Christmas party game. Throw the nose on the ‘reindeer’.

 

Christmas party game Throw the nose on the ‘reindeer’.

Group size:	Suitable for classes of 1-8
Team teaching game?	Can be played with one teacher.

Materials

Prepared picture. (To throw the ‘nose’ onto) Question vocabulary. ‘noses’ in two colours.

It could be a snowman if you prefer.

Game set up.

Go through your vocabulary and required structures. Line up in two teams behind the ‘throwing line’

Playing rules.

Complete you English structures and then throw your nose at the target. Nearest to the target wins the game. Have bonus points or a bonus throw for the first to answer

Variations.

How about a snowman? It doesn’t have to be a nose. Try a wheel on a bus

The waiter party game.

 

 

The sleigh race

 

Subject

Christmas vocabulary and structures +Basic questions.

 

Materials	Two ‘sleighs’. Paper cups. Balloons, balls or other objects to carry. (Change the size of the balloon to increase the difficulty.) You could use a series of different size balloons. Starting with the smallest and progressing to larger more unstable sizes. Target vocabulary focus cards/basic question cards.

 

Game set up.

Set up as a relay. Students in two teams at one end of the room, vocabulary cards at the other. Two safe lines, one at either end of the playing area.

 

Playing rules.

The aim is to complete the course pulling the sleigh without dropping your balloon ‘toy sack’. (Slowly does it) When you get over the safe line you can take a vocabulary card (You must cross the safe line before you may pick up the vocabulary card.) and begin the return journey to the team to change with the next player. (Exchanges must take place over the ‘safe line’)  You can use the exchange as an opportunity to say the structure and ask a basic question.  If you drop anything you must leave it where it lies and the next player in the line must run across to you and replace the object for you. The player will then continue from that point.  For smaller classes or when there is just two or three students you can still play but when the student drops the ball they must leave the plate on the floor, run back and touch the wall before returning to pick everything up and continuing.

 

Variations.
Add points to the vocabulary cards and create a lucky dip element. (The most points wins the game.) If that is too easy try the balloon stick challenge.
Richard’s comments. This is an ideal Christmas party game. Everyone can play. It’s a really flexible challenge. Not everyone can do it easily. It’s a surprising leveler as quieter students (many girls) do well because it requires a degree of patience. If you organise it efficiently you can cover quite a bit of English It’s active and it’s fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Christmas 'Pictionary' game.

  

The Christmas 'Pictionary' game.
Subject	Christmas vocabulary
Richard’s comments.	The negative points given for incorrect guesses stops the students just shouting out everything.
Group size:	Suitable for classes of any size.
Team teaching game?	Can be played with one teacher.
Materials	Vocabulary cards if required. (Plan your 'drawings' beforehand) Board and marker.
Game set up.	Sit in teams in front of the board.

 

Playing rules.	Each team has one guess in turn. The teacher draws one line and the students may guess. Get it right for five points. Incorrect answers minus one point. Remember to say ‘I don’t know’ if necessary.
Variations.	Throw in random vocabulary from other units to ‘keep the students honest’

 

Pass the parcel (Santa’s sack) (Lucky dip)

 

Pass the parcel (Santa’s sack) (Lucky dip)
Subject	Christmas
Materials
Santa’s ‘sack’.
A4 padded envelope with drawing on the front.		Place a vocabulary card in the envelope.  Choose at random from Christmas vocabulary and Halloween monster danger cards

Game set up.
Go through the flash cards before shuffling.  Choose at random from Christmas vocabulary and Halloween monster danger cards Place the card into the ‘sack’.
	Sit in a circle within reach of your neighbours.

 

Playing rules.

Simply pass the sack while the music plays. When the music stops draw out the flash cards and identify them. Complete any additional phases Watch out for the Halloween danger cards if you are using them.

 

Variations.

You could use Silhouettes and match them with the flash cards.

The Halloween 'Pass the parcel' game.

 

 

The Halloween 'Pass the parcel' game.
Subject	Suitable for almost any vocabulary. The parcel can be a ‘present’ a shopping bag, a toy box or anything else your imagination can create.
Group size:	Suitable for all class sizes and can be played with one teacher.
Materials	`parcels` (At least two so that the next can be prepared while the first is in play.) The parcel needs a plastic sleeve into which the focus card can be slipped Vocabulary cards. I used ‘good’ and ‘bad’ items randomly. Music of your choice.

 

Game set up.

Go through the vocabulary in the standard way and drill. Place a vocabulary card into the `parcel`. Sit the students in a circle.

 

Playing rules.

Pass the parcel while the music is playing. (Here you are…) When the music stops, draw the object out and award points. Identify the object and say the structures. I usually play one round per student with the younger ones.

Variations.

You could add, and I do, `danger cards` to the vocabulary.

Richard’s comments. Makes a good party game for Christmas and Halloween.