'Opposites' Card Set (Beginner)

warm cool east

west thin fat

high low quick

slow easy difficult

cheap expensive far

near winter summer

 Matching Cards 1 - Opposites
Level

Beginner to advanced.

Skills Practised

Recognising opposites.

Time

5 -10 minutes.

Preparation

1. Print out the cards (beginner, intermediate or advanced) or make your own set of cards.

How it Works

1. Divide the class into pairs or groups of 3 to 4. Give each pair or group a complete set of
18 shuffled cards and have them place the cards face down in 3 rows of 6 in such a way that
no-one sees what is written on any of the cards.

2. One player then begins by picking up any two cards and showing them to the group. If
the player believes the cards are a match (i.e. one has a word and the other has its opposite),
he or she says so and keeps the cards. If the player believes the two cards are not a match,
he or she returns them face down to the same positions from where they were taken. Then
the next player to the left takes any two cards, and so on.

3. The game continues until all the cards have been claimed as 'matches', with the player
having the most cards at the end winning.

Notes:
- If players believe a pair of cards claimed as a 'match' are not, in fact, a match, they may
ask for the teacher to check. If they are a match, the player picking up the cards keeps
them. If not, they are returned to the same positions face down from where they were taken.
- This game tests not only knowledge of opposites, but also short-term memory. Players
must try to recall what is written on the cards they have already seen and their positions in
order to choose 'matches'.

Variation for a smaller class: In order to keep a pair of matching cards, a player must
correctly use each word in a sentence. If a small number of pairs or groups are playing,
have each call you to come and check whether the sentences are correct or not when
necessary.
 Phrasal Verb Cards 1

get over Recover put off

Postpone call off cancel

hold on Wait come across

Find look back on recollect

carry on Continue take place

Happen look up to admire

 Phrasal Verb Cards 2

blow up explode throw away

discard look like resemble

leave out omit pass away

die pick out choose

work out exercise make up

create pick on bully

Matching Cards 2 - Phrasal Verbs

Level

Upper Intermediate.
Skills Practised

Matching phrasal verbs with synonyms.

Time

5 -10 minutes.

Preparation

1. Print out a set of cards (Set 1 or Set 2) or make your own set of cards.

How it Works

1. Divide the class into pairs or groups of 3 to 4. Give each pair or group a complete set of
18 shuffled cards and have them place the cards face down in 3 rows of 6 in such a way that
no-one sees what is written on any of the cards.

2. One player then begins by picking up any two cards and showing them to the group. If
the player believes the cards are a match (i.e. one has a phrasal verb and the other has its
synonym), he or she says so and keeps the cards. If the player believes the two cards are not
a match, he or she returns them face down to the same positions from where they were
taken. Then the next player to the left takes any two cards, and so on.

3. The game continues until all the cards have been claimed as 'matches', with the player
having the most cards at the end winning.

Notes:
- If players believe a pair of cards claimed as a 'match' are not, in fact, a match, they may
ask for the teacher to check. If they are a match, the player picking up the cards keeps
them. If not, they are returned to the same positions face down from where they were taken.
- This game tests not only knowledge of phrasal verbs, but also short-term memory. Players
must try to recall what is written on the cards they have already seen and their positions in
order to choose 'matches'.

Variation for a smaller class: In order to keep a pair of cards, a player must use the
phrasal verb correctly in a sentence. Have each pair or group call you over to check
whether the sentence is correct or not when necessary.
 Twenty Questions
Level

Any level.

Skills Practised

Asking and answering 'Yes or No' questions.

Time

Flexible (usually 4-6 minutes per round with as many rounds as you like).

About this game

This game is a variation on the traditional 'Twenty Questions', with players asking
questions requiring a 'Yes' or 'No' answer to discover whatever the 'question-master' is
thinking of. Unlike the traditional game, which starts with the question 'Is it animal,
vegetable or mineral?', this version starts with the question-master stating the general topic
of whatever he or she is thinking of. This could be one of the topics found on the 'topic
cards' provided (animals, countries, foods, sports, actors, actresses, singers, bands, movies,
T.V. shows) or another topic related to whatever your students have recently studied.
Players may earn points in a variety of ways, with each keeping a record of their score.

