Teaching Health: Sickness games for ESL Classrooms

 Find this resource at my TPT store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sickness-Flashcards-for-ESL-Classrooms-15145875

 

These hands-on games are designed to help students understand, practice, and retain health vocabulary and simple sentence structures in a meaningful and age-appropriate way. Instead of memorizing words in isolation, learners interact with the language through play, movement, and visuals.

“I Have…” Sentence Spin

The sickness vocabulary is on the printable spinner. Students spin and  must say “I have a ___.”

                                       Optional: classmates mime the sickness.

Why it works: reinforces sentence structure + speaking confidence.

Doctor–Patient Role Play Cards

One student is the doctor, one is the patient. Give them cue slip cards. They read the sickness and miming if possible. The doctor gives the solution, acting out a short dialogue.

First Aid Kit Mystery Bag

Print the first-aid kit and the items cards. Glue an envelope behind it or use a clear plastic sheet to place the cards. One student picks an item (no looking). Describes it: This is a thermometer. It’s for a fever.

Sickness–sentence association

The Sentence Association Game is a hands-on activity designed to help young English language learners connect simple sentences with meaningful pictures. Students match a sentence card (for example, “I have a broken leg” or “I am taking cough syrup”) to the correct picture card showing the action or situation.

This game supports early reading comprehension

Teachers — if you enjoy hands-on ESL activities, games, and classroom resources, follow me on Pinterest! Just here: https://www.pinterest.com/ei98srl

You’ll find pin-ready ideas you can use right away in your lessons.

Teaching Health: Sickness worksheets for ESL Classrooms

 Teaching Health: Sickness worksheets for ESL Classrooms

Find it at my TPT store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sickness-Flashcards-for-ESL-Classrooms-15145875

 

These sickness unit worksheets help English language learners practice real-life vocabulary through matching, writing, sorting, drawing, and simple question-and-answer activities. These worksheets are easy to use for independent work, pair work, or small groups, making them a practical and engaging addition to any elementary ESL classroom.

Write the Word Worksheet
This worksheet helps beginner connect pictures with written words in a simple way. By writing each word, students practice correct spelling while reinforcing sickness vocabulary through visual cues. It’s ideal for early learners.

Easy Extension Ideas for the Matching Worksheet.  Say and Point

After matching, students point to each picture and say the word aloud with a partner or the teacher.
This reinforces pronunciation and oral vocabulary.

Decorate and Present Medical Items

In this worksheet, students decorate common medical items such as a thermometer, medicine, pills, and band-aids. This activity helps learners recognize key sickness vocabulary.

Extension Activity:
Students cut out the medical items and present them orally or in writing. They can say or write simple sentences such as:

• “I use a thermometer for a fever.”
• “This is medicine. I take it when I have a sore throat.”

This extension encourages speaking and sentence formation.

Sort Sickness and Remedies

In this worksheet, students sort vocabulary into two clear categories: sickness and remedies. This activity helps learners understand the meaning of each word by thinking about how illnesses and treatments are connected.

Sorting builds critical thinking and helps students organize new vocabulary in meaningful ways.

Draw and Write: A Sickness I Have Had

In this worksheet, students draw themselves with a sickness they have had and write a short sentence to describe it (for example: “I had a broken leg.”). They also follow with a short written text.

Grammar Practice: Using I have… and Completing a Short Text

These two grammar worksheets help students move from single words to meaningful sentences.

In the “I have a…” worksheet, learners practice a key sentence structure used to talk about sickness (e.g., I have a headache). This repetition builds confidence.

The text completion worksheet with cue words takes learning one step further. Students read a short, meaningful dialogue and use word banks to complete it, reinforcing grammar, reading comprehension, and vocabulary in context.

Drawing and Describing a First-Aid Kit

This worksheet invites students to draw items they would put inside a first-aid kit and then describe what is inside using simple sentences. It combines creativity with language practice. It’s a great way to integrate art, writing, and health-related vocabulary in one engaging task.

Questions & Answers: Grammar Practice

These worksheets help students practice asking and answering questions about sickness using simple, meaningful sentences. Learners work with patterns such as “What’s the matter?”, “Do you have…?”, and short answers like “Yes, I do.” or “No, he doesn’t.”

Questionnaire: Class Survey Activity

In this worksheet, students ask classmates the question “Have you had a broken arm or leg?” and record up to eight answers. After collecting the information, they work in small groups to tally and discuss the results.

This activity encourages real communication and purposeful speaking. Students practice asking questions, listening for answers, and writing simple responses in a meaningful context.

