Lessons & Classroom Games for Teachers
An ESL game (10-12 years)
Here is a game for 10-12 year olds that stimulates creativity.
Split the class in two equally talented groups. It is better if two of the best students pick sides.
Then teacher puts a long word on the board.
Then in quiet secrecy the two teams try to extract the greatest number of words from the one given and write them on a scrap of paper. This requires word analysis.
For example: Computer
Words extracted by team #1: me, put, Tom, rot, copter, ROM (as in CD-ROM)....
Words extracted by team #2: put, pot, pom-pom, E.T., pop, potter..
Each team captain takes turns writing the discovered words on the board, then sits down. This prevents cheating.
Kids are amazed/interested at the words they discover/miss.
Finally, teacher can add a few they may not have thought about.
Long words give children the greatest challenge, words like Frankenstein, crocodiles, elephants, anacondas etc. Use plurals where possible and give the kids an s to work with.
I remind them of the Small Words Game that can be very useful here. Kids will be happy playing this for an hour.
Copyright Robin Tim Day