Word Game for the ESL Classroom

This printable activity helps students improve their understanding of parts of speech. It's a variation on classic cloze exercises, except that students need to choose any word from a given part of speech. For example: It was a __________ (Adjective) day outside. Students have such a great time while learning important skills - without thinking too hard about it!

Aim: Recognizing Parts of Speech

Activity: Fill in the gap story completion

Level: Lower level to intermediate

Outline:

• Write a few words up on the board representing various parts of speech (i.e. noun, verb, adverb, etc.). As a group, ask students to identify the part of speech for each word. Write down those parts of speech as students identify them.
• Pointing out the various parts of speech recorded on the board, call on random students asking them to offer other examples for the indicated part of speech.
• Once students feel comfortable with these various parts of speech, have students pair up.
• Distribute the worksheet, make sure to cut each sheet in half between the word list and the story.
• Ask students to work together to fill in the word sheet. Once students have filled in the word sheet, they should fill in the story. Go around the room helping students with difficulty.
• Variation:
  • In order to teach specific vocabulary, provide a vocabulary list of target words for each part of speech.
  • Do the above introductory steps, but instead of writing just any word on the board, make sure to use words from your target vocabulary list.
  • Ask students to use the target vocabulary list when giving further examples of each part of speech.
  • Instruct students to complete the worksheet using words on the target vocabulary list.

A Day in the Life ...

Adjective _____________________________
Month _________________________________
Man's name_____________________________
Verb __________________________________
Noun __________________________________
Noun __________________________________
Verb __________________________________
Adjective _____________________________
Verb ending in - ing __________________
Adverb ________________________________
Verb Weather __________________________
Verb Transportation ___________________
Verb Transportation - ing _____________
Verb __________________________________
Adverb of frequency ___________________

A Day in the Life ...

It was a __________ (Adjective) day in __________ (Month) and the __________ (Man's name) decided to __________ (Verb). As soon as he got to the __________ (Noun), he sat down and took out his __________ (Noun). He certainly hadn't expected to be able to __________ (Verb), but was __________ (Adjective) for the chance to do so. __________ (Verb ending in -ing), the time passed __________ (Adverb) and before he knew it, it was time to go home. He gathered his things and began to walk home. Unfortunately, it began to __________ (Verb concerning the weather) so he decided to __________ (Verb of transportation i.e. take a taxi, run, skip, etc.). While he was _________ (Verb of transportation i.e. take a taxi, run, skip, etc. in the -ing form), he noticed that he had forgotten to __________ (Verb). He __________ (Adverb of frequency) forgot such things!