A Shark's Coming!
Many of you will be kindergarten or early primary teachers, and if so, then this ESL classroom game or warmer is perfect for you. Your kids will also burn off some of their ever-lasting energy!
Using numbers + ‘How Many?’
In 'A Shark's Coming!', the kids will be practicing hearing and thinking about numbers in English and also asking 'How many?' Your kids will not only need fast feet in this ESL game, but will also need to think fast!
How to Play
When you're ready, shout 'sharks coming!', hold out your arms in front of you and start clapping your hands together like shark jaws snip snappin'!
Here, the kids need to shout 'how many?!', and the teacher shouts out a number. The children then have to get into groups of that number, hugging each other for safety as quickly as possible! For example, if the teacher shouts ‘five!’, the the kids get into groups of five.
Any students not in a safe group are out. The kids who are out, move to a safe area at the side until the next new game. Now, all the kids mingle together again and the teacher yells 'Sharks Coming!'.
Again, the kids shout 'How many?' and the teacher shouts a new number. Keep going until only a few kids are left and these are the winners.
This is a fast-paced ESL game for kids and excellent practice for numbers. You can play this game as a warmer, game to practice numbers or as a filler. You can play this a few times to make sure every student gets some good game time. Each time, change the number of sharks that are coming.
More quality ESL Games for Kids
Wonder Words
There are several ways that you can run with this TEFL activity for children, depending on your teaching aims and the age / level of your ESL students. In a nutshell, you'll be teaching CVC blends by sticking a different letter on the back of your students and having them form words by standing in a line in the correct order.
Tin Can Telephone
Long before the telephone was invented, people found that they could get two empty tin cans, attach them together using string and speak to each other over pretty long distances. These have become to be called Tin Can Phones and the chances are that you made one of these as a kid yourself. You can make a set of Tin Can Phones at home or in English class and have the kids practicing English words, sentences or short dialogues in a really fun way!