Teaching English to kindergarteners can be tough. We know that keeping young learners engaged and focused is a constant challenge. But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!
In this post, we’ll share 24 fun ESL games that will make your kindergarten classroom come alive with excitement and learning. These games are designed to help your little ones pick up English naturally while having a blast.
We’ll show you how to turn everyday objects into powerful teaching tools, use movement to reinforce language skills, and create memorable experiences that will stick with your students.
Get ready to transform your lessons from ho-hum to utterly engaging. Let’s learn about these 24 fantastic games that will have your kindergarteners begging for more English practice!
Top ESL Games to Kickstart Learning
1. Alphabet Games
About the Game
Alphabet games are a wonderful way for young learners to familiarize themselves with the letters of the alphabet and their corresponding sounds. These games make learning interactive and engaging, allowing children to connect letters with everyday objects.
Students enhance their recall and phonemic awareness by associating letters with images or sounds, foundational for their future reading skills.
How to Play
- Begin by showing students an outline of an object that starts with a specific alphabet letter.
- Give the students about five seconds to guess the word associated with that letter.
- After they guess, reveal the object or word to confirm the correct answer.
- Continue the activity with different letters, progressing from A to Z, to ensure comprehensive alphabet recognition.
2. Hidden Picture Games
About the Game
Hidden Picture Games are an exciting way to reinforce vocabulary learning in a fun, visual manner. This game captures the attention of kindergarten students by making them eager to uncover the hidden image.
As they guess the picture, they actively engage with the associated vocabulary, strengthening their memory and recall in a playful setting.
How to Play
- Prepare a PowerPoint or use physical cards where a picture is hidden under colored shapes or squares.
- Gradually remove the shapes by clicking on them in a PowerPoint or physically uncovering them to reveal parts of the picture underneath.
- Please encourage students to guess the picture as more of it is revealed.
- I remove the shapes until the picture is visible, rewarding those who guessed correctly early on.
3. Let’s Dance Game
About the Game
Dancing games are always a hit with kindergarten students, and this game adds an educational twist by combining dancing with word or number recognition.
The game encourages physical movement, helping students burn off energy while reinforcing their vocabulary or counting skills. It’s a lively way to keep students active and learning simultaneously.
How to Play
- Display a PowerPoint or large chart with 30 squares containing a word or number.
- Students take turns reading 1, 2, or 3 words/numbers from the squares.
- The student who reads the last word or number must dance, or the rest of the class can dance while the last student remains still.
- Continue the game until all words/numbers have been read, ensuring everyone can participate and have fun.
4. Colors Guessing Game
About the Game
This game is particularly useful for reinforcing color vocabulary in a fun and engaging way. It challenges students to recall and identify colors based on objects they see, fostering their memory and visual processing skills.
The simple guessing format makes it suitable for young learners who enjoy the challenge of getting the answer right.
How to Play
- Show students a black-and-white image of an object, such as a car or an apple.
- Ask them, “What color is it?” and provide them with two options.
- Students must then guess the correct color of the object based on their knowledge and memory.
- Reveal the correct color and discuss it briefly to reinforce learning before moving on to the next object.
5. Four Corners Game
About the Game
The Four Corners Game is a simple yet highly engaging activity that gets students moving and thinking. Students practice making choices based on what they’ve learned by associating corners of the room with different vocabulary words.
The game’s suspense keeps students interested, as they never know which corner will be called out next.
How to Play:
- Assign each corner of the classroom a name based on the lesson’s vocabulary, such as colors, numbers, or animals.
- Write down one of the corner names on a piece of paper, but keep it hidden from the students.
- Give students five seconds to choose a corner and move to it.
- After the time is up, reveal the corner name you wrote down. All students in that corner are out.
- Repeat the process until only one student is declared the winner.
6. Telephone
About the Game
Telephone is a classic game perfect for practicing listening and speaking skills. Students pass a message around the circle, and by the time it reaches the last person, it’s often hilariously different from the original.
The game emphasizes the importance of clear communication and helps students practice pronunciation and vocabulary.
How to Play
- Arrange the students in a circle.
- Whisper a simple sentence or phrase to the first student in the circle (e.g., “The cat is under the table”).
- The first student whispers the message to the next student, who then whispers it to the next, and so on.
- The last student in the circle says the message out loud for everyone to hear.
