Games to play with 3rd graders: 40 Games to Play at the End of the Day

Опубликовано: February 18, 2023 в 11:04 pm

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Категории: Game

40 Games to Play at the End of the Day

Anybody else’s end of the day complete chaos?!?  Just me?  Packing up, dismissals, cleaning up their areas, bus calls, announcements… oh yeah, and on top of that the students’ voice levels are at an all-time high.  I don’t know about you, but the end of the day is one of the most stressful parts of my day. It’s the end of the school day and I’m exhausted and also ready to go home.  Some days after I provided several verbal prompts, bell ringing, light flashing, etc. I just give up because the students continue to be loud and all over the place.  It wasn’t until I started playing games at the end of the day that all of this changed!

The students are so excited to play a game that I started using it as a classroom management tool.  Several students at the end of the day always ask to play a game. However, I always say the same phrase: “Once everyone is packed up, floors cleaned, quiet and in their areas – we can play!”

As is the case with many activities, the novelty wore off quickly playing the same game (or few) each afternoon.   Let’s face it the “quiet game” only gets us so far.  I knew I needed more, so I did what I knew best!  I reached out to our Teaching Trailblazers from our Fearless First Grade Teachers Group on Facebook to see what End of the Day Games other classrooms are playing.  Here is a fun-filled, packed list of 40 Games to Play at the End of the Day with your Students!

*** Please feel free to adapt any of the following games to not only best meet the needs of your classroom, but follow COVID guidelines that align with your district and classroom protocols.***

I think the greatest thing about this list is that it truly doesn’t JUST have to be done at the end of the day!  You can utilize these games throughout the entire day as brain breaks, transition activities, or even an afternoon for Fun Fridays!

End of the Day Game 1 ~ Secret Scrap

Are you looking for a creative way for students to clean up the room?  Well, let me introduce the new “popular craze”….. SECRET SCRAP!  Alright, so it may not be all that popular yet, but I know I am going to introduce this game to my class TOMORROW!

Rules are simple!  The student who picks up the item/scrap on the ground that you spot… wins!!!

2 ~ 4 Corners

Number the corners of the classroom from 1 to 4. Select one student to be “It”. That person closes their eyes while the rest of the students go to one of the four corners in the classroom. When all students are scattered and settled in a corner, the person that is “it” calls out a number. All the kids who chose that corner are out of the game and must sit down.

The students still playing choose a different corner and the player that is “it” closes their eyes again. This individual yet again calls out a number, and more students sit down. When the game gets down to four people or fewer, each must choose a different corner. The game continues until only one student is left. That student becomes “It” for the next round.

Sometimes if students are not closing their eyes to choose a corner or other students are yelling that they are “looking” it is time to get creative!  You can roll a dice to identify the corner, use a number generator program online, pick a number out of a bowl, or any other creative way you can come up with!

Game 3 ~ I Spy

“I SPY… with my little eye, something that is ______”.    Here is another game on this list that is just so adaptable!   You can stick with the classic by identifying the color of the item you are thinking about.  Other options include function, classification, inside the classroom/outside the classroom, story related, etc.

This is such a popular game that Education to the Core created an “I SPY” resource as its inspiration!

4 ~ Hangman

Academic or fun in nature, hangman is a GREAT option for the end of the day.   Rules are simple!  Think of a word or phrase and place that number of blanks on the board.  I go around the room and allow each student to guess one letter.  If the letter is in the word or phrase, then you write the letter in the blank space.  If not, then a portion of your drawing will be completed. I tend to not go for the original person drawing, but choose items with several parts like a UFO, animal, etc.  Not only do the students get to laugh at the “awful” drawing I do, but also it is always changing. Once the drawing is completed, then the game is over and the class will lose.  However, if a student guesses the word/phrase correctly or all the letters are guessed, the class wins!

I love this game because it is so easy to incorporate a theme or academic topic that you’ve been working on into the game!

5 ~ Beach Toss

Have you ever used a beach ball in your classroom before?  When the summertime rolls around, I run to the dollar store to buy a whole bunch of them!  Next comes the sharpie marker!  The options are truly ENDLESS when it comes to this activity! In each section of the beach ball, you write a question or fact to solve.  When you toss the ball to a student, whatever section they catch it on is what they answer (I typically do a thumb).  Great for the end of the day, during academics, or SEL lessons! 

