5 Creative Activities To Practise Vocabulary In The Classroom

As the end of the term approaches, many of us English language teachers are looking for engaging vocabulary revision games or fun ideas to wrap up the school year. 

To make this time memorable and enjoyable for your students, here are 5 fun revision ideas that will help them practise and reinforce their vocabulary skills. 

1. Teach me in a minute

This vocabulary revision game requires minimal preparation and is best suited to teenage learners. It is ideal for practising grouped vocabulary sets, such as words related to shopping, sports or free time activities. It also combines creativity and technology. 

• Divide students into small groups and provide each group with a list of 6–8 words related to the chosen theme.
• Instruct students to create a TikTok-style video where they teach these words in a memorable way. Give examples – they could create a rap, a poem, show physical items or even choreograph a dance, for example.
• Encourage students to bring props or any other resources they may need to make their videos more engaging.
• Have groups present their videos to the class or upload them to a shared school platform, if available. 

If you are unable to use phones in class, have students perform their TikTok-style video without recording it. 

2. Alphabet

This team vocabulary review game requires little to no preparation and is suitable for all ages of learners. It is a fun way to bring competition into the classroom while revising learnt language.  

• Divide students into groups. Have each group write the letters of the alphabet in a vertical line on a piece of paper. 
• Tell the class the vocabulary theme, such as food or animals, for example. 
• Set a timer, depending on the level of your class. For lower levels, set a longer timer (e.g. 5–10 minutes). For higher levels, set a shorter timer (e.g. 2–4 minutes). 
• Have groups write one word related to the theme for each letter of the alphabet. The first team to finish or the team with the most words at the end of the timer wins.

For students requiring more support, elicit some examples before starting the activity to provide guidance, e.g. A – apple, B – banana etc.

3. Do you get the message?

This fun revision idea promotes active listening and communication skills and encourages students to use their imagination. It is best suited to teenage or adult learners. 

For this activity, you’ll need to do a little bit of preparation. You’ll need to cut strips of paper and write a single vocabulary word, phrase or idiom on each one.

• Distribute one strip of paper to each student and instruct them to keep their word or phrase a secret.
• Throughout the lesson, encourage students to use their assigned vocabulary in conversations as much as they can, without making it too obvious.
• At the end of the activity, get feedback. Have students guess each other’s words or phrases. 

4. Hot potato 

This fast-paced vocabulary revision game is great for practising spontaneous thinking and peer learning. It can be played with learners of any age. 

• Get a soft ball or a scrunched-up piece of paper. Have students form a circle around the room.
• Name a category or theme, for example, things found in the living room. 
• Students throw the object around the room. Each student that catches the object must say a word related to the topic. If they repeat a word, they sit down and are out. If they can’t think of a word within 5 seconds, they sit down and are out. 
• The winner is the last student standing.

5. Peer quiz

This motivating activity encourages students to learn from each other and put language into their own context. It is a fun revision idea suitable for both teenage and adult learners. 

• Choose an online platform such as Kahoot or Quizlet to create an interactive quiz.
• Ask students to create their own vocabulary quiz for the class to complete.
• Incorporate these quizzes as a regular part of your lessons, either at the beginning or end of each session.

This activity allows students to use technology in the classroom. However, if you’re in a low-tech environment, have students simply write their questions on a piece of paper and read them out loud to quiz the class. 

As the term draws to a close, it’s just as important to keep students engaged and motivated in the classroom, as in earlier parts of the year. By incorporating these fun vocabulary revision games into your classroom, you can provide enjoyable and interactive ways to reinforce language skills, promote teamwork, and nurture students’ creativity.

For other ways of helping your students learn vocabulary, check out this blog.