Games and resources ideas for teachers!!!

There has definitely been times where I have found myself stunned and lost for inspiration when it comes to thinking of new games and learning activities that get kids hyped and willing to learn and participate in the classroom. Pinterest has become a regular go-to guide for me but often I’m usually looking for something more detailed.

As Primary (Elementary) School teachers, it’s so important to always have fresh ideas in order to maintain enthusiasm and the attention of the children. Teachers need to stick together so I thought I’d pass on game ideas that I have picked up through teaching in Australia and Spain. Please adapt and use how you see fit!

Specially teaching English as a second language:

What do I wear when it is….?:

Put weather flashcards around the classroom and under them put something to recollect the flashcard. Divide the children into two teams and give each team one set of tongs (plastic kitchen tongs or something similar). Then throw in the air all the clothes flashcards (they love the movement). Then they have to take each clothes flashcard and decide in which kind of weather would they wear it.

Positioning the adjective:

You’ll need:

• Flashcards with colours or however you are representing different colours
  -Clothing, toys, animals flashcards or again however you are representing objects

The idea is to make them use the adjective first, in this particular case the colour. We use pickle in the middle for our own purpose, same rules and set up apply. The kid in the middle chooses a colour and a toy “RED ROBOT!” Also you can make your own word cards for older kids and add big and small for example.

Dress the drawing race:

1.Split the class into two teams

1. Each team has to draw a large body shape on the whiteboard
2. Stick on the opposite wall both sets of clothes flashcards
3. Shout out a piece of clothing and one person from each team (taking turns) has to run and stick it on the board next to their body and draw on the clothing, as soon as they finish shout out another card.
4. The first team to collect the flashcards that have been mentioned, and draw them on the body on the whiteboard is the winner.

Counting bubbles- this is more for very young children:

I use this for 1 and 2 year olds, it focuses their attention really well at the begging of the class. When they see bubbles they come running to me.

I say: “How many bubbles?” “1,2,3,4,5? “ How Many” ( I repeat this a lot)
I blow a few bubbles. They get very excited and we count them. Then they try to pop them and we say “ Bye Bye bubbles”

I also use “Up, Up, Up” when they fly higher and “big, small” to describe them.

I like horses!:

This game is used for ESL students who are starting to learn, I like and I don’t like. This is a very important step for students who are starting out English and is a perfect way for them to start expressing feeling.

This can be played in small groups or with 2 teams, 1 student from each team participating at a time.

You’ll need:
-Happy and sad faces cut out of construction paper

• Animal flashcards (2 sets)

1. Arrange the flashcards in multiple rows with various places where the students can begin with one flashcard and end with another.
2. Place a happy and sad face next to the flashcard. Make sure the 2 horse flashcards (for example) have a happy face at one place in the rows and a sad face in the other.
3. Have the children follow the cards by following your instructions. I like horses (they go to a horse flashcard with a happy face). I don’t like ducks (they go to a duck flashcard with a sad face).
4. See if they can follow your instructions and end up in the right place. When they get the hang of it then let them take turns giving the instructions.

I have plenty more but would like to gage how you guys like these so far. Looking forward to SHAREIT!!!!!