Preparation

1. Print out the topic cards here or make your own set of cards.

2. Make sure each player has a piece of paper on which to record his or her points.

How it Works

1. Put the topic cards face down in a pile on a table at the front of the classroom and put a
pen and piece of paper next to the pile. After explaining the game, ask for a student to
volunteer to be the first question-master. This student then comes forward and takes the top
card and thinks of something relevant to the card's topic. After writing this on the piece of
paper provided*, he or she then states the topic.
2. Players begin asking 'Yes or No' questions, with the first player to raise a hand asking the
first question. If the question is grammatically correct, this player earns a point and the
question-master answers it. If the question is not grammatically correct, another player may
try to ask the same question correctly, again after raising a hand. If correct, this player earns
a point. If it is still not correct, ask the question again yourself and have the question-master
answer it. (If the question-master isn't sure of an answer, he or she should say so.)

3. The game continues with players asking questions as above. If any player thinks he or
she knows what the question-master is thinking of, he or she should say so. If it is not
correct, the question-master earns one point and play continues as before. If it is correct, the
player guessing earns three points and becomes the next question-master. This player then
comes forward, picks up the next topic card, and play continues as above.

4. If no-one has guessed what the question-master is thinking of after twenty questions have
been asked, the question-master states what it is and earns one point. Another student then
volunteers to be the next question-master.

5. After playing however many rounds you wish your students to play, they add up their
points to find the winner.

Notes:
- It might be best to keep a record on the board of the number of questions asked during
each round.
- If your students are having trouble thinking of questions, you can help out by asking some
yourself.
- If a beginner or lower-intermediate class is playing, you might like to write some model
questions on the board before play begins.

*this allows question-masters to prove that they haven't changed whatever it is they're
thinking of during play in order to gain extra points.
Animals Countries

Sports Foods

Singers Bands

Actors Actresses

Jobs T.V. Shows

 Hot Seat
Level

Beginner to advanced.

Skills Practised

Speaking and listening.

Time

Flexible.

Preparation
1. Prepare a list of five to nine words your class has recently learned.
2. Draw a scoring table on the board, like this:

Team A Team B

How it Works

1. Ask your students to form two teams and have them move their chairs forward to form
two groups facing the board. After explaining the game and modelling the roles if
necessary, ask for one player from each team to move his or her chair forward again and
turn it to face his or her group. These players then sit in their chairs (now 'hot seats') with
their backs to the board.

2. Write the first word on the board, making sure the players in the 'hot seats' can't see it.
After you say 'Go!', the members of each team try to elicit this word from their team-
member in the 'hot seat' without saying the word or giving any clues as to its spelling (such
as the first letter). For example, if the word is 'vitamins', players could make statements
such as 'We need lots of these in our food' or ask leading questions such as 'What does fruit
have a lot of?'. The team whose 'hot seat' player first says the target word wins a point.

3. The two players in the 'hot seats' then swap seats with another member of their respective
teams. After writing the second word on the board, say 'Go!' again, and so on. The game
continues until all the words have been used, with the team having the most points at the
end of the game winning.
Notes:
- If neither of the players in the 'hot seats' has stated the word within a reasonable length of
time, move on to the next word without having the players swap seats.
- It's a good idea to tell the players the total number of words you intend to write on the
board before play begins. This allows players to gauge their team's chances of winning as
the game progresses.

Variations: There are many possible variations on this game. You could write the names of
famous people instead of recently-learned words, or movie titles, song titles, countries,
famous places, etc.

For a small class (3 - 6 students): Set up just one 'hot seat' and have a player write any
word on the board. The other players try to elicit this word from the player in the 'hot seat'.
After this player has had a chance to guess 2 or 3 different words, players alternate roles as
they wish. This variation need not involve scoring.
monkey pig

horse Dog

bull Tiger

elephant Snake

chicken Fish
 doctor bus driver

fire fighter soldier

cook waiter

teacher singer

farmer police officer

 playing baseball riding a horse

catching a fish feeding a cat

going to bed watching a movie

playing computer
eating a hamburger
games

buying shoes washing a dog

What's The Word? (1)

Level

Beginner.

