Blog

10 fun and engaging ESL (English as a Second Language) games specially designed for kids to play while on a train. These games focus on building vocabulary, speaking, listening, and comprehension—all without needing a lot of materials.🚂 1. Train Word Hunt Skills: Vocabulary &amp; ObservationHow to Play: Ask kids to spot and name things they see on the train or out the window (e.g., "seat," "bag," "tree"). Use categories like colors, animals, or objects.Variation: “Find 3 things that are red” or “Find something starting with B.”🎵 2. Rhyme Time Train Skills: Phonetics &amp; PronunciationHow to Play: Say a word (e.g., "cat") and ask the child to think of a word that rhymes ("hat," "bat"). Keep the rhyme chain going.Tip: Clap along for rhythm!🧠 3. What’s in My Bag? Skills: Speaking &amp; VocabularyHow to Play: Pretend game where kids guess what’s in your backpack using yes/no questions. You can also describe an item and have them guess.Example: "It’s round, you throw it. What is it?" → "Ball!"🤔 4. 5-Second Words Skills: Vocabulary RecallHow to Play: Give the child 5 seconds to name 3 things in a category (e.g., fruits, animals, clothes).Challenge: Speed up as they get better!🧩 5. Alphabet Train Skills: Alphabet &amp; VocabularyHow to Play: Start with “A is for Apple,” next person says “B is for Banana,” and so on. You can go forwards or backwards.Variation: Use train-themed items like “C is for Conductor.”🗣️ 6. Describe and Guess Skills: Descriptive Language &amp; ListeningHow to Play: One child describes something they see without naming it. Others guess what it is.Example: "It’s tall, green, and outside the window." → "Tree!"🎨 7. Draw &amp; Tell Skills: Speaking, CreativityWhat You Need: Paper &amp; pen/pencilHow to Play: Kids draw something and then describe it in English. You can also draw and have them guess what it is.📖 8. Mini Story Maker Skills: Sentence BuildingHow to Play: Together, create a short story using one word at a time.Example: You say “Once,” child says “upon,” next “a,” then “time,” and so on.Fun Twist: Make it silly!🕵️ 9. Who Am I? (Train Edition) Skills: Question FormingHow to Play: Think of a train-related thing (conductor, window, ticket). The child asks yes/no questions to guess.Boost: Model how to ask: “Is it a person?” “Can you sit on it?”🎯 10. English Scavenger Hunt Skills: Word RecognitionHow to Play: Give kids a list of English words or pictures (e.g., cup, shoes, number 2) to find on the train.Variation: Use your phone/tablet to show picture clues if they can’t read yet.

10 games to play while on a train

happy baby girl playing with colorful sensory toys. pushing the bubles on pop it fidget toy

🎯 10 Tactile ESL Games for Kids 1. Mystery Touch Bag Place familiar classroom objects (e.g., toy animals, shapes, letters) into a cloth bag. Children take turns reaching in, feeling an item, and describing it in English before guessing what it is. This activity enhances vocabulary and descriptive language skills. Lingokids+5DEVELOP LEARN GROW+5PlayfulHomeEducation+52. Texture Treasure Hunt Hide items with various textures (e.g., smooth, rough, bumpy) around the room. Provide students with a list of texture words and have them find and match objects to these descriptors. This game reinforces sensory vocabulary and encourages exploration.3. Feely Box Challenge Create a box with hand-sized openings and fill it with objects of different shapes and textures. Students reach in, feel an item, and describe its characteristics in English before revealing it. This promotes tactile discrimination and language development.4. Touch &amp; Match Cards Prepare pairs of cards with different textured materials (e.g., sandpaper, velvet). Spread them out face down, and have students find matching pairs by touch alone, naming the textures as they go. This activity aids in sensory recognition and vocabulary building.5. Sensory Bin Exploration Fill a bin with materials like rice, beans, or pasta, and hide small objects or letters inside. Children dig through the bin to find items, then name and describe them in English. This hands-on activity supports fine motor skills and language acquisition. Little Red Wagon Therapy6. Blindfolded Object Guessing Blindfold a student and hand them an object to feel. They describe its texture, shape, and size in English, then guess what it is. This game enhances descriptive language and sensory awareness. PlayfulHomeEducation7. Playdough Creations Provide students with playdough and ask them to create specific objects (e.g., animals, food items) while describing the process and materials in English. This fosters creativity and reinforces vocabulary.8. Texture Walk Set up a path with different textured materials (e.g., carpet, bubble wrap, foil). Students walk barefoot over the path, describing each texture in English as they go. This activity combines movement with sensory learning.9. Sensory Storytelling Use objects with various textures to tell a story. As you narrate, pass around items for students to feel, encouraging them to describe the sensations and relate them to the story elements. This integrates tactile experiences with language comprehension.10. Touch and Tell Place several objects with distinct textures on a table. Students close their eyes, pick an item, and describe it using English adjectives, then guess what it is. This game sharpens descriptive skills and sensory vocabulary.&nbsp; These tactile activities not only make learning English more interactive and fun but also cater to kinesthetic learners by engaging multiple senses. For more games, please visit my website: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C7OJGKaIQDd/">https://www.instagram.com/p/C7OJGKaIQDd/</a>

