10 engaging ESL games for kids with a sports theme
10 engaging ESL games for kids with a sports theme
1. Vocabulary Relay Race
Skills: Vocabulary, Listening, Speaking
How to Play:
Prepare flashcards with sports equipment and actions (e.g., ball, bat, run, jump).
Split the class into two teams.
One student from each team races to the board, picks a card, and either says the word or uses it in a sentence.
They run back and tag the next teammate.
Continue until all cards are used.
2. Sport Charades
Skills: Speaking, Listening, Vocabulary
How to Play:
Prepare a list of sports actions (e.g., kicking a soccer ball, swimming).
One student picks an action and mimes it.
Others guess the action using full sentences (“You are swimming!”).
Great for action verbs practice.
3. Team Sport Spelling Bee
Skills: Spelling, Vocabulary
How to Play:
Use sports-related words (e.g., "basketball", "referee", "stadium").
Teams take turns spelling words.
Bonus points if they can use the word in a sentence.
4. What Sport Am I?
Skills: Question Formation, Listening, Speaking
How to Play:
One student thinks of a sport.
Others ask yes/no questions (“Do you use a racket?” “Is it played in water?”).
First to guess correctly becomes the next sport chooser.
5. Pass the Ball – Sport Edition
Skills: Quick Thinking, Vocabulary
How to Play:
Play music and have students pass a soft ball around.
When the music stops, the student with the ball must name a sport or describe one (“You kick a ball in this game”).
Encourage full sentences.
6. Sporty Simon Says
Skills: Listening, Action Verbs
How to Play:
Use commands related to sports (e.g., “Simon says dribble like a basketball player!”).
Students only act if you say "Simon says".
Great for TPR (Total Physical Response).
7. Score a Goal – Grammar Practice
Skills: Grammar, Sentence Formation
How to Play:
Set up mini goals or bins.
Students form correct sentences (e.g., “He plays baseball every Sunday”).
If correct, they try to score a goal by tossing a ball into the goal.
8. Memory Match – Sports Equipment
Skills: Vocabulary, Reading
How to Play:
Create cards with sports equipment and their names.
Lay them face down. Students turn over two at a time, trying to match word and image.
Say the word each time for reinforcement.
9. Interview a Famous Athlete
Skills: Speaking, Writing, Listening
How to Play:
Students role-play an interview: one is the reporter, the other is a famous athlete.
Use simple interview questions (“What sport do you play?” “How do you train?”).
Present to the class.
10. Sports Bingo
Skills: Listening, Vocabulary
How to Play:
Create Bingo cards with sports words or pictures.
Call out words or descriptions (“This sport uses a net and a ball”).
Students mark their cards. First to get five in a row wins.
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