- Compare the final message to the original one, and laugh at how it may have changed.
- Repeat with different sentences, allowing other students to start the message each time.
7. Weather Guessing Game
About the Game
The Weather Guessing Game is a simple yet effective way to teach young students about different types of weather. It helps them connect words with visual cues and encourages them to think about the world around them.
By guessing the weather, students improve their vocabulary and develop a basic understanding of meteorological terms.
How to Play
- Show the students an image or video clip representing weather (e.g., sunny, rainy, snowy).
- Ask the students, “How’s the weather?” and provide them with two possible answers (e.g., “Is it sunny or rainy?”).
- Students must choose the correct answer by raising their hand, moving to one side of the classroom, or verbally responding.
- If they guess correctly, they earn a point or a small reward.
8. Prepositions Game
About the Game
The Prepositions Game is a fun way to teach students about prepositions of place, such as “on,” “in,” and “under.” This game challenges students to remember the positions of objects and use the correct preposition when describing where something is located.
It’s an excellent activity for building both vocabulary and sentence structure skills.
How to Play
- Show students a scene with various objects placed in different locations (e.g., a ball on a table or a cat under a chair).
- Allow them to study the scene for about five seconds before covering it or changing the slide.
- Ask the students questions like, “Where is the teddy bear?” or “Where is the ball?”.
- Students must respond using the correct preposition (e.g., “The teddy bear is on the chair”).
- Continue with different scenes and questions, reinforcing prepositions with each round.
9. Duck Duck Goose
About the Game
Duck Duck Goose is a classic game easily adapted for ESL learning. It helps students practice vocabulary in a playful, interactive way. The excitement of the chase keeps children engaged, while the game’s repetitive nature reinforces the target language.
How to Play
- Have the students sit in a circle on the floor.
- Choose one student to be “it. ” This student will walk around the outside of the circle, tapping each student on the head and saying “duck” each time.
- At some point, the “it” student taps a child and says “goose,” prompting the “goose” to jump up and chase the “it” student around the circle.
- If the “goose” catches the “it” student before they can sit in the “goose’s” spot, the “it” student must go again. If not, the “goose” becomes the new “it.”
- To adapt the game for ESL learning, replace “duck” and “goose” with vocabulary words from the lesson (e.g., “apple” and “banana”).
10. Find Something Blue
About the Game
This game combines the thrill of a scavenger hunt with language learning. It’s an excellent way for students to review colors and practice identifying objects in their environment. The game encourages movement and quick thinking, making it fun and educational.
It’s also adaptable to other vocabulary topics beyond colors.
How to Play
- Have students sit in the middle of the classroom or playground.
- Instruct them to find something in the room that matches a specified color, starting with blue.
- When you say “Go,” students must stand up, find an object of that color, and bring it back to the center of the class.
- After everyone has found an item, ask each student to name the object they found (e.g., “It’s a blue ball” or “It’s a blue pencil”).
- Repeat the activity with different colors, ensuring that each child gets to participate multiple times.
11. Hot Potato
About the Game
Hot Potato is a lively game that combines quick thinking with physical activity. It’s a versatile game that can be adapted to any vocabulary or topic you are teaching.
The game encourages students to think on their feet and reinforces their understanding of the subject matter in a fun, pressure-free environment.
How to Play
- Have students sit or stand in a circle and play some lively music.
- Give one student a soft ball or a beanbag, which represents the “hot potato.”
- As the music plays, students pass the hot potato around the circle as quickly as possible.
- When the music stops, the student holding the hot potato must answer a question, complete a task, or say a word related to the lesson (e.g., name three fruits, say the alphabet).
- After the task is completed, the game resumes until all students have had a turn.
12. Matching Game
About the Game
Matching games are excellent for improving memory and concentration and reinforcing vocabulary. This game involves finding pairs of matching pictures, which helps students remember the words associated with each image.
It’s a fun, interactive way to review various vocabulary topics, from animals to colors.
How to Play
- Prepare a grid of 12 squares on a board or the floor, with a picture hidden under each square.
- Allow students to choose two squares to reveal the pictures underneath.
- If the pictures match, the student gets a point, and those squares remain uncovered.
- If the pictures do not match, the teacher covers them again, and the next student takes a turn.
- Continue until all matches have been found, and the student with the most points wins.