Skills Practised

Vocabulary recall and sentence construction.

Time

Flexible.

About this game

In this game players take turns miming in order to elicit a word or verb phrase. Other
players call out words or phrases until someone calls out the correct one. This player earns
a point for his or her team and the chance to earn another point by correctly using the word
or phrase in a sentence.

Preparation

1. Print out a set of cards, either animals, jobs, or actions, or make a similar set yourself.
2. Draw a scoring table on the board, like this:

Team A Team B

How it Works

1. After explaining the game and modelling the roles, divide the class into two teams and
have each team choose a name. Then place the cards face down in a pile at the front of the
classroom.

2. Ask for any member of the first team to come forward. This player then takes the top
card and acts in such a way as to suggest (without speaking) whatever is written on the
card.

3. If any member of either team thinks he or she knows what is written, they call it out. The
first player to call it out correctly earns a point for his or her team. This player can then earn
another point by correctly using the word or words in a sentence.

4. A player from the second team then comes forward and picks up the next card and mimes
whatever is written on it, and so on. Play continues until all the cards have been used, with
the team earning the most points winning.

Notes:
- If no-one has guessed what is written on the card within a reasonable length of time, ask
for the 'actor' to state it before continuing the game as usual.
- To play a shorter game, either set a time limit for the game as a whole or use just a few of
the cards.
 MASTERMIND QUESTIONS (LOWER INTERMEDIATE)
SCIENCE

1. What does your heart pump? blood

2. Which is the nearest star? the sun
3. Which is heavier, gold or silver? gold
4. How many sides does a triangle have? three
5. What is H20? water
6. How many legs does a butterfly have? six

GEOGRAPHY

1. Which is bigger, a lake or an ocean? an ocean

2. Which country has the most people? China
3. What is the capital city of Norway? Oslo
4. What is the biggest state in the U.S.A.? Alaska
5. Which country has the biggest land area? Russia
6. In which ocean is Hawaii? the Pacific Ocean

SPORTS

1. What sport is played at Wimbledon? tennis

2. In which country will the 2008 Olympic Games be held? China
3. What country does the football player Rivaldo come from? Brazil
4. What is the most popular indoor sport in the U.S.A.? basketball
5. In which sport was Muhammad Ali the world champion? boxing
6. Which famous golf player's mother comes from Thailand? Tiger Woods

MUSIC

1. How many strings does a violin have? four

2. Where was Ricky Martin born? Puerto Rico
3. What pop group is Howie D. in? The Backstreet Boys
4. Which singer usually sings rap music, Mariah Carey or Eminem? Eminem
5. Which instrument is often used in jazz music, a saxophone or a
a saxophone
tuba?
6. What nationality is Robbie Williams? English or British

Mastermind
Level

Lower intermediate to advanced.

Preparation

1. Print out one of the Mastermind question sets (lower intermediate, intermediate, upper
intermediate or advanced), or write your own set of questions. These should be in four general
knowledge categories, such as science, geography, sports, music, etc.

2. Set up a 'stage' at the front of the classroom with chairs for three contestants. Write the four
categories on the board and then draw a scoring table, like this:
Contestants: Chai Sonia Peter
Score:
How it Works

1. Ask for one student to act as quiz master and give him or her the set of questions. Then
ask for three students to act as contestants. The rest of the students make up the 'audience'.
The quiz master then writes the contestants' names along the top of the scoring table.

2. The quiz master asks three rounds of questions, with one question for each contestant per
round. To begin, the quiz master asks the first contestant ('stage right') which category he or
she would like to answer a question from. The quiz master then reads the first question
from this category. If the contestant answers correctly, the quiz master marks the
contestant's box with a tick. If the answer is not correct, the quiz master asks if a member of
the 'audience' can answer the question. If no-one can, the quiz master reads out the correct
answer.

3. The game continues with the second contestant choosing a category and answering a
question, and then the third. Then round two is played, and so on. If, after three rounds, one
player has earned more points than the others, this player wins. If two or all three are tied,
another round is played. If, after this round, a winner has still not emerged, 'joint-winners'
are announced.
4. For the next game, ask for three new students to act as contestants. The quiz master
continues asking questions from where he or she left off in the first game. If the questions
for one or more categories run out, contestants choose from among the remaining
categories.