You can bring comprehension into the game when reading a story by writing Identify: Main characters, setting, problem, solution, etc.  Math facts are easy to add to the ball or even some Social Emotional Learning opportunities to identify situations where they feel a certain emotion!

Game 6 ~ Silent Ball

Students stand together in a circle.   The game begins when the countdown begins…”3, 2, 1, silent”.  Students pass the ball to another person within the circle.  A player must sit down if:

  • They drop the ball.
  • The student makes a bad pass.
  • They talk or make noise.

Play continues until only one person remains.

7 ~ 1, 2, 3 Freeze

“1, 2, 3….Everybody Freeze”.   The statue game has never been any better!  Any movement and they have to sit down.   Don’t feel like yelling out the directions of when to freeze after a long day of teaching?   Here is a video to do it for you! Feeling a little festive with the holidays approaching?  Here is a Holiday Dance and Freeze video as well!

8 ~ Monster Squeeze

Monster Squeeze is a game that reinforces number recognition and the concepts of greater and less than.  To play the game you will need two print-out monsters (one facing left, one facing right) and a number line.

A student will identify a number from the number line.   I usually have the student write their number down on a piece of scrap paper.  Next, students in the class get a chance to guess the number.  The student who picked the number must tell the class if their number is lower or higher than the number guessed.

For example, the student picked the number “9” as their hidden number. One student in the class guessed a “2”.  The student said that their number is higher than 2 and placed the monster facing right indicating that their number is higher than 2.   Another student guessed 11, which in turn the student replied that it is less than 11 placing the monster facing left.    Play continues until the number is guessed.  That student is then the one to pick the next number!

Game 9 ~ “Doggy, Doggy, Where’s Your Bone?”

To play this game all you need is a bone!  Well… probably not a real one.  If your students are anything like mine…then they will probably end up hitting each other with it.   *shrugs*    So probably a paper version will suffice.

One student is chosen to be “it”.  They have to close their eyes or turn around.  Another student is chosen to “hide” the bone by either sitting on it, in their sleeve, or even desk.  Once the bone is out of sight, the whole class chants:

“Doggy, Doggy, Where’s your bone? Somebody took it from your home.  Guess Who!  It Might Be You!”  

Then the student who is “it”, guesses 3 times who is hiding the bone.

10 ~ Heads Up, Seven Up

Here is a blast from the past!   Gosh, I remember playing this game in elementary school!  Although, I am NOT going to tell you the year or time frame!

All you have to do is select seven students, which will stand in front of the room.  Tell everyone else to put their heads down on their desks and place their thumbs up.  Each of the seven students will walk around the room and lightly tap one student’s thumb down.  The seven students return to the front of the room.   “Heads up, seven up!” is said and all the students are able to lift their heads up.  The seven students that were chosen have an opportunity to guess which classmate chose their thumb.  If guessed correctly, they get to take that student’s spot as one of the seven.

End of the Day Game 11 ~ Sleepy Sheep

One student is chosen to be the “shepherd” and they get to sit in the teacher’s chair.  While there, they must watch over the “flock” of sheep (a.k.a. their classmates).  Whoever they choose as the quietest sheep gets to become the next shepherd.

One kid is a shepherd and they get to sit in my chair. Whoever they pick as the quietest sheep gets to become the next shepherd.  There are a few other versions of this game using various other animals like “Lazy Lions” or “Chilled Penguins”.   See if perhaps you could come up with a fun version using your school’s mascot!

12 ~ Scrambled Eggs!

Send one student out into the hallway for a brief moment.  Inside the classroom, “hide” one student (perhaps sitting in the cubby area, behind your desk or table).   Say “scrambled eggs” and the remaining students all switch spots sitting at different desks.  Bring the student from the hallway back into the classroom.  They try to figure out which student is hiding.

Feel free to set a time limit as well as the possibility of providing clues.  This is sure to be a crowd favorite!

13 ~ 20 Questions

Here is another game on this list that is just so adaptable.  You can choose an item in the room or think of an animal, character, or item from your lessons.  Students are allowed to ask 20 yes/no questions to you regarding the item (or you can change the rules depending on how many students you have – so every student gets to ask a question).

