Looking for fun ways to get your students speaking and writing? These activities are perfect for a quick warm-up or a fun game. They’re great for any age and make learning vocabulary exciting.
4 Vocabulary Activities to Get Your Students Speaking
1. Tic-Talk-Toe
A fun twist on the classic Tic-Tac-Toe game, this activity encourages students to think critically while using vocabulary in context.
- Write a vocabulary word in each square of a Tic-Tac-Toe grid.
- To claim a square, students must correctly use the word in a sentence before placing their X or O.
- The first team to get three in a row wins!
2. Word Spark
This rapid-fire game promotes quick thinking and builds deeper vocabulary connections.
- Say a word and have students respond with the first word that comes to mind.
- The game continues in a fast-paced manner, encouraging spontaneous speaking.
- Use it as a warm-up to introduce the lesson theme.
3. Sentence Stream
This memory-based speaking activity is great for reinforcing vocabulary while challenging students’ recall abilities.
- One student starts with a sentence, such as, “I am bringing cookies to the picnic.”
- The next student repeats the sentence and adds another item: “I am bringing apples and cookies to the picnic.”
- The game continues until every student adds to the list, helping to develop sentence structure and vocabulary retention.
4. Ten Questions
A fun guessing game that promotes critical thinking and strategic questioning.
- Think of a word related to the lesson theme or target vocabulary.
- Students take turns asking yes/no questions to guess the word.
- They have up to ten questions to figure it out!
4 Vocabulary Activities to Get Your Students Writing
1. The Longest Sentence
Challenge students to use as many vocabulary words as possible in a single sentence.
- Provide a list of new or review vocabulary words.
- Students create a grammatically correct sentence using as many words from the list as they can.
- The student with the longest sentence wins!
2. Minute to Win It
Test students’ memory and vocabulary recall in this fast-paced writing activity.
- Show students a list of vocabulary words and allow them one minute to study it.
- Hide the words and have students write down as many as they can remember.
- The student with the most correct words wins!
3. Acrostic Poems
A creative way to reinforce vocabulary while allowing students to express themselves.
- Have students write simple acrostic poems based on the lesson topic.
- They should use new or review vocabulary in their poems.
- Depending on their level, students can write one word, a phrase, or full sentences for each letter.
4. Word Webs
Encourage deeper vocabulary connections with this brainstorming activity.
- Write a vocabulary word on the board and draw a circle around it.
- Have students add other words or phrases they associate with that word around the circle.
- Use this activity as a warm-up to introduce the lesson theme and encourage discussion.
Vocabulary practice doesn’t have to be boring! These interactive speaking and writing activities will engage students, build their confidence, and enhance their language skills. Try incorporating them into your next lesson and watch your students thrive!
Have any favorite vocabulary activities? Share them in the comments below!
