Free Phonics Games and Activities for the ESL English Classroom - The first knowledge sharing application in Vietnam

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How To Play

NOTE: This requires some prep, but once the prep is done it!s an easy “go to” game, and most of my kids love it (all of my classes are small, and this is a great one on one game). Also, it requires a sort of “hair-trigger! set up (explained below).

Prep: You!ll need to make some kind of fairly large target (8”x8” ish) with a weak-ish magnet afﬁxed to it (imagine one of the FCs with a cheapo ﬂat magnet taped to it!s back so that it could be stuck on a black board). I made cards that look like the aliens from Galaga.

You!ll also need two bean bags or two small soft balls (I prefer bean bags).
Last, all of my KGs have towel racks in most of the classrooms that are free standing and steel. This is crucial for the game, but can maybe be improvised (read on for it!s function).

Assuming the above:

(For the sake of clarity, I!ll assume one on one, rather than teams).
Place towel rack again a ﬂat wall (no lockers, etc. behind it). Stick the space invaders to it and gently wedge a tiny Alpha FC between each one and the rack. On a table at the opposite side of the room place various FCs which begin with the target phonics.
Give each student a bean bag. When you say, “Ready? Go!” they both toss their bean bags at the towel rack. When a space invader is hit it will fall and drop it!s Alpha FC. If they miss, they simply retrieve their bean bag and try again.
When a student reveals a FC s/he runs to it, and calls aloud it!s letter name, then runs to table and matches it up with whatever FC starts with its phonic, announcing the phonic and the vocab word. (e.g. “D” is revealed. Student picks it up and shouts “D!” then, at the table, matches it to the dinosaur card and shouts “d, d, dinosaur!”).
Student then returns to throwing the bean bag at space invaders.
The game is a race to make the most correct pairs. As the game isn!t turn based, it!s very fast paced, so you will probably have enough time to play twice (the students will surely insist that you do).