Birthday Unit Games for Elementary ELLs

 This resource (Birthday Unit Games for Elementary ELLs (ESL/EFL Classroom Printables & Activities)  is included in The Birthday Pack:   https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Birthday-Unit-for-Elementary-ESL-5279726

Help your elementary English Language Learners (ELLs) practice and retain birthday vocabulary through fun, meaningful games! These Birthday Unit games are designed to support your production stage in lesson planning by encouraging students to use new language with play, interaction, and collaboration.

Games introduce vocabulary and phrases in a real-life context, helping language stick while reducing student anxiety. Play builds motivation, boosts communication, and makes practicing vocabulary fun!

Fun games such as domino can help maintain motivation. This Birthday-themed game allows students to match images with the corresponding word. It is a way to reinforce word recognition.

Birthday Puzzle games offer repeated exposure to the new vocabulary making it easy to retain new words through play. As students put the puzzle together, they can be encouraged to verbalize what they are matching.

Board Games with Language Prompts

Board games involve interaction and collaboration between peers. There are two cards that prompt players to answer the question. The other cards are for moving one space or going back.

Spelling Games with Cut-Out Letters

Spelling Games can incorporate visual, and kinesthetic elements. Provide students with the printable cut-out letters in the shape of birthday-themed items balloons and candles. Use these for various spelling games where students arrange the letters to spell vocabulary words  based on the small cards, puzzles, etc.

As an extra spelling activity have the students do word shapes. Give the learners math paper with the squares. The letters that are within the lines have to be represented by a square and the other letters that go above the line should be a rectangle to fit them. Prepare an example for the class. A fun way to see how each word represents a shape.

Whether you’re teaching vocabulary review, speaking fluency, or collaborative skills, adding games to your lessons turns learning into a fun classroom experience! 

These small cards are part of the complete Birthday Unit resource, which includes flashcards, games, worksheets, and more! You can find the full unit on Teachers Pay Teachers for a thematic, joyful lesson plan that supports vocabulary, speaking, reading, and writing.

Go to this blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2024/09/birthday-unit-small-cards-for.html

Explore more exciting Birthday Unit activities, worksheets, and teaching ideas on my other blog for younger learners!

Check it out here: https://eflpreschoolteachers.blogspot.com/