suggestions and ideas on how to match games and writing in an esl class.

1. ESL Writing and games
A possible match
Adapted from Simone Gordon Gellhaar’s presentation at 7th LAURELS International Conference
By Dani Lyra

2. Memory Games
• Match word to picture.
• Match picture to sentence.
• Match questions to answers.

3. Give a digital twist.
• Use a photoediting site to upload your
flashcards and ask students to practice at
home.
See na exampke here Flickr
See na example here Quizlet

4. Tic- Tac-Toe
• Unscramble words
• Unscramble sentences
• Write questions on the Tic-Tac-Toe and
students answer them on the board.
• Write questions on the Tic – Tac- Toe and
students answer them on the board.
• Have pictures / words on the Tic-Tac-Toe and
students write the vocabulary or sentences/
questions with the pictures.

5. Missing letters:
• Write words or sentences with missing letters
and have students complete them.
• Circuit Game
• Relay Race
• Hot Bag

6. Relay Races
• Divide students into two groups and have them
line up facing the board. There are different
games that you can play:
• Writing words
• Writing sentences.
• Answering questions.
• Circle and erase words.
• Chinese whispers. Whisper
words/sentences/miming

7. Hangman
• With words
• With sentences
• With questions

8. Writing from picture
• Show students a picture ( e.g. a scene with
objects in different places, a scene with people
doing different actions, a book cover. Play
different games.
• Write words from it.
• Write sentences about it.
• Answer questions about it.
• Write questions about it.
• Describe a scene or a picture or a book so that another
student can identify the picture.

9. Matching
• Give each student or group a picture, give
strips of paper. Have students put the strips in
oder to make a sentence.