Note:
- For a class of more than seven students, it might be best to divide them into groups of
three or four with each group drawing up its own scoring table on a piece of paper. One
member of each group acts as quiz master and is given a copy of the questions while the
other members act as contestants. This allows all students to play an active role.
 WORD UP™ SAMPLE QUESTIONS : LEVEL 1 - SET 1
MISSING WORD

1. What _ _ your name? (2 letters)

2. My sister works _ _ a bank. (2 letters)
3. Can you _ _ _ _ me the time, please? (4 letters)
4. I'm going to _ _ _ a movie tonight. (3 letters)
5. The time is ten minutes _ _ seven. (2 letters)
6. Do you like eating Chinese _ _ _ _ ? (4 letters)
7. Would you like tea _ _ coffee? (2 letters)

CROSSWORD CLUES

1. The opposite of 'new'. o _______

2. What can you do with a pen? w _______
3. The early part of the day. m _______
4. A place for learning. s _______
5. What do you bite food with? t _______
6. A type of fruit. a _______
7. The brother of your mother or father. u _______

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. What can you see at a zoo?

a) movies b) doctors c) animals
2. Which country has the most people?
a) India b) China c) Japan
3. "Do you like
a) reading books?" b) looking books?" c) watching books?"
4. Which is the tallest animal?
a) a horse b) an elephant c) a giraffe
5. Where are your lips?
a) under your arms b) above your eyes c) around your mouth
6. Ham is meat from
a) a cow b) a pig c) a hamster
7. West is the opposite direction to
a) east b) north c) south

WORD UP™ SAMPLE QUESTIONS : LEVEL 1 - SET 1 ANSWERS

MISSING WORD CROSSWORD CLUES MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. is 1. old 1. c) animals
2. in / at 2. write / writing 2. b) China
3. tell / give / show 3. morning / morn 3. a) reading books?"
4. see / get / buy 4. school / schoolroom / study 4. c) a giraffe
5. to 5. teeth / tooth 5. c) around your mouth
6. food / soup / rice 6. apple / apricot / avocado 6. b) a pig
7. or 7. uncle 7. a) east

SPELLING

1. My brother likes buying new clothes.

2. She will come back in a minute.
3. You are very pretty.
4. You must stop your car at a red light.
5. Where did you buy that shirt?
6. What are you doing tonight?
7. Do you like listening to music?

WORD UP™ SAMPLE QUESTIONS : LEVEL 1 - SET 16

MISSING WORD

1. That dirty boy doesn't like washing _ _ _ face. (3 letters)

2. I am tired. I want to go to _ _ _ . (3 letters)
3. My grandmother is ninety years _ _ _ . (3 letters)
4. The colour of a strawberry is _ _ _ . (3 letters)
5. If there is a fire, _ _ _ _ 911 on your phone. (4 letters)
6. She is Canadian. She _ _ _ _ _ from Canada. (5 letters)
7. Don't _ _ _ on that chair. It's broken. (3 letters)

CROSSWORD CLUES

1. Smart or intelligent. c _______

2. What drink do cows produce? m _______
 3. A country in Europe. D _______
4. A dangerous African animal. l _______
5. Not the same. d _______
6. What type of food are bacon and beef? m _______
7. What do you spend in a shop? m _______

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. At a zoo, somebody must

a) cook the animals b) eat the animals c) feed the animals
2. Which is good for your health?
a) smoking cigarettes b) eating fruit c) drinking poison
3. A romantic story is
a) an old story b) a funny story c) a love story
4. Which instrument is made of wood?
a) a trumpet b) a violin c) a saxophone
5. Which piece of jewellery is the smallest?
a) a necklace b) a bracelet c) a ring
6. It's very noisy. Could you please turn down
a) the window? b) the television? c) the baby?
7. Which is the tallest?
a) a mountain b) a hill c) a valley
WORD UP™ SAMPLE QUESTIONS : LEVEL 1 - SET 16 ANSWERS

