Simple Word Games

Children like to play! Its true that too much entertainment is not good for education, but some amount of fun while learning is essential for most students. Very few can study with a long face! I plan to use this blog to keep track of simple fun games and activities I come across that can help village children in learning simple words.

Name Chain 🔠🔗

One child says a word (e.g., “Tree”), and the next child must say a word that starts with the last letter (e.g., “Elephant”).

Action Words Game 🤸‍♂️🏃

One child calls out an action word (e.g., “Jump”), and everyone must do the action. See this blog for more details.

Picture Words

Print small pictures of simple words on small pieces of paper, ask children to pick a chit randomly one by one, guess the word and it’s spelling.

Match the Pair Version 1

Write words on one set of cards and matching pictures on another. Divide children into groups and give them cards to be matched. Children must find the right pair. The group which finishes first is the winner.

Match the Pair Version 2

Write words on one set of cards and matching pictures on another. Divide children into groups and give them cards to be matched. This time the matching cards are distributed to different groups. Children must find the right pair by borrowing cards from the group(s) which have them. The group which finishes first is the winner.

Spelling Chain

Make the students stand in a circle. One student picks up a chit with a word in Hindi. S/he has to tell the corresponding English word, and the first letter of this word. The next student says the next letter of this word. When the letters of this word are over, the next student picks a new chit with a another Hindi word and the game continues.

Word Charades

Write action words or simple nouns on slips of paper (e.g., “swim,” “eat,” “dog,” “tree”). Divide students into two teams. One student from each team takes turn picking a slip and acting out the word without speaking, while others in the team guess the word in English.

Word Relay 🏃‍♂️

Divide students into two teams. One student from each team runs to the board, writes an English word they know, and runs back to tag the next teammate. The team with the most words in 2 minutes wins.
🔹 Variation: Play with a theme (e.g., animals, colors, action words).

Pass the Ball & Speak 🎾

Pass a ball while playing music. When the music stops, the student with the ball says an English word related to the given theme (e.g., Fruits 🍎, Actions 🏃, Animals 🐕). If they can’t think of a word, they sit out for one round.
🔹 Variation: Make it harder by asking them to use the word in a sentence.

Describe and Guess 🗣️🤔

One child describes an object without saying its name (e.g., “It is round and we kick it”), and others have to guess the word (“Ball”).

Rhyme Time 🎶📝

One child says a word (e.g., “Sun”), and others must say words that rhyme (e.g., “Fun”, “Run”, “Bun”).

Word Hunt 🔍🔤

One child names a category (e.g., “Fruits”), and others must quickly say words that belong to that category (e.g., “Mango, Apple, Banana”).

Who Am I? 🎭❓

One child thinks of an object and gives clues (e.g., “I am cold, people drink me, I come from cows” → “Milk”).

Find the Odd One Out 🧐

A child says a set of words, and others must guess which one does not belong.

Memory Tray Game 🧠

Show children 5–10 small objects on a tray, cover it, and see how many words they remember.

Word Meanings

Write words on small pieces of paper, ask children to pick a chit randomly one by one, tell its meaning and form a sentence with it.