The EFL Playhouse Games for Young Learners: Sentence Scramble

Skills: vocabulary review; sentence structure
Group Size: 4 to 24
Prep Time: >5 minutes
Playing Time: 5-20 minutes
Interest Level: ages 6 to adult
Ability Level: upper beginning to intermediate

Write a list of five or more vocabulary words. Divide students into teams, and give each team one copy of the list. Teams must work together to create a story using all of the vocabulary words listed. Each student in the group should create at least one sentence containing at least one vocabulary word to ensure that the final product is a group effort and not just the work of one member. Teams compete in the three following areas: (1) speed, (2) usage, and (3) creativity.

The first team to complete a story receives 20 points, the second 15, the third 10, and so on. However, two points are deducted for any vocabulary word used incorrectly. After all stories are complete, each is read to the class. Students vote for each story's level or creativity by holding up one to five fingers. Fingers are counted, and the total divided by the number of students in the class. Points equal to the average number of fingers for a given story are awarded to the authoring team. After all calculations have been made, the team with the most points wins.

ESL4Kids@yahoo.com
You may use this material freely in your home or classroom; however, no portion of the material on this site is to be re-posted, reproduced, or sold without prior permission.