For Older Learners

Categories: On the whiteboard, write the numbers 1-6 and under each number write a category (drinks, transport, sports, colors, parts of the body, etc. ) Each student throws a die and has to give an example in the corresponding category. When most categories have something in them, reverse the process so a sentence must be made with the first word in the category thrown. Variation: The teams relay race to write something in any one category, and the first to have however many words in each 'zone' wins.

I Went Shopping: Start by saying, “I went shopping and I bought ...” Each student must add to the shopping list and remember what else was previously said.. “I went shopping and bought 2 apples, a snake, a Michael Jordan jersey, etc.”

Taboo: Make two teams with one member from each team standing in front of the board, facing away from it. Write a word on the board (Ex: 'hamburger') and the Ss have to explain that word to their team member (You can buy it at McDonalds.) The first S out of the two standing in front of the board to guess the word wins a point for his/her team. You can also play this by making a list of words they can't say – For example; eat, McDonalds, etc.)

Odd One Out: Have students work together to provide an explanation of which word is the 'odd one out' The team with the best explanation wins.

Make Words: Write a word or phrase on the board. For example; Merry Christmas. Have the students work in small groups to make up as many words from the letters as possible. (hat, trim, cat, etc...) The group with the most words is the winner.

Two Word Game: Split the class into 2 teams and give each team a piece of paper. Have each team say a word and put those 2 words on the board. Example; Mountain & Apple (are the two words). Have the students think of as many sentences with those two words in it. (Ex: There is an apple on the mountain. I ate an apple on the mountain, etc.) The two teams share their sentences. If they both have the same sentence they have to cross the sentence off and won't count as a point. The team with the most points at the end wins the game.

Aunt Agatha's Cat: This game uses adjectives. Start by saying “Aunt Agatha has a (cat)”. The students must add an adjective starting in alphabetical order to describe the cat (angry, black, cute)

Blindfold Course: Make an obstacle course in your classroom (desks, chairs, balls, etc.) and have students work in pairs; one is blindfolded and the other will guide that student through the course using simple directions (turn left, take a small step, etc.)

2 Truths & 1 Lie: The students take turns saying 3 (2 truths & 1 lie) facts about themselves. The other students have to guess the lie. (Ex: I can juggle. I met the President. I have never been to Beijing.)

21 Questions: Have one student sit in front of the class and have them think of either a person or a place. The other students have 21 turns to ask that student yes or no questions about this person or place. Is it a person? Yes, it is. Is it a boy? Yes, he is. Is he famous? Is he alive? Etc.

Story Pass: Put up a picture or a first sentence as a writing prompt. Dive students into small groups and have them create a story from that prompt. Each student takes a turn writing one sentence to add to the story and pases it on to the next student. Keep it going around in the group until they have finished it. This could be done orally as well with the whole class.

Guess the student: Have each student write something interesting about themselves on a small piece of paper and give it to the teacher. On a seperate piece of paper have the students number 1-10 (or however many students there are in the class). The teacher says what's on the small piece of paper and the students have to guess who wrote it.

Martian: Draw a martian on the board. Tell the students that you are a martian who can't speak English well so they have to help you. T: What's this? S: It's a cup. T: What's a cup? S: It's something you put water in. T: What's water? And keep going.

Secret S: Students form 2 different groups. Each group prepares 3 questions to ask. Other group members try to give answers to these questions without saying the letter 'S.” The group which does not say this letter wins the game.

Stop the Bus: All Ss need pencil and paper to play this game. The teacher goes through the alphabet silently in his/her head. The students say, “Stop!” Wherever the teacher is in the alphabet the students have to write a sentence based on these categorie: a food, a place, a job, an adjective (Example: “M” The magnificient money maker ate a monkey at the market.) The student with the most creative sentence wins.

Clothing Swap: One student leaves the room and has to describe what is different with the classroom or the students.

“Uhm” Game: One student at a time is chosen and given a specific subject (grass, football, etc). The objective is for the student to talk about/describe the subject for as long as possible without pausing or using fillers such as “uhm.”

Spot the Spy:

Pattern Game:

Find Someone Who:

Spot the difference handouts:

Magic Genie: “If you have 4 wishes….”:

Super Power:

I Went to the Moon (Spot the Pattern):

Songs for Older Learners

Songs are a good listening activity for older learners. This is also a great way to share your students about the Western culture. With these songs you can do gap fills, interpret the meaing, talk about how it make's them feel, what instruments are used, etc...

• Tom Petty – American Girl
• The Beatles – Hey Jude
• Train – Soul Sister
• The Cure – Friday I'm in Love
• Billy Joel – Uptown Girl
• Joan Osbourne – One of Us (Second Conditional)
• Tom Petty – Won't Back Down (Idioms)
• Alanis Morisette – Hand in My Pocket (Personality Adjectives)

Movie Suggestions

Finding Nemo

Star Wars

Lord of the Rings

Avatar

Liar Liar

The Terminator

Titanic
Harry Potter

Finding Nemo

Pirates of the Caribbean