This page is a work in progress for games which I couldn't decide how to categorise. 

Vocabulary Battleships

EFL vocabulary battleshipsSo you've just taught some fairly unrelated vocabulary (maybe a set of phrasal verbs or some expressions with prepositions or word formation) and you want a way to get the students to practise using this. Put the words in a grid (at least 4*4, but 5*5 is better). Each student gets a copy of the grid and draws their battleships over the words (keeping this hidden). I would suggest at least two battleships, three squares wide, but you could vary the number and the size, as in the picture here. Then they work in pairs (or teams of two against two) trying to sink each other's battleships as follows:

One student says a sentence using one of the words in the grid. If the word makes part of the other student's battleship they say 'hit', if not they say 'miss'. When they have hit all of one battleship, the other student confesses "you've sunk my battleship". The winner is the team to sink all the ships first.


Noughts and Crosses Style Games

EFL noughts and crossesAt its most basic, you draw a 3*3 grid on the board and write a word in each square. Split the class into two teams, who take it in turns to win squares by giving a sentence using that word. The winning team is the first to make a line of 3 in any direction.

Adapt this game by making bigger grids, and having more teams (with colours or initials to claim the squares). Instead of 3-in-a-row, they could get one point for each square claimed, and five points for every line of three.

This game can work with grids of questions too. It doesn't have to be done as a whole class, instead students can work in small groups where one student is referee and gets a copy of the answers. Individuals choose a square to answer, and the referee confirms if the answer is right or wrong.

Advanced Questions: This can be a nice first week activity to see how much the students already know.