MISSING WORD CROSSWORD CLUES MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. his 1. clever 1. c) feed the animals

2. bed 2. milk 2. b) eating fruit
3. old 3. Denmark 3. c) a love story
4. red 4. lion / leopard 4. b) a violin
5. call / ring / dial / push 5. different / differing 5. c) a ring
6. comes / hails 6. meat / meats 6. b) the television?
7. sit / get 7. money 7. a) a mountain

SPELLING

1. Would you like to go dancing with me tonight?

2. When he was young, he was a champion swimmer.
3. I'd like some orange juice, please.
4. What is the longest river in Asia?
5. I like reading the newspaper while I'm eating breakfast.
6. This restaurant serves seafood.
7. Let's go. The rain is stopping now.
 WORD UP™ SAMPLE QUESTIONS : LEVEL 1 - SET 32

MISSING WORD

1. A duck is a type _ _ bird. (2 letters)

2. Would you like to _ _ _ _ to my home tonight? (4 letters)
3. I read the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ every morning. (9 letters)
4. Smoking cigarettes is very _ _ _ for your health. (3 letters)
5. My brother is 180 centimetres _ _ _ _ . (4 letters)
6. What do you _ _ _ _ to do tomorrow? (4 letters)
7. If it's hot, turn on the _ _ _ conditioner. (3 letters)

CROSSWORD CLUES

1. The opposite of 'back'. f _______

2. A very short period of time. s _______
3. To go away. l _______
4. A room used for preparing food. k _______
5. Happy. g _______
6. It gives off heat and smoke. f _______
7. Not married. s _______

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. Which can usually be found in a newspaper?

a) menus b) comic strips c) reporters
2. What are poodles and dalmations?
a) fish b) birds c) dogs
3. Which person normally wears a skirt?
a) a stewardess b) a schoolboy c) a bóxer
4. One quarter is
a) 20 minutes b) 10 cents c) 25 per cent
5. When you turn on the radio, you can
a) listen to music b) listening music c) hear to music
6. Star Wars was an exciting movie. Have you
a) looked it? b) saw it? c) seen it?
7. After taking a shower, you should dry yourself with
a) a napkin b) a towel c) a blanket

WORD UP™ SAMPLE QUESTIONS : LEVEL 1 - SET 32 ANSWERS

MISSING WORD CROSSWORD CLUES MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. of 1. front / forward 1. b) comic strips

2. come / walk / ride 2. second 2. c) dogs
3. newspaper / magazines / timetable 3. leave 3. a) a stewardess
4. bad 4. kitchen 4. c) 25 per cent
5. tall 5. glad / gleeful 5. a) listen to music
6. want / wish / have / need / plan 6. fire / fireplace / furnace 6. c) seen it?
7. air 7. single 7. b) a towel

SPELLING

1. I won a thousand dollars.

2. Did you go to the concert last night?
3. My cat has a very fat stomach.
4. I will probably be back next week.
5. I couldn't go because I was busy.
6. Welcome to my home.
7. I'm going to visit my uncle and aunt.
Team Quiz
Level

Any level except for absolute beginners.

Preparation

1. Take a 'Word Up' question sheet from a level of difficulty suitable for your class (or print
one out here).

2. Draw a scoring table on the board, like this:

Team A Team B

How it Works

1. Divide the class into two teams and then decide with the class how many points are
needed to win (six to ten points works best).

2. To begin, read the first question in the first category (i.e. 'Missing Word'). If a member of
either team thinks they can answer, they raise their hand and must give their answer
immediately. If it is correct, their team earns a point. If it is not correct, the other team has
thirty seconds (or whatever seems a reasonable length of time) in which to try to answer. If
they answer correctly, they earn a point. If neither team answers correctly, give the correct
answer(s).

3. Continue play by asking one question from each category in turn. The game is over when
a team reaches the target number of points.

Notes:
- If no-one can answer a question within a minute or two, give the answer and then continue
as usual.
- If you prefer, ask a member of your class to act as 'quiz master' while you simply help out
with pronunciation when necessary.
Quiz Show
Level

Any level except for absolute beginners.

