Like/Do Not Like" games tailored for ESL kids

Here are 10 engaging "Like/Do Not Like" games tailored for ESL kids. These activities can help them practice vocabulary, sentence structures, and speaking skills while having fun.

1. Likes & Dislikes Bingo
Objective: Students will practice the vocabulary for food, activities, animals, etc.
How to Play:

Create Bingo cards with pictures or words related to various likes and dislikes (e.g., pizza, soccer, dogs).
The teacher calls out sentences like, "I like pizza," or "I do not like dogs."
The students mark the corresponding picture/word on their Bingo cards.
The first student to get a line or full card shouts "Bingo!"

2. Guess Who?
Objective: To practice asking and answering questions about likes and dislikes.
How to Play:

One student thinks of a category (e.g., animals, food, activities).
The other students ask "Yes/No" questions like, "Do you like ice cream?" or "Do you like cats?"
The goal is to guess what the student likes or dislikes.

3. Like or Not Like Sorting
Objective: Categorize items into "Like" and "Do Not Like" categories.
How to Play:

Prepare flashcards with pictures of various items (foods, hobbies, animals, etc.).
In groups or individually, the students sort the cards into two piles: "Like" and "Do Not Like."

Afterward, they share their choices and explain why they like or dislike the items.
4. Emotion Faces
Objective: To express feelings about likes and dislikes.
How to Play:

Provide students with cards showing different faces (happy, sad, surprised, etc.).
The teacher says a sentence like, "I like chocolate," and the students hold up the appropriate face (happy for likes, sad for dislikes).
The students can also create their own sentences and ask the class.
5. Find Someone Who...
Objective: Practice speaking and interacting with classmates.
How to Play:

Give each student a worksheet with a list of sentences like, "Find someone who likes soccer," or "Find someone who does not like vegetables."
The students walk around the room and ask their classmates the questions, checking off the names of those who fit the description.
At the end, students can share some of the answers with the class.
6. "Like/Do Not Like" Picture Race
Objective: To quickly identify likes and dislikes based on images.
How to Play:

Show a series of pictures (food, activities, animals, etc.).
For each picture, students must shout "Like!" or "Do Not Like!" as fast as they can.
You can keep score or just play for fun, and then ask them to explain why they feel that way.
7. Sentence Matching
Objective: To practice sentence structure with likes and dislikes.
How to Play:

Prepare sentence strips with phrases like "I like," "I do not like," "Do you like?"
Scatter them around the room.
Students have to pick a strip, find a matching phrase from another student (e.g., "I like pizza," "I do not like broccoli"), and create a complete sentence.
After a match is made, the student must explain why they like or dislike that item.
8. Likes & Dislikes Charades
Objective: To act out likes and dislikes.
How to Play:

Write down a list of activities, foods, animals, etc.
One student draws a slip of paper and acts out whether they like or dislike the item.
The other students must guess the item and whether it's a "like" or "dislike."
9. Find the Match
Objective: To practice matching likes and dislikes with items.
How to Play:

Write several "I like" and "I do not like" sentences on cards.
Write several corresponding items (e.g., "I like pizza," "I do not like spinach") on separate cards.
The students have to match the sentence to the appropriate item.
10. Likes & Dislikes Scavenger Hunt
Objective: To explore and identify items around the classroom related to likes and dislikes.
How to Play:

Hide pictures of various items around the room (e.g., foods, animals, activities).
Give students a checklist of items they have to find and say if they like or do not like the item.
The first student to find all items and correctly express their opinion wins!
These activities are designed to keep kids engaged while practicing key English skills like speaking, listening, and categorizing in a fun way. They also encourage interaction and collaboration between students!