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Kids' Games to Learn English

Games are not, in themselves, a key to learning. Games help to reinforce and back up lessons, but there's a reason you never hear of someone who learned algebra from Math Blaster or swordplay from Prince of Persia. For learners of English as a second language (ESL), games are a helpful tool to practice English and to use vocabulary. ESL teachers or parents of children studying English should use games regularly to help students have fun while undertaking the tricky task of learning a second language.

Hangman
- Hangman is the ultimate vocabulary review game for children. Even absolute beginners in English can understand the rules, and the game is excellent for reviewing the letters of the alphabet and lesson-specific words. Variations that are particularly popular with young learners include a team game of hangman. Make two puppets or figures with a magnet on the back to stick to your blackboard or whiteboard. Draw seven or eight stairs leading to some dangerous object (a fire, shark-infested waters) and then have two teams guess letters. Each wrong answer brings the character one step closer to disaster.
Word Searches
- You can use word searches in your classroom (or at home) in two ways to review vocabulary. The first is the more common: Use a word search generator to create a puzzle using some of the week's or month's vocabulary. The Armored Penguin website (see Resources) has a free word search generator that allows you to enter up to 54 words and customize the output of the puzzle. The puzzle maker creates PDF or HTML puzzles that can be emailed or printed.
  
  The second way to engage students with a word search is perhaps the more effective for education. Print a blank word search grid and have students choose 10 or 15 vocabulary words from the week and enter them on the grid, insisting that words be placed backward and diagonally. Students will have to be careful spelling the words while they place them on the grid.
Printable Game Boards
- Lanternfish (see Resources) is a large online resource page for ESL teachers and has a large board game section. These games have been developed by ESL teachers and focus on common language issues and lesson themes. For example, Lanternfish has an Animal Kingdom game with bright colors and pictures of animals to keep children interested while using adjectives and learning animal classification. All of the games on Lanternfish are free to download and focus on speaking, so they're best played with a group of students.
Starfall
- Starfall is a website designed to teach phonics and reading basics. The site has interactive stories that are fun for children to read through, and sells merchandise such as phonics jigsaw puzzles. Starfall has five simple jigsaw puzzles that are super-colorful and geared toward learning key English sounds.

Kids Games