Interesting Games and Activities for Small ClassesAndrew Miller, 5th year JET, CanadaTonaki Junior High School, Tonaki Island

Word Fish

Students play Go Fish with playing cards. They must say the key phrases Do you have a _______?, No, go fish, etc. When the matching card is found, the two students (the student who wants the card the student who has the card) come to the ALT, who asks them a question. The student who asked for the card answers first. If they are wrong then the other student has a chance to answer. The correct answer earns that student the pair.

If a student fishes their wish (when selecting a card from the pile), they may come to the ALT for a solo question to earn the pair. But the wrong answer means the pair is re-shuffled into the deck.

Battleship

One student faces off against another student (or teacher) in a game of battleship. Each player has four ships (of different sizes) which they place on their board. You cannot see your opponent`s board. The goal is to find and sink the other player`s ships

They do this by asking English questions as they appear on the grid (see attached sheet). The question must be answered appropriately too. English content and level can be changed accordingly, so long as the sentences make some sense.

Students should use coloured pencils to mark where their ships are, and where they have attacked, and so on.

Scattergories

Create simple categories such as food, animals, countries, etc. Each student writes the names of the categories on a piece of paper.

Students must write one word for each category, but the words must all start with the same letter. That will be determined randomly before you begin. This can be done by selecting cards at random or with a 30-sided dice! Whatever works for you.

A time-limit is set to write down your answers. At the end, answers are revealed. Students with unique answers (words that no one else came up with) earn one point. But, if more than one student uses the same word, no points are given. Of course the word must relate to the category!

Repeat with different letters and different categories.

Skype or FaceTime Classes

Relieve the students of boredom and have them interact with friends or family from back home!

Find someone who will agree to video chat with you during a class. Meanwhile have students prepare their introductions and something else to present. Good ideas are something about the culture of Okinawa. They can bring pictures and objects for show and tell too. Additionally, if your friends or family are talking from their home, this gives the chance for students to see what a home in foreign countries really looks like (especially if they can move around on a mobile device).

For the best results in a small school, combine all classes so everyone can do it together, and you don`t have to do it more than once!

NOTE: Obviously this requires an internet connection, which may not exist at your school, so this activity could be impossible. You should also coordinate with your JTE for executing such a class, and of course with your contact abroad! It`s no good to make a mistake with the time difference, or for your contact to back out at the last minute! And beware of poor internet connections. If you loose the connection, the class grinds to a halt, so be ready to improvise while you get the connection running again There are many things that can go wrong, but if all goes well, it`s a really rewarding class for everyone!

Scavenger Hunts

Have the students go on a big scavenger hunt around the school looking for hidden objects. A good time to do this is Halloween. You can cut out Halloween shapes such as bats, pumpkins, or bones, and hide them in places (rooms, hallways, outside) around the school.

Students find them by reading hints written in English. For example, There is a bat reading a book in this room. This clue points the way to the library, where they must search around until they find the bat. Finding one item can lead to the next clue and the activity carries on.

For the best results in a small school, combine all classes so everyone can do it together, and you don`t have to do it more than once!

NOTE: This can require a lot of preparation depending on how epic a scavenger hunt you want to make. Not only choosing (or making) the items, but deciding where to hide them, what the hints will say, and finally hiding all the items, which usually must be done within an hour before the class (lest the students stumble across one if you hide it too early!) Finally, you must ask for permission to use certain rooms (ex, library, nurse`s office, etc.)

Christmas Cards

Exchange Christmas cards with family/friends back home. Similar to video chat, but instead of speaking, students write about themselves and their own culture. Use class time to help students construct their English sentences. If you want, you can have students make their own cards, or to save time, you can buy Christmas cards at the store.

Some students also like to use this chance to practice writing their cards in formal handwriting. After writing it, they may draw pictures and other decorations on the card. Once finished, you can collect them and either mail them off to your country, or if you happen to begging home for the holidays, you can take them with you.

Chalkboard Games

Create a board game on the chalkboard. Students choose a character to be, roll the dice and move along the path answering English questions and avoiding dangerous spaces (ex. bombs). A good theme is usually Mario Party, with Mario characters, mushrooms, etc.

Games may have a start and a finish point, or they can be loops with the student completing the most laps winning. The design possibilities are endless. See pictures below for reference.

Having your own English room works best for preparing and drawing on the chalkboard before class.

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