10 Tactile ESL Games for Kids

Here are 10 fun ESL games for kids centered around the "Café" topic. These games focus on vocabulary, speaking, listening, and roleplay to make learning English both engaging and educational.&nbsp; 1. Café Roleplay Skills: Speaking, Listening How to Play: Set up a pretend café using toy food, menus, and play money. Assign roles: waiter/waitress, customer, cashier. Kids take turns ordering, serving, and paying for food using café vocabulary.&nbsp; 2. Menu Match-Up Skills: Vocabulary How to Play: Create a menu with pictures and separate word cards (e.g., "burger," "juice"). Kids match the word to the correct picture. For older kids, add prices for practicing numbers and currency.&nbsp; 3. What’s on the Menu? Bingo Skills: Listening, Vocabulary How to Play: Create bingo cards with café items. Call out food/drinks (e.g., “lemonade,” “spaghetti”). Kids mark them off. Add fun like "Today's special is…" or sound effects.&nbsp; 4. Waiter Says (Simon Says) Skills: Listening, Vocabulary How to Play: A twist on "Simon Says." Example: “Waiter says, ‘Hold a tray!’” or “Waiter says, ‘Serve a pizza!’” If the leader doesn’t say “Waiter says,” and a kid still acts, they’re out!&nbsp; 5. Café Mystery Basket Skills: Speaking, Imagination How to Play: Give a group of kids a “mystery basket” (real or pictured) of 3 café items. They create a short skit or dialogue about serving those items in a café, using full sentences.&nbsp; 6. Build a Menu Skills: Writing, Reading How to Play: Each student makes their own café menu by cutting out pictures from magazines or drawing food items. They label each item and price it, then present their menu to the class.&nbsp; 7. Order Relay Race Skills: Listening, Speaking How to Play: Place picture cards of food around the room. One student is the “customer” and says an order (e.g., “I want a sandwich and lemonade”). The other runs to find and bring the correct items.&nbsp; 8. Pass the Plate Skills: Vocabulary Recall How to Play: Students sit in a circle. Pass a toy plate around while music plays. When the music stops, the student holding the plate must name a café food/drink or say a café-related sentence.&nbsp; 9. Café Song &amp; Chant Skills: Pronunciation, Rhythm How to Play: Create a simple chant or song like: 🎵 “Welcome to our café, what would you like to eat today? Pizza, salad, juice or pie, Tell the waiter, don’t be shy!” Kids sing and do actions for each item.&nbsp; 10. Guess the Order Skills: Listening, Memory How to Play: Prepare sound clips or read out “orders” like “I’d like a hot chocolate and a muffin.” Students listen and draw or choose the correct items from a set of pictures.&nbsp; You can find more on my instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6DQmF5Ibqo/

10 fun ESL games for kids centered around the "Café" topic.

Kids throw colorful hoops on cones while competing

10 engaging ESL games for kids with a sports theme1. 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. &nbsp; 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. &nbsp; 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. &nbsp; 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. &nbsp; 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. &nbsp; 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). &nbsp; 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. &nbsp; 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. &nbsp; 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. &nbsp; 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. &nbsp; You can visit my instagram page for more games: https://www.instagram.com/p/C54-U-TooBW/

10 engaging ESL games for kids with a sports theme

Cute little girl in front of her play tent at home

Here are 10 magical and engaging ESL games using fairy tales, specially designed for kids learning English. These activities are fun, interactive, and perfect for building vocabulary, speaking, listening, and imagination through classic stories! 🧚🦄📚&nbsp; 🧙‍♀️ 1. Fairy Tale Guess Who Objective: Identify fairy tale characters through clues. How to Play: One student picks a fairy tale character (e.g., Snow White, Jack, or the Big Bad Wolf) and gives 3 clues. Others guess: “I live in the forest. I have a red hood. Who am I?” Target: Listening &amp; describing. &nbsp; 👑 2. Fairy Tale Dress-Up Relay Objective: Practice vocabulary and simple commands. How to Play: Set up costumes or props (crown, cape, slipper). Students race to pick the right item when you say: “Pick up the glass slipper like Cinderella!” Then they say, “I picked up the glass slipper!” Target: Commands, object vocabulary. &nbsp; 🐺 3. Act It Out! Fairy Tale Edition Objective: Act out a short scene without speaking. How to Play: Students draw a card (e.g., “The wolf blows down the house”) and act it out. Others guess the story and scene in English. Target: Comprehension, speaking from context. &nbsp; 📖 4. Story Scramble Objective: Put a fairy tale in the correct order. How to Play: Give groups picture cards from a fairy tale in random order. They work together to arrange them correctly, then retell the story. Target: Sequencing &amp; storytelling. &nbsp; 🧚 5. Magic Word Hunt Objective: Find and use fairy tale words. How to Play: Hide picture/word cards (like “castle,” “dragon,” “witch”) around the classroom. Kids find and say a sentence: “I found a castle!” Target: Vocabulary, full sentences. &nbsp; 🐉 6. Fairy Tale Freeze Dance Objective: Match music to fairy tale characters or feelings. How to Play: Play music while kids dance. When it stops, call a character (e.g., “Dragon!”), and they freeze in that pose. Target: Listening, imagination. &nbsp; 🎲 7. Once Upon a Dice Objective: Create silly fairy tales with prompts. How to Play: Make a dice with characters, settings, or problems (e.g., “A unicorn,” “in a forest,” “lost a shoe”). Kids roll and build a short story with the parts. Target: Storytelling, sentence structure. &nbsp; 🎭 8. Puppet Tale Time Objective: Retell fairy tales with puppets. How to Play: Give simple puppets (or paper cutouts). In groups, kids act out fairy tales like “The Three Little Pigs” using key lines. Target: Speaking, expression, teamwork. &nbsp; 🧁 9. Who Took the Magic Muffin? Objective: Use questions and practice dialogue. How to Play: One student is the detective. Others hide a “magic muffin.” The detective asks: “Did you take the muffin?” The rest say, “No, I didn’t!” or “Yes, I did!” until it’s found. Target: Yes/no questions, speaking fluency. &nbsp; ✨ 10. Fairy Tale BINGO Objective: Recognize fairy tale vocabulary. How to Play: Use a bingo board with images (e.g., slipper, witch, beanstalk). Call out words or show images. First to complete a line says “BINGO!” and names the items. Target: Listening, vocab reinforcement. &nbsp; For more games, please visit my instagram page:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5kgLv8Ii-j/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5kgLv8Ii-j/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link</a> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