Preparation

1. Take two 'Word Up' question sheets from a level of difficulty suitable for your class (or
print two sample sets here).

2. For a class of up to eleven students, set up a 'stage' at the front of the classroom with
chairs for three to five contestants (you'll be able to figure out exactly how many after
reading 'How it Works'). For a larger class, see below.

3. Draw a scoring table on the board with a column for each contestant. A scoring table for
three would look like this:
Contestants: Yukio Carlos Maria
Missing Word
Crossword Clues
Multiple Choice
Spelling
How it Works

1. Ask for one student to act as quiz master and give him or her the question and answer
sets. For a class of up to six, ask all the other students to act as contestants. For a class of
between seven and eleven, ask for around half the students to act as contestants, with the
rest acting as the 'audience' for the first game and then contestants in the second. The
contestants then take their places on the 'stage' and the quiz master writes their names along
the top of the scoring table.

2. To begin, the quiz master asks the first contestant ('stage right') which category he or she
would like to answer a question from. The quiz master then reads the first question from
this category, repeating it if necessary (more on how the questions should be asked here).
The contestant has up to one minute to answer (you should act as timekeeper). If the
contestant answers correctly, the quiz master ticks the box for that category in the
contestant's column (the 'audience' should applaud at this point). If the answer is not
correct, the quiz master asks if a member of the audience knows the answer. If no-one does,
the quiz master reads out the answer(s). Then the next contestant chooses a category, and so
on.

3. The game continues until one of the contestants has correctly answered a question from
each of the four categories. The students then exchange roles for the second game. The quiz
master continues asking questions from wherever he or she left off in the first game. When
all the questions for a particular category in the first set have been asked, the quiz master
begins asking questions for this category from the second set.

For a larger class: If you have a class of more than eleven students, it would be best to
have them form groups of four or five with each group drawing up its own scoring table on
a piece of paper. One member of each group acts as quiz master and is given a copy of the
question and answer sets while the other members act as contestants. Each group can play
either one or two games.
Heads or Tails
Level

Lower intermediate to upper intermediate.

Preparation

1. For a lower intermediate class, photocopy two 'Word Up' question sheets (front and back)
from level 1 and and two from level 3 . For an intermediate class, photocopy two sets from
level 2 and and two sets from level 4. For an upper intermediate class, photocopy two sets
from level 3 and and two from level 5. You will need one copy of each of the four sets for
every two students. (If you don't have a copy of 'Word Up', print sample sets here)

2. Collect a number of coins. You will need one coin for every two students.

3. Ask each student to draw a scoring table on a sheet of paper, like this:
(Student's name) Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Missing Word
Crossword Clues
Multiple Choice
Spelling
How it Works

1. Divide the class into pairs and give each pair a coin. Then give each student one question
and answer set from the lower level and another from the higher level (the students in a
particular pair must have different sets).

2. Players toss the coin to decide who plays first.

3. The first player then tosses the coin again. If he or she throws 'heads', the other player
asks the first question from the first category ('Missing Word') in his or her higher-level set.
If it is 'tails', the player asks the first 'Missing Word' question in his or her lower-level set. If
the first player answers correctly, he or she ticks the 'Missing Word' box under 'Game 1' on
his or her scoring table. If the answer is not correct, the other player reads out the correct
answer(s). The second player then throws the coin and answers either a higher-level or a
lower-level 'Missing Word' question. Then each player answers a 'Crossword Clues'
question in the same way. They continue through the various question categories, returning
to 'Missing Word' again after 'Spelling'.
4. Play continues with each player answering questions only from those categories they
have yet to correctly answer a question from. For example, if a player has already correctly
answered a 'Missing Word' question, he or she skips this category when it next comes
around and answers a question from the next category instead. Play continues until one of
the players has correctly answered a question from each of the four categories and has four
ticks under 'Game 1'.

5. Each pair may then play another game, continuing with the same question sheets from
where they left off in the first game. There should be enough questions for at least three
games.

Note:
- If your class has an uneven number of students, form one group of three with the rest in
pairs. In the group of three, one member watches the first game and then plays the winner
in the second. The player watching the second game plays the winner in the third.