One educator had a great idea that the students cannot guess what it is until all students had an opportunity to ask a different yes/no question.  It involves the class thinking creatively and how to form appropriate yes/no questions.

Game 14 ~ Scattegories

All students will need for this game is a whiteboard or piece of paper.   Write a letter on the board and provide the students with a category.  Set the timer and the students must write down as many words that begin with the identified letter within the category provided!

15 ~ The Floor is Lava

Have you ever heard of the “floor is lava” before?  The concept is a simple one.  Whenever the phrase “the floor is lava” is said, students have a 5-second countdown to get off of the floor.  Expectations are usually needed for this one of the dos and don’ts.  I allow my students to either remain seated on their chairs or even sit on their desks safely with their feet off of the floor.  However, they are not allowed to stand on their chairs or desks.

Game 16 ~ Swat

My students LOVE when I bring out the giant fly swatters!  I also love this game because not only is it engaging for my students, but I can use whatever skill that is needed for practice!   From math facts to nonsense words, the possibilities are endless!  In two teams, one student at a time from each team stands in front of the board with the fly swatter.   The teacher calls out a word or math fact and the first student to “swat” the answer on the board gets a point for their team.

17 ~ Simon Says

Simon Says is another classic that I just couldn’t forget to include on this list!  Students must follow the directives of “Simon”.  However, listen closely because if the directive doesn’t begin with “Simon Says”, then the student shouldn’t do it because “Simon didn’t say”.

18 ~ Sparkle

My students are OBSESSED with this game!  Honestly… I’m not upset about it either!   I LOVE to use my unit’s spelling words for this game, but you can also use vocabulary words, sight words, past spelling lists as well.

All students are standing in a line or behind their seats.  You provide a word to spell.  Straight down the line, each student provides a letter to spell the word in order.  If they misspell or don’t know the next letter, they must sit down.  Once the word is spelled correctly the next student says “Sparkle” which will make the next student in line have to sit.   This is an M-U-S-T “sparkle” in the classroom!

Game 19 ~ Hot Potato

In a circle, students pass a soft item or ball around while music is playing.  Once the music is paused, whoever is holding the item is “out”.  The game continues until one student is left.

20 ~ Night at the Museum

Students in the room must pose and freeze like statues.  The judge or teacher walks around the room and chooses the best one.  Whoever is the best statue is the judge for the next round.   Creativity with their poses is a must for this challenge!

End of the Day Game 21 ~ Line Up, Line Up!

Ready for the end of the day with some time to spare?  Do you have your students line up prior to leaving or walk them out to the bus area?  Or just want to test your students’ non-verbal skills?   Here is the game for you!

Have your students line up with a given task:   Examples include, Tallest to shortest, Birthdays in order from January to December, Last year teacher, etc.    However…NO TALKING!   Students are not able to talk or yell out how to line up.  It is up to them to use their non-verbal skills like gestures, fingers as numbers, head nods/shakes, etc.    Time for them to work together as a team to see if they can line up correctly and quickly.

22 ~ Rock, Paper, Scissors

Here is the perfect ‘social distancing’ game for the end of the day.  With a nearby peer, students play rock, paper, scissors.  Keep tally mark score.   Remember the rules:  Rock beats scissors, paper covers rock, scissors cut paper.

23 ~ Guess Who?

Can You Guess Who, do you have a clue?”  Here is a slightly altered version of Number 13.  Choose a student in the classroom.  Students take turns asking yes/no questions using adjectives only.  See if the students can guess who you are thinking about!

Game 24 ~ Buzz

In this math version of “Sparkle”, #18, students must count in order by 1s.  However, whenever the student gets to a number of 10, they have to say “BUZZ” instead of the number.   If they say the 10 (10, 20, 30, 40, 50….) they’re out.  If they say “BUZZ”, then the next student in order is out.  Play continues until the last person is still standing.  How far can your class make it?!?

25 ~ Heads Up, Seven Up

Hey!  Wait for a second…  Wasn’t this already mentioned on this list?  I just scrolled back up and saw it on number 10!   Before you make a comment saying that there were only 39 games on this list hear me out.

This is an entirely different version that I JUST heard about.  So I wanted to include it in this list again because it was a cool version that is so different from what I played as a child myself.

