Vocabulary games with movement:
10 ideas for tired classes

10 vocabulary games with movement

1. 1

   Running dictation

   15 min

   A short text with new words hangs in the corridor. One partner runs to it, memorises a sentence, runs back and dictates it. Then they swap. Practises reading, memorising, speaking and writing.

2. 2

   Vocabulary relay

   10 min

   Two teams, one board: you say a word in the students’ language, and the first student from each team runs to the board to write the translation. Correct spelling scores a point.

3. 3

   Fly swatter

   5 min

   Words are stuck on the board, you say the translation, and two students race to swat the right word.

   Rules & template →
4. 4

   True or false corners

   5 min

   You say a translation – right or wrong. Students run to the “true” or “false” corner. Whoever is in the wrong corner explains the correct answer.

5. 5

   Simon says

   5 min

   Instructions in the target language are only carried out when “Simon says”, “Jacques a dit” or “Simón dice” comes first. Ideal for body parts and verbs.

6. 6

   Fruit salad

   10 min

   Chairs in a circle, each student gets a word from one of three categories. You call out a category in the target language and everyone in it swaps seats. One chair is missing.

7. 7

   Ball toss

   5 min

   Whoever has the ball says a word in the target language and throws it on. The catcher translates and says the next word.

8. 8

   Stand up if …

   3 min

   You read out words – stand up if it is a verb, stay seated for nouns. Or: stand up for animals, raise your hand for food.

9. 9

   Charades

   10 min

   A student acts out a verb or hobby and the class guesses in the target language.

   Rules & template →
10. 10

    Digital tug of war

    5–10 min

    When space is tight: two teams play on their phones, and every right answer pulls the rope on the projector to their side. The class cheers – energy without moving chairs.

    See the live quiz →