13. Touch Your Nose, Please (Simon Says Game)
About the Game
This classic Simon Says game variation incorporates a polite twist by using “please” as a cue for action. It’s an excellent way to teach both listening skills and manners simultaneously.
The game keeps students on their toes. They must listen carefully and follow instructions only when the magic word “please” is used.
How to Play
- The teacher commands the students, such as “Touch your nose, please,” or “Clap your hands, please.”
- Students should only follow the command if the teacher includes “please.”
- If the command is given without “please” (e.g., “Touch your nose”), students should remain still.
- Anyone following an incorrect command is out; the winner is the last student standing.
14. Meet In The Middle
About the Game
Meet In The Middle is a dynamic game combining physical activity and language practice. It’s particularly good for practicing vocabulary with flashcards, as students must recall and pronounce words as they move toward each other.
A competitive element with rock, scissors, and paper adds to the fun, making it a favorite among young learners.
How to Play
- Lay 6-8 flashcards in a line on the floor, spaced evenly apart.
- Choose two students to start at opposite ends of the line.
- The students jump from one flashcard to the next, saying the word on each card out loud as they land.
- The two students play rock, scissors, and paper when they meet in the middle.
- The winner continues to move forward while the loser sits down, and a new student takes their place at the end of the line.
- The goal is to be the first student to reach the opposite end of the line.
15. Animals Guessing Game
About the Game
This guessing game is designed to help students learn and reinforce animal vocabulary. By showing outlines of various animals, students are encouraged to recall the names of animals they have learned in class.
The time limit adds a fun challenge, keeping the students engaged and eager to guess correctly.
How to Play
- Prepare 10 rounds of images showing the outlines of different animals, such as a lion, elephant, or bird.
- Display each outline and give students a few seconds to guess the animal.
- Allow students to call out their guesses or raise their hands to answer.
- After the time is up, reveal the correct animal and provide additional information or fun facts to reinforce learning.
- Continue with the next animal, tracking how many each student guesses correctly.
16. What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf?
About the Game
This outdoor game combines physical activity with language learning, perfect for energetic kindergarten students. It’s particularly effective for teaching numbers and telling time in a fun, immersive way.
The suspense of the game keeps students engaged and excited to participate.
How to Play
- Choose one student to be the “wolf” who stands at one end of the playground or classroom, facing away from the other students.
- The rest of the students line up at the opposite end and call out, “What time is it, Mr. Wolf?”
- The wolf responds with a time (e.g., “It’s three o’clock”), and the students take that many steps forward.
- This continues until the wolf decides to answer, “It’s dinner time!” at which point the wolf turns around and chases the students.
- The first student caught becomes the next wolf, and the game begins again.
17. I Spy With My Little Eye
About the Game
“I Spy” is a classic game for vocabulary review. It encourages students to observe their surroundings and think critically about the objects they see.
By giving clues based on the first letter of a word, students also practice their phonics skills, making it a well-rounded educational game.
How to Play
- The teacher or a student starts by choosing an object in the room without revealing it to the others.
- They give a clue by saying, “I spy with my little eye something beginning with [letter].”
- The rest of the class looks around the room and tries to guess the object based on the letter clue.
- The student who guesses correctly gets to choose the next object and repeat the process.
- Continue the game until everyone has had a turn or as time allows.
18. Fruits and Vegetables Guessing Game
About the Game
This game focuses on teaching vocabulary related to fruits and vegetables. Students are shown outlines of various fruits and vegetables and must guess what they are before the time runs out.
The game also introduces plural forms of nouns, making it a dual-purpose activity for language learning.
How to Play
- Show students an outline of a fruit or vegetable, such as an apple, carrot, or broccoli.
- Give them a few seconds to guess the fruit or vegetable before revealing the answer.
- Ensure that all the words are plural (e.g., apples, carrots) to reinforce plural noun usage.
- Repeat with different fruits and vegetables, keeping track of correct guesses.
- Discuss the characteristics of each item, such as color, shape, and taste, to deepen the learning experience.
19. What’s Missing?
About the Game
“What’s Missing?” is a memory-enhancing game that challenges students to recall which items from a set are no longer visible.
This activity helps students practice vocabulary and strengthens their ability to focus and remember details, which are critical skills in language learning.
How to Play
- Begin by placing 6-8 flashcards on the board, each displaying a vocabulary word or picture.