Teachers — if you enjoy hands-on ESL activities, games, and classroom resources, follow me on Pinterest! Just here: https://www.pinterest.com/ei98srl
You’ll find pin-ready ideas you can use right away in your lessons.

Teaching Health: Sickness small cards for ESL Classrooms

 Find it at my TPT store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sickness-Flashcards-for-ESL-Classrooms-15145875

 

Small cards are perfect for hands-on, low-prep practice. Here are clear, classroom-ready activity ideas, organized by listening, speaking, reading, and writing, using the same sickness flashcards in a small format.

👂 Listening Activities

Listen & Point. Place small cards on students’ desks.

• Teacher says: “He has a headache.”
• Students point to or touch the correct card.

This kind of activity builds listening comprehension and  Low-pressure for ELLs.

 Listen & Grab. Spread small cards face up on the table. Teacher calls out a sickness. Students quickly pick up the correct card. This is great for engagement and focus.

True or False. The teacher holds up a small card. Then, says a sentence (correct or incorrect): She’s coughing. Students show thumbs up/down or say Yes / No.

🗣️ Speaking Activities

 What’s the Matter?

Students work in pairs. Student A shows a card and asks: “What’s the matter?”

Student B answers: “He has a fever.” Perfect to encourage full sentences and for role-play.

 Reading Activities

Match Word to Picture. Cut the picture from the small cards and the words. Students match and read the word aloud. It will reinforce sight vocabulary.

✏️ Writing Activities

Write the Sentence. Students pick one small card and write a short text.

💡 Why Small Cards Are Powerful

• Easy to manipulate and sort
• Perfect for pair work and centers
• Support all four language skills

Teachers — if you enjoy hands-on ESL activities, games, and classroom resources, follow me on Pinterest! Just here: https://www.pinterest.com/ei98srl
You’ll find pin-ready ideas you can use right away in your lessons.

Teaching Health Vocabulary Made Easy: Sickness Flashcards for ESL Classrooms

 Find it at my TPT store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Holistic-English-Resources-By-Rosa-Amelia

These sickness flashcards make health vocabulary clear, visual, and meaningful for English language learners. These flashcards are perfect for interactive activities such as surveys, role-play, TPR, and question-and-answer practice (“What’s the matter?”).  Because the cards are versatile, reusable, and classroom-tested, teachers can use them across multiple lessons and grade levels—making them a practical, time-saving resource that keeps students engaged and confident.

Use the flashcards for Q&A.

Teacher: Look! He ‘s in bed. He has a fever. Do you have a fever now?

Students: No, I don’t. (students touching their forehead)

Act It Out (TPR)

Show a flashcard (e.g., He is coughing).
Students act it out: coughing and saying the sentence together.

Say & Point

Place several health items flashcards on the board. Fold the word part. Say a sentence: It’s a band-aid.

Students point or touch the correct card.

Doctor Role-Play

Use the cutouts of stethoscope, thermometer and medicine, provided in the resource.

Teacher: “What’s the matter?”  Student: “He has a fever.” Student mimes the sickness.

Match with Items

Match flashcards with pictures related to the sickness:  Fever → thermometer, Cough → syrup, etc. This builds meaningful connections.

Draw on the flashcard & Say. Place the flashcard of the boy or girl on the board, previously insert into a clear plastic sheet. Students draw any sickness and say: “He has a headache.”

Mini Health Talk

Use flashcards to ask: Does he have a stomachache?

Talk about injuries and body sides

The teacher shows two flashcards to help students identify the injury and say whether it is on the left or right, for example:
“She has a broken arm. It is her left arm.”
“He has a broken leg. It is his right leg.”

This activity builds left–right awareness for sickness.

Do this!

The teacher shows the sore throat flashcard and asks, “What’s the matter?”
Students look at the picture, identify the problem, and respond by holding up the medicine flashcard and saying, “Take the medicine.”

This activity helps students with speaking and comprehension in a visual way.

Class survey

The teacher starts by asking questions such as, “Have you had a toothache?” or “Have you had a stomachache?”
Students who answer yes come to the board and write their names under the correct column. The teacher places the matching sickness flashcard at the top of each column to guide students.

This activity encourages speaking and listening, builds health vocabulary, and helps students understand simple surveys and data collection in a meaningful, hands-on way.

Teachers — if you enjoy hands-on ESL activities, games, and classroom resources, follow me on Pinterest! Just here: https://www.pinterest.com/ei98srl
You’ll find pin-ready ideas you can use right away in your lessons.

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