Pictionary is a great activity to use as a warmer, to introduce topic specific lexis, or as a reward at the end of a hard lesson. The lexis can be graded depending on the level of the learners. To generate the lexis, there are many options:
- http://www.wordgenerator.net/pictionary-word-generator.php
- Reward Upper Intermediate – ‘Don’t Say It’
- Lexis from previous chapters in the course book
- Students select their own words and write a list of 10-15 words each before starting the game
- Students choose words they know in their L1 but not in English
In groups students describe their words for the other students to guess. Smart phones can be used when the students know the word in their L1 but not in English. They look up the word on a dictionary, and check it matches with the original. Students can then note down the new lexis in their notebooks.
Another variation is that students show their group a picture of a word they don’t know in English from Google images. The chances are that if one student in the group doesn’t know the word, the others won’t either! The students look up the translation in English and the first one to guess correctly gets a point. All students then note down the new lexis in their notebooks. This activity works well as a brainstorming activity for a new topic.
If you try this activity, let me know how it goes in the comments!