First, all the students will put their heads down on their desks and extend one of their thumbs. Then, the teacher secretly chooses one person as “It.” This child moves around the room quietly touching the thumbs of six other people. If a person is touched, they go to the front of the room. When six have been chosen, “It” yells, “Seven up!” Everyone raises their heads and tries to guess which of the seven people is “It.

What version are you familiar with?  This one or number 10?  Now I want you to comment with that answer!  🙂

Game 26 ~ Apple Pie

Here is another one on this list that my students just absolutely adore!   Choose one person to be “it”.  They stand in front of the room facing the board/wall with their back towards the rest of the class.   Choose another student that is sitting in their seats to say the phrase: “Apple Pie”.  However, they must disguise their voice.  Perhaps a high-pitched voice is needed or a deep ‘monster voice’.  The options that the students will come up with are just hilarious!  The student standing will turn around and get three guesses of who the ‘mystery voice’ was.

27 ~ Skip Counting

Here is another fun math game on the list. Practice skip counting by 2s, 5s, 10s.  Write down the largest number you get to until someone either makes a mistake or dismissal occurs.  See if the students can “beat their high score” next time!

28 ~ Telephone

As a heads up, students must be close enough to whisper to each other.   So you may want to hold on to this one until the pandemic is over.  

Players must sit in a circle or line to begin.  The first person in the line is told a word or phrase.  They in turn whisper that word or phrase to the next person.  The game continues until it reaches the last player in line.  The conclusion of the game is when the last person says the word or phrase out loud so everyone can hear how much it has changed!

Game 29 ~ I Have, Who Has?

Education to the Core has the perfect resource that could even fit into this category of End of the Day Game!  Our, I Have, Who Has resource covers a variety of ELA and Math topics.  Each student will receive a card.  The “I have the first card” goes first and play continues following the prompts on the card until the student with the “this is the last card” is identified.

30 ~ Would You Rather?

This game was a lifesaver during distance learning! So much fun that we have carried it over to use in the classroom. You can easily on the spot come up with questions such as “Would you rather eat pizza every day or McDonald’s?”. But we’ve also included a link to some cards that you can pre-make ahead of time.

End of the Day Game 31 ~  Trivial Pursuit

In this version, you can use Brain Quest cards. I have the Brain Quest boxes for Kinder, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd! They are jam-packed with questions that are perfect time-fillers. You can differentiate so everyone can have a chance to be right!

32 ~ Mirror Me

Have students form two lines, directly across from one another.  So that they are in pairs standing in front of each other.  One line at a time must form a pose.  When prompted the person in the opposing line must mirror that same pose.  Then the roles are reversed allowing the other line to choose the pose and the other mirror.

33 ~ Directional Activities

See how well your students can follow directions!  I know I pull this game out whenever I notice students are having a hard time following multi-step directions…which unfortunately is more often than I would like to admit.   My students love to draw so I made a game out of it.  I describe a scene and they must draw it.  Seems simple right?   It is, but you can make it as challenging as you like.   Once the students get used to the game add in some colors.  I like to start off with a simple direction first and add in multi-step directives as we progress through the picture.

Looking for a starting point?  Check out these Directed Drawings for some inspiration!

34 ~ Countdown

Select 2-3 random vowels and 4-5 random consonants.  Your students will have 30 seconds to come up with as many words as possible, using only the letters on the board.  Set a timer and whoever gets the most words (spelled correctly) wins this round.

35 ~Name That Tune

Time to pull up Youtube or your favorite clean music streaming app/site.  Play a few moments of a song.  See if students can guess what it is hearing the first few notes.  You’ll be surprised at how many songs your students may know even from your childhood era!

Game 36 ~ Finish The Lyric

Going off of #35, I thought why can’t I take this and bring the “Finish that Lyric” television show into my classroom!?!  See if your students can finish the lyrics to their favorite song.   Start the tune and pause it allowing your students to finish the lyric.

37 ~Charades

Allow students to come up with characters, animals, people, etc., and write them down.  Collect the responses and see if a student can act out one of them for their classmates to guess.

38 ~ Race to the Finish

I promise this game has NOTHING to do with running!  In two teams, one player from each team comes up to the board.  Provide a word (spelling, vocabulary, or sight word) to them.  The first one to write the word on the board, spelled correctly, gets a point for their team.

One important rule for my students is that it MUST be legible so don’t go too fast that you cannot read what it says.

