Great Classroom Games: Teacher Picks From Around The World (Part 1)

Our younger learners naturally learn best when they’re having fun, so it makes perfect sense to bring games into language classrooms. The games we introduce and continue, do not necessarily need to involve the latest gadgets to bring laughter and excitement into our lessons; in fact, they can be any playful activity encouraging students to use language meaningfully. What matters most is that instructions are simple and clear, so everyone can engage confidently.     

Games can be categorized in different ways depending on their purpose, structure, or the skills they target. There are so many ways to adapt games, but I have categorized the games into the following types:  

• • 🕺 Movement games – involve physical activity or motion
  • 🤝 Team-building games – require collaboration and teamwork
  • 🎲 Card and board games – use physical cards or boards, often commercially produced
  • 🧩 Puzzle games – challenge individuals to solve problems or complete patterns
  • 🕹️ Video games – require a console, computer, or gaming platform
  • 🌐 Online games – need an internet connection

Regular games time can contribute to a positive, dynamic classroom, but not all games suit every learning environment. To help you choose the right fit, I’ve grouped the six game types into two main categories:

1. 1. Physical play and interaction – Games that work best in-person and often involve movement, team-building or physical materials.

   2. Flexible Engagement across mediums – Games with technology options that can be used in a variety of settings.

In this two-part series, I explore some of the favorite games from each category that are popular in current language classrooms to inspire your next lesson. Part 1 shares some of the favorite physical play and interactions from around the world.

Discovering Favorites From Around the World

To find out what are some of the current favorite games from around the word, I shared a short online survey with primary language teachers via platforms like myTESOL, LinkedIn, and several Facebook groups from April to May 2025.

For those who responded in the short period of time – thank you! Here’s a quick snapshot of where the 126 educators involved in primary ELT are based:  

The top three favorite types of games were:

1. 1. Movement games
   2. Team-building games
   3. Card and Board games

Interestingly, these three fit in the physical play and interaction category. Here’s a pie chart showing the vote frequencies:

Each game type encourages students to use language for different purposes, so let's take a closer look at the first three game types. Some of the examples also come from teachers who remain anonymous, identified only by the regions where they teach.

Movement Games 🕺

Movement games focus on getting students physically involved while using the target language. Whether running or standing, these activities refresh lessons and provide active breaks away from desks. Here are few examples from the survey:

• • Running Dictation, shared by a teacher in India: “Place a list of words outside the classroom. In teams, one student runs to read a word, returns, and dictates it to a [writer]. Rotate runners. Points are awarded for accuracy. It’s a fun way to practice spelling, reading, and teamwork.”

  • Rock-Paper-Scissors Bridge, shared by a teacher in Japan: “I lay flashcards in a row on the floor and split everyone into 2 teams. Each team starts from opposite ends of the flashcards and advance towards the middle as they repeat the flashcards out loud. When they meet the opposite person, they do rock-paper-scissors. The winner continues and the [other] goes back to the beginning where the next person in line starts.”

  • Give Me Five (with a balloon), shared by a teacher in Tunisia: “All you need is a list of topics and a balloon. Start by compiling a list of topics that you'd like to review, then choose a student and give them a topic. The student has to say five words [based on the topic]. They have to say a word every time they touch the balloon. They are out if they stop, touch the balloon without saying a word, drop the balloon or hold it with both hands. The student then assigns someone else and chooses a topic for them.”

American TESOL Institute also shared a fun ESL lesson plan called The Alphabet Body Buildings Game, featured in one of their blog posts. It’s a creative way to encourage younger learners to move and learn at the same time.   

Team-Building Games 🤝 

Team-building games bring students together into groups and encourage friendly competition. As collaborative learning becomes a key part of inclusive classrooms, team-building games play an important role in fostering communication, cooperation, and a sense of community among students. Clickview Education provides a comprehensive list of their own favourite activities for both in-person and virtual classrooms based on four categories: communication, problem solving, teamwork and community — worth reading for extra ideas! Here is an additional favorite from the survey:

Mystery Word Sentence Race, shared by a teacher in China: “In teams of 3–5, each group appoints a “Writer” and a “Speaker.” The teacher gives a clue (e.g., definition or picture). Teams guess the word, write it down, and the speaker runs up to say a full sentence using it. Points are given for correct vocabulary and sentence formation. Roles rotate each round.”

Card and Board Games 🎲  

Card and board games bridge education and play, since most people already enjoy and engage in some form of games. For added variety, you can even ask students to bring in their own favorite games from home.

In the survey, BoggleBoard was frequently mentioned for boosting vocabulary and spelling.  Teachers also shared different variations of Bingo – here's one example for spelling:

• • Spelling Bingo, shared by a teacher in Australia: “Students pick and write down 6 of the spelling words. [The] teacher uses similar meanings of the word but [does not] say the spelling word. Students cross out that word if they have written it down. [First person to cross of all six wins!]”

Another way to seamlessly include board games would be through literacy rotations. Different card or game features can be included in the literacy game, for example:

• • Memory Game, shared by a teacher in the United States: “I like to place the sight words face down on the table and have each student turn one over. If they can pronounce the word, they get to keep the word. [The] student with the most words gets a prize.”

  • Luck, shared by a teacher in Vietnam: “Usually I use dice or wheels, and I assign some surprise elements to the numbers (swap, steal points, give points, invite a friend to answer...) to add excitement to any activity. We use scores to decide the winner, but before every game I stress the importance of practicing the language rather than winning.”

For more ideas, be sure to also read The Literacy Rotation Master Plan on how to include more variety for your younger learners. A couple of additional games would include:

• • Bananagrams for working on spelling and vocabulary
  • Dixit for building short stories and/or developing picture-word associations

Physical play and interaction can be energizing for younger learners, but their success depends on the learning environment. Be sure to select games that fit your classroom setup by taking into account space, noise levels, and, if relevant, weather conditions. Another exciting aspect to explore is how these games can be adapted for blended or online settings with the right tools. To discover more flexible, tech-friendly game options, be sure to check out Part 2 of this series.

Happy Teaching and Learning!