The Ibo tribe of Nigeria uses thousands of masks that incarnate spirits of the dead by forming a massive network of souls. It's adaptable to almost any language point that you might be focusing on. This classic game is a favorite for all students but it can get boring quite quickly. Before the class, write out some actions - like washing the dishes - and put them in a bag. Much African music consists of clapping, singing and dancing to music that is heavily laden with drums.

There are literally hundreds, probably thousands, of games that you can play with your students. Then tape the map to a cork or cardboard backing.

Or you can buy a large map of Africa and cover up the …


Write 3 statements about yourself on the board, two of which should be lies and one which should be true. The life cycle of a cell is defined by a series of events that lead to its division and replication. But the game mechanics of Oware suggest that it could even prove to be useful in a biology classroom. Stand in front of the class (you are Simon for the duration of this game). EFL games are used to test vocabulary, practice conversing, learn tenses - the list is endless. Some of the music has been passed down for hundreds of years through generations. Students should be able to guess their problem based on the advice they get from their peers. Continue until each team member has described a word to the student in the Hot Seat. It is also a brilliant ice breaker between students if you teach classes who do not know one another -- and especially essential if you are teaching a small class size. Game: 3 – 4 students are chosen to stand at the front of the room. Whether you’re teaching adults or children, games will liven up your lesson and ensure that your students will leave the classroom wanting more. Teams must now put their sentences in the correct order. The rest of the class then put their heads on the table and hold their thumbs in the air. Kids can learn their African geography through fun games. Put each sentence into hats, cups or any objects you can find, keeping each separate. Jen Saunders is an entrepreneur and veteran journalist who covers a wide range of topics. This article was originally published in October 2013; we redesigned and updated this article in May 2018. Games have been part of the social fabric of many African societies for hundreds of years. Games and fun activities are a vital part of teaching English as a foreign language.

Write a word on the board. Copyright © 2010–2020, The Conversation US, Inc. Popular board games across the continent. Check our teaching job board for the latest openings around the world! The only danger I have found with this game is that students never want to stop playing it.

More than 3,000 tribes span the African continent. African board games, on the other hand, are simply made and can even be reproduced, or designed, in a playground by digging holes on the ground. Then do an action but this time say only the action and omit ‘Simon Says’. The students must copy what you do. Board games, in particular, have been used to teach, or reinforce, values as well as cognitive and motor skills. Then have the students present the flag to the class. Board Race is a fun game that is used for revising vocabulary, whether it be words from the lesson you’ve just taught or words from a lesson you taught last week. It’s … She is a qualified EFL teacher and has taught in the UK, Scandinavia and South Korea. They are also able to practice their speaking and listening skills and it can be used for any level of learner. In this game, children help a lion, or mbube, locate and capture an impala (a deer-like animal with antlers). It is perfect for practicing tenses, word order, reading & writing skills and grammar. Apps for mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets feature quizzes on African geography. Allow your students to ask you questions about each statement and then guess which one is the truth.

Pair them up and have them play again, this time with their list, with their new partner. In reality most of the things we know, and a great number of the skills we acquire as children and adults, are learned outside the classroom – in conversations with peers, engaging in community service, on the playground. This requires players to use multiple strategies and techniques. An inventory of these games is an excellent first step, but there is much work to be done. PhD Candidate, Learning Design & Technology & Comparative & International Education, Learning Performances Systems Department, College of Education, Pennsylvania State University. The first team to shout the correct answer gets a point. No matter how old we are, we all love a good competition and this game works wonders with all age groups. The students must then write as many words as you require related to the topic in the form of a relay race. This is a great game to encourage team work and bring a sense of competition to the classroom. Some regions vary from others in terms of climate, people and cultures.

This is a stick fighting game. African board games are learning spaces for players to develop cognitive and non-cognitive skills given the mechanics or rules embedded in these games. Players begin the game standing in a … Tell the students to draw the word as a picture on the board and encourage their team to guess the word.

Have both students mime the action to their team. This list of ten classic ESL games every teacher should know will help get you started and feeling prepared. Reward children for good behavior by allowing them to play the part of Simon. Learning Manipulatives […] A fun lesson on tribal masks can be initiated by having your students create paper mache tribal masks.

Teaching students about the countries of Africa can be a heavy task. Thus, using Oware mechanics or rules, the concept of cell life cycle can be explained to students in a biology course. Africa is a large continent made up of 54 countries that belong to the African Union. Then, have the children form a line and take turns answering the questions. Each has its own mechanics, requires specific skills and produces distinctive learning outcomes. Ask students to suggest a letter. These games will keep your students engaged and happy as they learn! You will also want to incorporate digital media into aspects of the lessons. Miming is an excellent way for students to practice their tenses and their verbs. The first Games …

This game is still played across East Africa and is popular among children of all ages. This game works well with any age group, just adapt it to fit the age you’re working with. Continue until the students guess the word correctly (they win) or you complete the diagram (you win).
Craft Area Add African animal stamps and pens Weaving Use a Styrofoam tray with rubber bands around it and weave with ribbon, feathers, sticks, etc. Want to jump right into the list? Games can be used to warm up the class before your lesson begins, during the lesson to give students a break when you’re tackling a tough subject, or at the end of class when you have a few minutes left to kill.

It is also excellent for the adult EFL classroom, or if you're teaching teenagers. Repeat this until all students have mimed at least one action. Give one team member from each team a pen and ask them to choose a word from the bag. Split your class into teams of 2, 3, or 4.

Draw a line down the middle of the board and write a topic at the top. For a fun project, you can have your students make their own drums.

The aim of the game is to capture 25 seeds. Bring the whole class back together and have students announce one new thing they learned about another student as a recap.

Split the class into 2 teams, or more if you have a large class. Hot Seat allows students to build their vocabulary and encourages competition in the classroom. If you have a very large class, it may be better to split the students into teams of 3 or 4. It should be played after the ‘giving advice’ vocabulary lesson has taken place.