Game 39 ~ Yoga / Movement Activities

Yoga Stretches ~ One of my favorite sections in our CORE Binder is Yoga. The kids love the superhero poses, and the animal poses the best!  Challenge your students with this game…combine End of the Day Game #20 and #32 into one fun mindful game!

40 ~ Minute to Win It!

Based on the game show, Minute to Win It, there are numerous “mini” games challenges to complete.   You can have students work individually, in small groups, or the whole class to compete in any of these ‘minute to win it’ games.

Some challenges include:

  • Speed stacking paper cups
  • Rolling a coin between the tongs of a fork
  • Building a tower out of spaghetti and string
  • Getting an Oreo from your forehead to your mouth without using your hands
  • Balancing a ball on a ruler

Did your favorite game make the list?  Or do you have a great End of the Day Game to add to the list?  Make sure to reach out to us in the comments to tell us your favorite End of the Day Game!

Special Thanks to our Teaching Trailblazers who offered up some of these fun and engaging games!   Thank you so much Kristen W., Adrienne L., Lori G., Kay T., Kerrie K., Amelia T., Brenda P., Brittany G., Sarah H., Kelli G., Linda J., Lindsae T., Maureen D., Angela M., Elizabeth C., Sheryl F., Suzy K., Choleia S., Maxine J., Amber W., Robert B., Michelle C., Kathy Y. , and Gayle M.!  

Written by – Christopher Olson

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2nd – 3rd Grade Group Games – Great Group Games

– Ah Um Game – Kick the “ah, um” habit and avoid these words in natural conversation.

– Alphabet Back Game – Trace the letter on your partner’s back and have them guess the secret letter!

– The Blob – Active game for kids- If the Blob touches you, you’ll be part of the Blob.

– Cake Walk – Famous game to play at festivals and carnivals, especially for kids. Easy to learn!

– Chair Basketball – Toss the balloon in the basket, while sitting in chairs!

– The Cup Game – Follow the motions- and be the last person to stay in the game!

– Dodge Ball – A row of squishy orange playground balls and a gym- It’s the classic dodge ball game.

– Electricity – Squeeze your teammate’s hand as quickly as possible- only if the coin comes up as heads!

– Everybody’s It – Easy 15 – 20 minute game. Brings a new twist to the regular game of tag. Great game for those who like to run around.

– Freeze Tag – Active, fun game for kids. Get away from the people who are “it”, or else you’ll be frozen!

– Fruit Salad – Good icebreaker game, especially for kids. Easy to learn and play, with little preparation.

– Halloween Tag – Easy 15 – 20 minute game. Similar to Run Rabbit Run, but with wolves, monsters and mummies.

– Heads Up Seven Up – Classic game to play in the classroom!

– Honey, I Love you, But I Just Can’t Smile – Fun, non-active game. Try to make the other person smile or laugh.

– Hospital Tag – Active, fun game for kids. If you’re tagged three times, you’re out of the game!

– Huckleberry – Find the hidden item as fast as possible!

– Jeopardy Powerpoint Template – A free Jeopardy Powerpoint Template, ready to download and edit.

– King Pin – Knock down your enemy’s pins- Fun game to play in a gym.

– Line Tag – Fun gym game for kids- everyone has to run on the lines to play.

– Marshmallow Toss Game – Catch as many marshmallows in your mouth before the time runs out!

– Memory Game – Memorize as many items as you can from the Powerpoint slide.

– Musical Chairs – Fast-paced game for children- Chairs required.

– Over Under Game – Over, under, over, under… try to pass the ball through the line as quickly as possible!

– Picture Guess – Guess the secret word or phrase using only your teammate’s drawing.

– Quarter in Milk Carton – Drop the quarter in the milk carton- it’s harder than it seems!

– Red Light Green Light – Run when the person says green. Freeze if the person says red!

– Run Rabbit Run – Avoid being tagged by the wolves!

– Shoe Mix Game – Find your shoes from the pile as quickly as possible!

– Slap Jack – Great card game- slap the jacks and any called cards.

– Steal the Bacon – Your mission is to steal the bacon. But watch out or else your enemy might steal it instead!

– Toilet Paper Mummy – Wrap someone in toilet paper as quickly and neatly as possible!

