Close/ Open games

Here are a few fun ESL games for kids that involve "close" and "open" actions, which will help them learn new vocabulary, practice their listening skills, and engage with physical movement:

1. "Close the Box / Open the Box"
Objective: Kids practice vocabulary and follow instructions with actions. How to Play:

Prepare a set of small boxes or containers (these can be made from cardboard, or even use any object that can open and close, like folders or bags).
Write vocabulary words (animals, objects, or simple sentences) on small pieces of paper.
Divide the kids into teams. One child from each team comes up, and the teacher or leader says, “Open the box!” or “Close the box!” while giving an item or word.
The child must open or close the box based on the teacher's instructions and then say the word that corresponds to the item in the box.
If they guess correctly, they get a point for their team.

2. "Open and Close Treasure Hunt"
Objective: Review vocabulary and improve listening comprehension. How to Play:

Hide small objects (toys, flashcards, etc.) around the classroom or playground.
Give kids a list of vocabulary words, and when they hear the teacher say, “Open!” they have to start looking for objects related to those words.
When the teacher says “Close!” they must stop and return to the start.
The first team to collect all their words (or find all the hidden objects) wins.
This game encourages them to follow directions and reinforces their vocabulary.

3. "The Magic Box"
Objective: Practice question formation and understanding commands. How to Play:

Have a box with various items inside (it can be a mystery box with things like toy animals, fruits, etc.).
Students take turns asking questions like “Can I open the box?” or “What’s inside the box?” and the teacher will respond, saying “Open the box!” or “Close the box!”
Once they open the box, they must identify the object inside and say a sentence using the new word (e.g., “This is a cat.” or “I see an apple!”).
For added fun, the teacher could say, “Open the box and find something that begins with ‘C’” to practice letter sounds.

4. "Open/Close Simon Says"
Objective: Practice listening and following directions. How to Play:

This game is based on the traditional "Simon Says" game, but the key words are "open" and "close."
The teacher will give commands like “Simon says open the door” or “Simon says close your eyes.” The children must only follow the command if it begins with “Simon says.”
If the teacher gives a command without saying “Simon says,” and the children follow it, they’re out. The last player remaining wins.

5. "The Open/Close Color Hunt"
Objective: Reinforce color vocabulary while moving around. How to Play:

Assign a color to each child (you can use colored flashcards or colored stickers).
Say “Open the red book!” or “Close the blue door!” and the kids have to race to find something in the room that matches the color and perform the action (open or close).
When they find it, they have to shout the color in English. This helps them connect vocabulary with actions while reinforcing colors.

6. "Open/Close Charades"
Objective: Practice speaking and miming actions. How to Play:

Write down different actions or vocabulary words on cards (e.g., “open a book,” “close a window,” “open a gift”).
Students take turns drawing a card and acting out the action (open/close) for the class.
The rest of the class has to guess what it is. The child who guesses correctly gets the next turn.
This game encourages creative thinking and makes kids more comfortable with physical language cues.

7. "Open and Close Musical Chairs"
Objective: A fun game to practice listening skills and movement. How to Play:

Arrange chairs in a circle (one less than the number of players).
Play music while kids walk around the chairs.
When the music stops, the teacher says, "Open the door!" and kids must find the nearest chair and pretend to "open the door" by sitting down.
After a round or two, change the command to “Close the door!” and they must stand and act as if they’re closing a door before sitting.

This game helps kids get active while listening carefully to commands.
These games combine physical activity with language learning, making them enjoyable and educational for kids learning English!

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