- Have the students repeat the words aloud with you to ensure they know each one.
- After a short period (about 10 seconds), ask the students to close their eyes or turn away from the board.
- Remove one flashcard while their eyes are closed.
- Ask the students to open their eyes and identify which flashcard is missing.
- The student who identifies the missing card correctly can take the next turn or earn a point.
20. Feelings and Emotions Game
About the Game
This game helps students learn to identify and describe different feelings. Using emoticons or pictures, students are encouraged to think about how they feel and practice using phrases like “I am happy” or “I am sad.”
The game is a great way to introduce emotional vocabulary in a way that’s relatable and fun for young learners.
How to Play
- Show students a blank emoticon or a simple drawing of a face with a neutral expression.
- Ask them questions like, “Are you happy?” or “Are you sad?” and let them choose the correct answer by saying “Yes, I am” or “No, I’m not.”
- After they’ve answered, reveal the actual emotion on the face by drawing in the correct expression (e.g., a smile for happy, a frown for sad).
- Give points or small rewards for correct answers, encouraging participation and discussion about different emotions.
21. Charades
About the Game
Charades is a fun and active game that helps students practice vocabulary while encouraging them to use their bodies to communicate. It’s particularly effective for reviewing nouns and verbs as students act out different words for their classmates to guess.
The game promotes creativity and teamwork, making it a great choice for young learners.
How to Play
- Write down different vocabulary words (such as animals, actions, or objects) on pieces of paper and place them in a hat or bag.
- Choose one student to come to the front, draw a word from the hat, and act it out without speaking.
- The rest of the class must guess what the student is acting out.
- The student who guesses correctly gets to go next.
- Continue the game until all students have had a turn, ensuring everyone gets to participate.
22. The Phonics Train
About the Game
The Phonics Train is a creative and engaging way to teach phonics and letter sounds to young learners. The game’s visual and auditory aspects help students remember letter sounds more effectively, making it easier for them to recognize and pronounce words.
The game also adds an element of fun with its train theme, which appeals to young children’s love of vehicles.
How to Play
- Use a video or PowerPoint where a train moves across the screen with flashcards of different letters or words on each car.
- Show the train passing by with all the phonics cards visible.
- Then, play the video or display the slide again with one missing card.
- Ask the students to recall which card is missing, encouraging them to answer correctly.
- Repeat with different sets of phonics cards to cover a variety of letter sounds.
23. Bingo
About the Game
Bingo is a popular game that can be adapted for various educational purposes. In this version, students practice vocabulary recognition by matching words or pictures to the items on their bingo cards.
The game helps reinforce vocabulary while adding an element of competition and fun to the classroom.
How to Play
- Prepare bingo cards with a 5×5 grid, filling each square with vocabulary words or pictures related to the lesson.
- Draw corresponding words or pictures from a hat and call them out individually.
- Students must listen carefully and mark the words or pictures on their bingo cards if they have them.
- The first student to complete a row, column, or diagonal shouts, “Bingo!” and wins the game.
- Continue playing until several students have had a chance to win.
24. Clothes Guessing Game
About the Game
This guessing game is ideal for reviewing clothing vocabulary. By showing outlines of clothing items, students are challenged to think quickly and recall the names of various articles of clothing.
The game reinforces vocabulary and helps students connect images and words, a key skill in language acquisition.
How to Play
- Prepare ten rounds of images showing the outlines of different pieces of clothing, such as a hat, shirt, or pants.
- Display each outline on the screen or board and give students a set amount of time (e.g., 10 seconds) to guess the item.
- Students can shout out their answers, or you can have them write them down if they are also practicing their writing skills.
- After the time is up, reveal the correct answer and move on to the next item.
- The student who guesses the most items correctly wins a small prize or earns a star on a chart.
Conclusion
We’ve shared 24 fun games to make English learning a joy for your kindergarten students. These activities go beyond just teaching words – they build confidence, spark creativity, and create lasting memories.
Mixing play with learning, we help our little ones absorb language naturally. Remember, each child learns differently, so feel free to tweak these games to fit your classroom’s needs.
The key is to keep things light, engaging, and full of laughter.
You’ll likely come up with new ideas as you use these games. That’s the beauty of teaching – we’re always learning and growing alongside our students. So, gear up to transform your ESL lessons into exciting adventures.
Your kindergarteners will be chatting away in English before you know it!