– Toilet Tag – If you’re tagged, you have to pretend that you’re a toilet!

– War – Easy to play card game, which can be played by 2 or more people.

Back to Children Group Games

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organization of school games during breaks

In our childhood, recess was the realm of anarchy: we could run around and even misbehave to stretch ourselves after school. Today’s children are completely different: most often they spend the breaks with smartphones or tablets. If you do not agree that catching Pokemon is the only thing you can do during recess at school, let’s try together to “stir up” the younger generation and direct the child’s energy in the right direction. Here are our tips and tricks.

What to do with children during recess at school?

There are two options – depending on what age and temperament you expect:

  1. Calm games . Suitable for girls and schoolchildren with a calm temperament. They develop concentration and creativity in children.
  2. Active games . First of all, younger students are needed: many of them are hyperactive, hard to adapt to school after kindergarten and need to throw out their accumulated energy.

Calm and moving school games during breaks can be alternated and even combined with each other to productively engage children of different ages, hobbies and needs.

Tip : To keep the kids entertained, try building recess games around your favorite cartoons, movies, or series. We also recommend designating a designated area for play and other activities where children can run, climb and jump without the risk of injury or breaking glass.

Quiet games: developing creativity and attention

Drawing and modeling

If the weather permits, you can draw with crayons outside or make snowmen. If you don’t want to go outside, it’s no less interesting to draw with pencils or crayons on paper or sculpt from plasticine.

Choose a theme, it can be anything: favorite cartoon characters, seasons and upcoming holidays, travel, family and leisure. If necessary, have the children continue to work at the next recess until they are finished. At the end, collect or photograph the work and arrange an exhibition in the classroom or hall.

Who: Children of all ages.

Playing checkers or chess

Best done in a specially equipped classroom or playroom where children can concentrate. It will help develop logic, concentration and competitive spirit, as well as identify those who have special abilities in mathematics.

Who: high school students.

“Crocodile”

This game is familiar to many: everyone in a chain makes up a word for the leader, which he must show to the others only with the help of pantomime and improvised means. The first person to guess the word, the driver guesses the next one. Develops imagination and other creative abilities, helps to attract the attention of hyperactive children who find it difficult to concentrate.

Who: for children of all ages.

Action games: letting off steam

Quest

An ideal way to captivate even the most restless. As a theme, you can choose the search for pirate treasures, secret weapons or magical superpowers. Hide in different places (in classrooms, corridor, dining room) leaflets with riddles, the answer to which leads to the next stage. It is better if several teams play. At the end, the winners receive a prize, which they find with the help of hints: for example, sweets, badges, toys, colorful bracelets or juice. Quests develop logic, competitive and team spirit well. And, besides, this kind of games is very popular with children, it will be easy for you to captivate them.

Who: High school students.

Changing numbers

Players stand in a circle close to each other and receive numbers (in order). In the center stands the host, who names two numbers each, whose owners must quickly change places. While they are changing, the leader tries to take one of the vacant places in the circle. If successful, the player whose place is occupied drives. The game develops concentration and mental counting skills, which is especially useful for younger students. At the same time, speed and reaction are important here, which is suitable for older children.

For whom: for elementary and secondary school students.

Catch if you can

Players stand in a circle and hold hands. In the center there are two: one is blindfolded, and the other is with a bell in his hands (you can use a phone with a ringtone, a squeaker or any toy with sound). The player with the call moves in a circle, making a sound and muffling it in time, and the first player catches, focusing on the call. This game captivates not only participants, but also spectators, and also develops dexterity and reaction. The circle is needed for safety net: this is how a blindfolded child will avoid injury.

For whom: for elementary and secondary school students.

Attention game

Children line up or form a circle. The host gives commands: “Sit down!”, “Get up!”, “Jump on one leg!” and so on, and sometimes does something completely different. The task of the players is to strictly follow the commands, not paying attention to the actions of the host. The one who makes a mistake is eliminated from the game, and in the end there is only one winner: he can be awarded a diploma or a medal “The most attentive”. The game develops attention, logic and helps to stretch even sedentary children.

For whom: for younger students.

Ten simple games for a lesson on any subject!

10/17/2017

Today I would like to slightly expand the practical application of the record: I will tell you about the games that I use in English lessons, but they can be used in classes in other subjects.

