Actions ESL Games & Activities

ESL Action Verbs Game - Vocabulary and Speaking: Bingo, Matching, Forming Sentences, Freer Practice - Group Work In this enjoyable action verbs game, students play bingo by listening to definitions and matching them to common action verbs. To begin, the bingo caller reads a definition at random from the caller's sheet without saying the verb in brackets, e.g. 'Something you do when you are angry and speak very loudly.' The caller then puts a tick beside the definition to show it has been read out. The players listen and look at the action verbs on their bingo cards to see if they have an action verb that matches the definition, e.g. shout. If they do, they cross it off. The game continues until a player has crossed off four action verbs in a row. When this happens, the player shouts 'Bingo!' and then makes a sentence with each crossed-off verb to verify their win. If the player makes a mistake in any of the four sentences, they are allowed one chance to fix it. If they correct it, the win counts. If not, the bingo is void, and the game continues. If the sentences are correct and the action verbs match the definitions that were ticked on the caller's sheet, the player wins the round. Players then continue to see who can cross off all 16 verbs first without making sentences. Groups play several rounds, with students taking turns being the bingo caller and players using a different bingo card each time. show less

ESL Action Verb Games - Vocabulary and Speaking: Matching, Gap-fill, Forming Sentences, Freer Practice - Group Work Here are two free action verb games to help students practice everyday actions. First, students play a gap-fill and matching game. In groups, students take turns picking up a sentence card, reading it aloud and placing it face-up on the table. All the students then race to find the correct action verb card to complete the sentence. When a student finds the right action verb card, they pick it up and read the complete sentence aloud. If the other students agree the action verb matches the sentence, the student wins and keeps the cards. If not, the student puts down the verb card, is out of the round and other students can answer. The student with the most pairs of cards at the end of the game wins. After that, students play a game where they form sentences using the action verbs. Students take turns turning over an action verb card so it's visible to everyone. The other students then race to put up their hands and say a sentence using the action verb. The first student to make a suitable sentence wins and keeps the card. The student with the most cards at the end of the game is the winner. show less

ESL Action Verbs Worksheet - Vocabulary and Writing Exercises: Writing Sentences - Speaking Activities: Asking and Answering Questions, Freer Practice - Group Work Here is a comprehensive actions worksheet to help students practice common verbs related to everyday actions. First, students match action verbs with words and phrases. Students then underline the correct action verb to complete each sentence. Next, students circle the odd verb out in each set and write why the action verb doesn't belong. After that, students complete sentences with action verbs from a box. Students then move on to use action verbs from the worksheet to write three true and three false sentences about themselves. Students then take turns reading the sentences to a partner, who guesses whether they are true or false. Finally, in pairs, students ask and answer conversation questions that use the action verbs. show less

ESL Actions Game - Vocabulary: Miming, Guessing - Group Work In this fun actions game, students read sentences and then mime or guess the missing verbs of physical movement. In competing teams of two, students take turns picking up a card and reading the sentence using the word 'blank' for the missing action verb. The reader then mimes the missing action verb shown in brackets on the card to their partner, who tries to guess it. If the student successfully guesses the verb within 30 seconds, the team wins and keeps the card. If not, the other team has one chance to guess the verb and steal the card. The team with the most cards at the end of the game wins. show less

ESL Action Verbs Activity - Vocabulary and Speaking: Gap-fill, Asking and Answering Questions, Controlled and Freer Practice - Group and Pair Work In this insightful action verbs activity, students complete, ask and answer conversation questions that contain action verbs. First, students complete each conversation question with a suitable action verb from a box. Next, students pair up with someone from the other group and take turns asking and answering the conversation questions with their partner, discussing each topic for a minute. Finally, students share what they learned about their partner with the class. show less

ESL Actions Worksheet - Vocabulary Exercises: Sentence Completion, Error Correction - Speaking Activity: Asking and Answering Questions, Freer Practice - Pair Work Here is a useful actions worksheet to help students practice common verbs related to moving something or someone. First, in pairs, students discuss two questions about moving objects and people. Next, students use action verbs from a box to complete sentences related to moving something or someone, changing the verb forms as needed. Students then complete sentences about moving and carrying objects with their own ideas. After that, students find mistakes in sentences and correct them. Following that, students complete sentences by choosing the correct action verb. Finally, students ask and answer topic-related conversation questions with a partner. show less

ESL Actions Activity - Vocabulary, Grammar and Speaking: Giving and Following Instructions, Miming, Describing Actions, Sequencing Routines - Pair Work In this entertaining actions activity, students give and follow simple instructions, describe actions in progress and sequence short action routines. In pairs, one student takes on the role of a director, gives instructions and describes the actions, while the other student takes on the role of an actor and mimes the actions. First, pairs follow the 'Say and Do' section of the instruction sheet. The director picks up two action cards and reads the instructions aloud. The actor mimes the actions, and the director says what is happening using the present continuous. After four pairs of cards have been used, students switch roles and repeat the process. Next, students move on to the 'Sequence It' section. The director picks up three action cards, puts them together to create a short three-step routine, and reads the instructions to the actor, who does the steps in order. The director then describes the steps using sequencers and the present continuous. After three routines, the students swap roles and repeat the process. Following that, students move on to the 'Speed Round' in which the director has three minutes to draw cards, read each instruction, and describe each action in the present continuous while the actor mimes quickly. The director scores one point for each correctly described action. After three minutes, students switch roles and repeat. The student with the most points wins. show less

ESL Action Verbs Game - Vocabulary and Speaking: Forming Sentences from Prompts, True or False, Asking and Answering Questions, Freer Practice - Group Work Here is an entertaining actions game to help students practice common action verbs. In groups, players take turns picking up a verb card and placing it face-up on the table. The player then mixes up the 'Make a true statement' and 'Make a false statement' cards and takes one without showing it to anyone. Next, the player makes a true or false statement as indicated on the card using the action verb, e.g. 'Yesterday, I washed my car.' The other students then each ask the player one follow-up question to help them decide if the player's statement is true or false, e.g. 'What type of car do you have?' After the questions have been answered, each student says whether they think the statement is true or false. The player then reveals the answer. The students who guessed correctly each score one point. If a player is unable to make a statement using the action verb, the other students each receive a point. The student with the most points at the end of the game is the winner. show less