Easy English Games for Kids
Writing, reading, listening and speaking are four key skills to teach kids when learning English. It is important that the kids focus on all areas to develop each ability sufficiently. Easy games are an interactive way to stimulate the kids learning, and give them confidence. Use a variety of games to maintain their focus. There a number of games that can be played with kids aged between 6 and 12.
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Coloring in Game
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You can teach vocabulary to kids easily by introducing the "coloring in game" during class. Simply print off the outline of an animal, person or object along with a list of instructions in English. The instructions describe what areas of the outline to color and in what colors. Give the kids coloring pens and the handouts, and ask them to complete the task. This tests the kids reading skills -- but it can be integrated with listening and speaking. To do this, pair up the kids and get one to read the instructions to the other instead.
Word Search
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Begin by creating a grid of 16 letters on a whiteboard or chalkboard so that all the kids in the class can clearly see it. Choose one student at a time to make a word using the letters in the grid -- but explain that the letters of the word have to be next to each other in the grid. This tests reading, spelling and writing skills. Alternatively, play a game of "Hang Man". Ask the students to reveal a word on the board by guessing one letter at a time. If the letter does not appear, draw one line of a stick man -- should the man be completed the class loses, and the teacher wins. Choose easy words and get the kids to play against the you, or in teams of three.
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Pairs
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An easy game to improve reading skills and to help the kids learn new vocabulary is to start a game of snap. Make 30 cards with easy nouns written on them, then make another 30 cards with a picture of each noun on them. Shuffle the cards before getting the kids to lay the cards upside on a flat surface. Ask them to take it in turns to turn two cards over, and see if they match. If they do, the kid holds onto the pair. The winner is the kid with the most pairs. This is a game of memory skill, and understanding of words.
Sing-Along
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To teach the kids about pronunciation, reading and listening skills have a interactive sing-along lesson. Get a CD of simple songs for learning English -- such as a singing alphabet or rhyming song. Then, print off the lyrics and play the CD to the class. Get the kids to sing-along to the music while reading from the printed lyrics. Alternatively, watch a program like Sesame Street together and sing along to the subtitles.
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References
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