Play teacher

This game is good to use at the beginning or at the end of the lesson. When used at the beginning of the lesson, the goal of the game can be a repetition of previously covered material, and in the case of a game at the end of the lesson, a summary of what was covered in the lesson.

Divide the class into two groups. Ask each group to come up with five questions about the material covered.

When the questions have been prepared, each group chooses one representative to play the role of the teacher. A representative from each group comes to the board and leads part of the lesson, asking other students questions.

If you play this game regularly, you can use the competitive spirit of the students and record the scores of the teams over the course of a series of lessons.
In my lessons, I ask students to ask questions that check the meaning of words and phrases. For example, after going through the topic “Sports”, students can ask the other team questions like:

Say three activities that use a net.

What’s an example of a score when it’s a draw?

What happens if someone cheats in a game?

Last Answer

This is a fun game where the students answer the question that was asked by the question before.

For example, in a Russian language lesson, a teacher might prepare the following questions.

Question 1. Which verbs are transitive? The student does not answer.

Question 2. How to determine the conjugation of a verb? The student answers the first question

Question 3. What verbs are conjugated? The student answers the second question

Question 4. What kind of verb has no present tense forms? The student answers the third question

Question 5. What is the conjugation of a verb? The student answers the fourth question

It is important that students keep the answer to the previous question and the question itself in memory, which requires additional concentration.

Question race

The teacher prepares 15-20 questions or short assignments in advance for the class and writes each of the questions on a separate slip of paper.
The class is divided into groups of 5-6 people. Each group is given the first task. In the group, students complete the first task, after completing the task, the representative of the group runs to the teacher. The teacher checks the assignment. If the answer is correct, then the teacher gives the student the next question, with which the student returns to the team. The team that answers all questions the fastest wins.

Alphabet

The class is divided into teams of several people. The teacher can give each team a piece of paper on which the alphabet is printed and a space is left opposite each letter. Another option: students write the alphabet on their own. Then the teacher gives a specific topic. Students in teams must write one word, phrase or term that begins with each letter of the alphabet. For example, if we repeat the theme “Education”, then the beginning of the alphabet might look like this.

A – Assessment

B – Boarding Schools

C – Chemistry

The team that writes the most words in the allotted time wins.

Once I attended a lesson where a similar game lasted 60 minutes! Don’t do this. I would limit students to 7-10 minutes.

Guess the word

The class is divided into two teams. The player of the first team pulls out a sign on which the word is written, but does not show it to his team. The task of the player in a limited time (1-2 minutes) is to explain to his team the meaning of the word so that the team can guess this word. The main thing is not to use the word itself, as well as cognates.

Then the second team plays. The winner is the team that was able to guess more words in 3-4 rounds.

Express Debate

The class is divided into two teams. Teams line up one opposite the other in a line face to face. The teacher formulates a certain debatable statement, for example: “All schools in Russia should have a school uniform.” The draw determines the team that supports the statement and the team that refutes the statement.

Next, the players of both teams take turns formulating arguments, alternating positions “for” and “against”.

The team whose member said the last argument wins.

Pictograms

The class is divided into groups. Each group is offered a sheet on which the text or individual sentences are written. In the text, some words are replaced by pictograms. The task of the players is to restore the verbal text completely within the allotted time (3-5 minutes, depending on the complexity of the inserted units). The team that has restored the original text as completely and correctly as possible wins.

Materials (pictograms) for preparing the source text can be found on sites on the Internet, for example, on this https://thenounproject. com/ .

Yes. No. Get up!

You can play with the whole class at the same time. The teacher asks a closed question, to which only one answer can be correct (for example, in an English lesson during the passage of the topic “Sport”, you can ask questions: – Is the score 1: 1 a draw? – Yes. – Do you go to a gym to play football? – No.) Pupils listen to the question and answer: if the correct answer is “Yes”, then stand up; if the correct answer is “No”, then continue to sit. Such a game allows students not only to repeat the material covered, but also to conduct a physical warm-up.

Concentration

The class is divided into two teams (more possible). Each team is shown a card or slide for two minutes, on which 10-12 language units (words, phrases, idioms) are written. Players must memorize as many of the presented units as possible. Players are not allowed to take notes while watching. After getting acquainted with the card (slide), the players must remember as many units as possible that were presented to them within 5 minutes.