ESL Games for Elementary Students

Olympic Torch

Subject: Countries vs Nationalities

 

This is an original version of the popular Word Chain game.

Skills: Speaking, Listening

Level: Elementary

Recommended Age: 12+

Number of Participants: 2-6 players

Time: 10-15 minutes

Place: Classroom

Equipment: A black- or whiteboard

Materials: A piece of chalk or a marker

Preliminary Preparation: Not required

Immediate Preparation: (3-5 minutes).

1. If possible, arrange the game participants so that they are sitting or standing in a semi-circle in front of the board.

2. Make sure that the players are familiar with the game of Word Chain. If they are not, it would be feasible to briefly explain the general rules of the classic version.

3. On the board, write two demonstration sentences like these:

 

A Greek athlete carried the Olympic torch to Italy.

An Italian athlete carried the Olympic torch to Spain.

 

4. Ask the students to take it in turns extending this chain orally.

How to Play. A typical game might start something like this:
Player A: A Spanish athlete carried the Olympic torch to France.

Player B: A French athlete carried the Olympic torch to Germany.

and so on around the circle.

A student, who has misspelled the nationality or cannot name a new country, drops out of the competition. The activity continues around the circle as long as only one participant is left. This last remaining player becomes the winner of the game.