Are you an online language teacher looking for ESL games for kids to make your lessons more engaging and interactive? If so, you’re not alone. Teaching language to children through virtual platforms requires creativity, adaptability, and resourcefulness. Without the physical presence of a classroom, educators must rely on digital tools and innovative techniques to create engaging learning environments. 

Using these interactive games, videos, and storytelling can help keep young learners interested and motivated during online language lessons. Additionally, incorporating elements of play and movement into virtual activities can develop student participation and retention of language concepts.

Many educators find themselves in search of fun and interactive methods to keep their students motivated and excited about learning. These three games designed specifically for children, intended to develop language acquisition while ensuring a fun and stimulating educational experience.

These games are not only engaging but also effective in promoting language skills in young learners. By incorporating play into the learning process, educators can create a positive and enjoyable environment for their students to thrive in.

Activity 1: Memory Game with Questions

Execution: Start by choosing engaging photos from copyright-free websites and create slides. Introduce age-appropriate vocabulary words corresponding to the images, ensuring simplicity with four or five words per slide to prevent overwhelming young learners. Engage students by asking interesting questions about the vocabulary to stimulate memory recall and improve comprehension.

Example: Show a picture of a table and ask, “What do we call this?” or “How’s my background?” Encourage kids to join in by getting their answers, creating a lively learning setting. Display a picture of a cat and ask, “What animal is this?” or “Can you make the sound a cat makes?” 

Engage children by encouraging them to mimic the sound and share their thoughts, making the learning experience interactive and enjoyable. This interactive approach helps children retain information better and develop their confidence in participating.

❤️ Why I Love It: This game challenges students’ memory while improving their vocabulary in a fun and interactive way. Plus, it’s adaptable to different levels of proficiency, making it suitable for all young learners. The colorful graphics and engaging gameplay keep students motivated and excited to continue learning. 

Additionally, the variety of categories and levels ensures that students are constantly being challenged and exposed to new words. Overall, this game provides a well-rounded language learning experience that is both educational and enjoyable for students. It effectively combines entertainment with educational value, making it a valuable tool for language teachers.

Example of website you may use: Pexels

Activity 2: Style-a-Hero

Execution: Use the British Council’s “Style-a-Hero” activity, where students create their own superhero. Allow students to choose different features for their hero, such as clothing and accessories, encouraging creativity and vocabulary exploration. 

This activity can also be used to practice descriptive language and adjectives, as students will need to explain the appearance and characteristics of their superhero. Additionally, consider incorporating a presentation element where students share their creations with the class, promoting speaking and listening skills.

Example: Let students choose the hero’s hairstyle, clothing, and accessories, discussing each choice and its significance. This activity allows students to think critically about character development and the impact of visual choices on storytelling. 

It also encourages creativity and collaboration among classmates as they share their ideas and preferences. Afterward, students can present their hero designs to the class, explaining the reasoning behind their creative decisions. This presentation can help students practice public speaking skills and receive feedback from their peers.

❤️ Why I Love It: This activity sparks students’ imagination and language skills as they design their own superhero. It’s a fantastic way to engage young learners while expanding their vocabulary and encouraging self-expression. 

Plus, it allows students to think creatively and problem-solve as they come up with unique superpowers and backstories for their characters. Overall, it fosters a fun and interactive learning environment that promotes both language development and critical thinking skills.

Example of website you may use: British Council- Style-A-Hero

Activity 3: 30-Second Vocabulary Challenge

Execution: Set a timer for 30 seconds and challenge students to say as many words as they can related to a specific topic, such as animals or city places. Encourage them to use vocabulary learned in previous lessons and express themselves within the time limit. 

This ESL Games helps students practice quick thinking, recall, and vocabulary retention. It also adds an element of fun and competition to the lesson. Students can work individually or in pairs to increase engagement and participation. To make it more challenging, you can also have students incorporate the words into sentences or short stories after the timer goes off.

Example: Give students 30 seconds to name as many animals as they can, listening as they rapidly list different animals. After sharing, discuss any patterns or similarities between the animals listed, such as habitats or characteristics. This can lead to a deeper understanding of animal classification and diversity. 

This activity can help improve students’ recall and expand their vocabulary. Encouraging students to think critically about the relationships between animals can improve their overall comprehension of the natural world.

❤️ Why I Love It: This activity promotes fluency and vocabulary retention while keeping students actively engaged. It’s a dynamic way to reinforce language skills and boost confidence in speaking. Students are able to practice their language skills in a fun and interactive way, which helps them feel more comfortable expressing themselves. 

Additionally, the opportunity for peer interaction allows for collaborative learning and the chance to receive immediate feedback.

Example of website you may use: Google Slides

Making Learning Fun!

Teaching English online to kids can be both rewarding and challenging, but with these three fun ESL games, you can make your lessons interactive and enjoyable for young learners. By incorporating engaging activities like memory games, superhero creation, and vocabulary challenges, you’ll keep your students motivated and eager to learn. 

These ESL Games not only help improve language skills but also foster creativity and critical thinking in children. They provide a fun and effective way to develop their English proficiency while keeping them entertained. 

Don’t be afraid to get creative and adapt these games to suit your students’ interests and language level. 

Inspired by my YouTube video