ESL games related to shopping

Here are 10 fun and engaging ESL games related to shopping that are perfect for kids. These games help teach vocabulary, conversation skills, and cultural knowledge while keeping the kids active and engaged.

1. Shopping Scavenger Hunt
Objective: Teach kids different items they might find in a store. How to Play:

Create a list of items (e.g., bread, apples, toothpaste).
Scatter pictures or actual items around the classroom or play area.
Give kids the list of items to "find" by pointing to the correct objects.
You can make it competitive by splitting them into teams and seeing who finds all the items first!

2. Role Play: The Store
Objective: Practice shopping phrases and vocabulary. How to Play:

Set up a mock store in the classroom (you can use play money, pretend items, and signs).
Divide the kids into shoppers and shopkeepers.
The shoppers will practice asking questions like, “How much is this?” or “Can I buy this?” while the shopkeepers answer with prices and helpful information.
Switch roles so everyone gets a turn.

3. Guess the Price
Objective: Learn numbers, prices, and basic math. How to Play:

Display pictures of items with missing prices (e.g., a toy, a fruit, a shirt).
Ask the kids to guess the price of each item in English.
After each guess, reveal the correct price and practice saying numbers out loud.
Optionally, add some simple math by asking them how much two items cost together.

4. Store Bingo
Objective: Practice item vocabulary in a fun, competitive way. How to Play:

Create Bingo cards with pictures of common shopping items (e.g., shoes, ice cream, socks).
As you call out the items, the kids will mark them on their Bingo cards.
The first player to complete a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) wins.

5. Shopping Relay Race
Objective: Practice vocabulary and movement. How to Play:

Divide kids into teams and set up a “store” on one side of the room.
Place several items (pictures or actual objects) that the kids need to grab.
Call out an item (e.g., “apple” or “hat”), and the first player from each team must run to get that item and bring it back.
The team that grabs all the items first wins!

6. What’s Missing?
Objective: Improve memory and item vocabulary. How to Play:

Display several shopping items on a table or the floor (e.g., a bottle of milk, a pencil, a toy).
Give the kids 30 seconds to memorize the items.
Then, ask them to close their eyes while you remove one item.
The kids open their eyes and try to guess which item is missing.

7. The Price is Right (ESL Version)
Objective: Learn prices and numbers. How to Play:

Show kids pictures of various items (toys, clothes, etc.) and have them guess the price.
If they guess the price correctly, they win a point.
You can keep track of points and crown a winner at the end.
You could also use this game to practice bargaining skills by offering discounts.

8. Shopping List Memory Game
Objective: Build memory and reinforce shopping-related vocabulary. How to Play:

Start by saying, "I’m going shopping and I need [item]."
The next player repeats the sentence and adds an item, such as, "I’m going shopping and I need apples."
Each player repeats the list and adds another item. If a player forgets an item, they’re out!
The last player remaining wins.

9. Store Categories
Objective: Practice categorizing items and learning new words. How to Play:

Write categories on the board (e.g., fruits, vegetables, clothes, toys).
Kids take turns choosing an item and placing it in the correct category.
For example, a banana would go under “fruits,” and a t-shirt under “clothes.”
This game encourages kids to think about different categories in a store and reinforces vocabulary.

10. Shopkeeper Simon Says
Objective: Teach shopping-related commands and listening skills. How to Play:

Play a version of “Simon Says” with shopping-related actions (e.g., “Simon says pick up the bananas,” “Simon says look at the prices”).
The children must follow the commands only when "Simon says" is mentioned.
If you give a command without saying "Simon says," anyone who follows the instruction is out.
This helps with listening comprehension and vocabulary recognition.

These games can be adapted based on the children's level and can be used to teach a wide range of shopping-related vocabulary and phrases. Let me know if you need further details on any of the games!
 

For more  games, please vistit my instagram account: 
 
 https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4FcE31Ii6g/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==