10 magical and engaging ESL games using fairy tales,

Young boy stopping a toy SUV in its tracks

Here are 10 fun and kid-friendly ESL games designed to help young learners understand and use the expression “pick up” in its different meanings (like picking something up, learning, collecting, or answering a phone). Each game is simple, visual, and movement-based to keep kids engaged!&nbsp; 🎈 1. Pick It Up Scavenger Hunt Objective: Use "pick up" with objects. How to Play: Hide classroom items (like toys or flashcards). Call out, “Pick up the red car!” Kids search and say, “I picked up the red car!” when they find it. Target: Vocabulary &amp; action phrases. &nbsp; 📞 2. Ring Ring! Who Will Pick Up? Objective: Practice “pick up the phone.” How to Play: Use a toy phone. One student calls, another "picks up" and answers using a fun greeting. Switch roles. Target: Listening &amp; speaking in context. &nbsp; 🎤 3. Repeat &amp; Pick Up Objective: Teach "pick up" as “learn.” How to Play: Say new words or phrases. Students echo back. Then ask, “What did you pick up?” They answer, “I picked up a new word: banana!” Target: Listening &amp; vocabulary retention. &nbsp; 🧼 4. Pick Up Trash Game Objective: Use “pick up” in clean-up context. How to Play: Scatter paper balls (pretend trash). Kids race to “pick up the trash.” Each time they say, “I picked up trash!” Fun and helpful! Target: Verbs, environment vocabulary. &nbsp; 🧠 5. Memory Pick-Up Objective: Use “pick up” with learning memory. How to Play: Show a set of pictures (like animals). Hide them. Ask, “What did you pick up?” Kids say, “I picked up dog, cat, and elephant!” Target: Memory &amp; sentence building. &nbsp; 🧺 6. Pick Up &amp; Sort Objective: Practice categorizing. How to Play: Kids “pick up” items and sort them into baskets (colors, shapes, food vs. animals, etc.). As they place each item, they say, “I picked up a ___.” Target: Categorizing + full sentences. &nbsp; 🏃 7. Pick Up Relay Objective: Physical fun with verbs! How to Play: Place objects at one end of the room. Kids run, pick up one, run back, and say what they picked up: “I picked up a book!” Target: Movement + speaking practice. &nbsp; 🧳 8. Pick Up for a Trip Objective: Use “pick up” in context of collecting things. How to Play: Pretend you’re packing for a trip. Students “pick up” items (clothes, toys, food) and say, “I picked up a shirt for the trip!” Target: Travel vocabulary + context use. &nbsp; 👂 9. Pick Up the Sound Objective: Practice “pick up” as hearing or noticing. How to Play: Play different animal or object sounds. Ask, “What sound did you pick up?” Students guess: “I picked up a cat sound!” Target: Listening comprehension. &nbsp; 🎲 10. Roll &amp; Pick Up Objective: Combine chance with language use. How to Play: Roll a dice to land on a picture board (e.g., toy, fruit, book). The student must find and “pick up” that item and say a sentence: “I picked up a banana.” Target: Object recognition, sentence practice. &nbsp; All of these games are:💬 Simple in language 🧒 Perfect for ages 5–10 🎨 Easy to adapt with visuals or props 💡 Designed to reinforce both meaning and usage of "pick up" Would you like printable templates or visual flashcards to go with these? For more games, please visit my instagram page :<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5Xjw25I-3l/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" data-mce-href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5Xjw25I-3l/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5Xjw25I-3l/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==</a> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;