring back all 3 cards is the winner and faces the next challenger. Have the winning and/or losing student repeat the target sentence or vocabulary to increase speaking and language exposure before the next round. 

    Tips:

    • Start with fewer cards for younger children to make the game easier.
    • For mixed-age or mixed-skill classes, begin with the youngest players. Gradually advance to older students to keep challenges even.
    • Adjust the game for fairness if skill levels differ (e.g., one player finds 2 cards while the other finds 3).

    You can also play in a relay format with teams, where each team member finds one card before tagging the next player.

    The importance of opaque-backed game cards.

    To enhance enjoyment, ensure the cards have opaque backings. It spoils the fun if students can peek and work out the face-down cards before gameplay. You can find the cards I use here. A set costs only $1! They are easy to assemble and fit perfectly into A6 laminates. Once laminated, they've lasted me for years and I use for various games that can only be used with opaque backing (memory, snap, go fish etc). The small effort of printing, folding, and laminating them once has significantly simplified my classes and made lessons more enjoyable. Trust me when I say these cards are the main staple of my individual and group lessons making them well worth the investment.

     

    To enhance the game experience, ensure the cards have opaque backings. You can purchase the cards I use here for just $1. They are easy to print, fold, and laminate into A6 size, lasting for years and usable in various games that benefit from opaque backs. The initial effort is minimal compared to the long-term benefits in class."