Sports Games for ESL | Vocabulary and Grammar Activities

 This Sports Vocabulary Games  for elementary ESL resource is included here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sports-for-ESL-Vocabulary-and-Grammar-Activities-14663481

Playing sports-themed games during the unit help learners practice sports vocabulary and grammar structures naturally. By moving, speaking, matching, and interacting with others, students develop stronger listening, speaking, reading, and thinking skills. Help your elementary ESL learners explore sports vocabulary and verbs through fun interactive games!

Do–Go–Play Sorting Activity
In this activity, students sort the sports cards into the correct column: do, go, or play. As they place each card on the mat, they practice using the correct verb for each sport, such as do karate, go swimming, or play soccer. This hands-on task helps learners understand verb–sport collocations while building vocabulary in an interactive way.

This version lets students cut and paste the sports cards into the correct do, go, and play columns. The black-and-white format is perfect for saving ink and gives students the chance to color the cards themselves before sorting. They can also write phrases for each category.

Sports Puzzle Match Game
In this activity, students complete circle puzzles by matching each sport with its equipment and place. As they connect the pieces, they review vocabulary such as ball, court, pool, bike, and paddle while strengthening problem-solving skills. This is perfect for centers, pair work, or independent practice.

I Can / I Can’t Writing Activity
In this activity, students use the sports cards to write sentences about what they can and can’t do on the format. They choose cards and complete the worksheet using connectors like and and but to make longer sentences. For example: I can play soccer and tennis or I can’t play basketball, but I can play tennis. This activity helps students practice sentence structure, express abilities, and connect language with the sports vocabulary they have learned.

Spelling Bingo Game
In this activity, students write any sports words they choose into the blank Bingo boxes. Then the teacher (or a student leader) uses the small sports cards from the resource to call out each word. Students listen carefully and cross out the words on their Bingo boards. The first student to cross out all their words and shout Bingo! wins. This game is a fun way to review vocabulary, practice spelling, and build listening skills.

I Like Sports Board Game
In this fun board game, students move around the path by rolling a die and landing on different sports spaces. Each time they land on a sport, they say a sentence such as I like tennis or I don’t like tennis. This game encourages speaking, builds confidence, and helps students practice sports vocabulary and simple grammar in an interactive, engaging way.

Sports Facilities Interactive Activity

In this hands-on activity, students use a sports facilities template along with standing player pieces and sport name cards that you will assemble beforehand. They choose a player, read the sport, and place the figure in the correct facility—such as putting the swimmer in the pool or the tennis player on the court. This interactive task helps students connect sports with their proper locations, strengthens vocabulary, and encourages speaking as they describe what they are doing (e.g., She is playing tennis on the court).

Which game will your students choose first? Comment below!

Don't miss the flashcards from this resource:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/10/sports-flashcards-for-esl-vocabulary.html

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Sports Worksheets for ESL | Vocabulary and Grammar Activities

 This resource ( sports vocabulary worksheets ESL elementary)  is included to download here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sports-for-ESL-Vocabulary-and-Grammar-Activities-14663481

The worksheets give students the opportunity to practice, reinforce, and apply the vocabulary and grammar they learn through games and flashcards. Download the worksheets  – print and go, suitable for elementary ELLs.

Connect visuals with written language, helping them remember spelling and meaning. In this worksheet, students look at each picture and write the correct name of the sport.

In this worksheet, students draw lines to match each picture to the correct sport word. This activity helps learners recognize and remember sports vocabulary, develop reading comprehension, and make visual-to-word connections.

In this worksheet, students draw a picture of themselves doing their favorite sport and write a short text to describe it. They can use sentences such as I like playing soccer or I play tennis every weekend. This creative activity helps students personalize their learning, practice writing with correct grammar, and connect English to their real-life interests in a fun and meaningful way.

These worksheets for sports vocabulary help students practice listening comprehension while reviewing sports vocabulary. The teacher gives simple instructions such as Color the net blue! or Color the ball red! and students follow along.

In this worksheet, students read the color of each ball, color it accordingly, and then write the name of the sport it belongs to.

In these sports verbs worksheets, students read and answer questions related to sports using complete sentences. This activity helps learners practice forming short and full answers.

In this worksheet, students draw lines to match each sport with the correct equipment — for example, tennis → racket. This activity helps reinforce vocabulary connections between sports and the objects used to play them. 

Follow-up Activity Idea: After completing the worksheet, students can write or say full sentences using their matches: You need a racket to play tennis.

I Like + Sport Worksheet.  In this worksheet, students practice the grammar structure I like + sport by reading, writing, and personalizing sentences. They can match pictures to sentences, complete sentence starters like I like…, or write about their favorite sports. This activity helps learners express preferences, build complete sentences, and use sports vocabulary in a meaningful context. It’s perfect for speaking or writing practice after introducing the I like + sports pattern.

This worksheet students  searchfor the words, learners improve spelling recognition, visual memory, and word awareness. It’s a great activity for early finishers, independent practice, or warm-ups, keeping students engaged while still focused on English vocabulary.

In this worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle using clues or pictures of different sports equipment. This helps learners review vocabulary, practice spelling, and develop reading comprehension as they connect each clue with the correct word.

In this worksheet, students read different sports and sort them into the correct column: go, do, or play. For example, go swimming, do karate, play soccer. This activity helps learners understand verb–noun collocations used with sports, build grammar accuracy, and reinforce vocabulary.

In this worksheet, students look at pictures of different sports facilities and write their names, such as tennis court, soccer field, or swimming pool. This activity helps reinforce place vocabulary related to sports.

Follow-up Activity:
Students can research and write the names of famous sports facilities in their notebooks—like Wimbledon for tennis or Camp Nou for soccer—to connect what they learned with real-world examples. This extension encourages curiosity, writing practice, and cultural awareness.

More practice with the small cards is available, here:    https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/10/sports-small-cards-for-esl-vocabulary.html

Find creative ideas and engaging resources for teaching young learners, visit my blog for preschool teachers here: EFL Preschool Teachers Blog. You'll find practical activities, tips, and resources designed to make learning fun and effective for little ones!

Sports Small Cards for ESL | Vocabulary and Grammar Activities

 This resource ( Sports Small Cards for Elementary ESL – Vocabulary & Grammar Activity Pack) is included here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sports-for-ESL-Vocabulary-and-Grammar-Activities-14663481

The printable sports vocabulary small cards for elementary ESL support grammar practice. They are ideal for teaching I like + sports, He is playing + sport, and He plays + sport in a fun, meaningful way. These are ready-to-use visuals that work for whole-class lessons, centers, pair work, or individual practice.

Activity 1 for centres or pairs, . Find Someone Who: Use small cards to ask and answer questions like Do you like volleyball?

Activity 2 to challenge students to write  or say sentences. Match the Sport and Equipment: Students match the sport flashcard with its equipment card and say a sentence: She has skates for skating.

Activity 3  . Sorting Game: Sort sports by ball category.

team sports / individual sports or indoor sports categories.

Sort with the outdoor sports. Have students make up more categories to sort.

Activity 4. Use small sports cards to create sentences: He is playing football.

Activity 5 for the integration of vocabulary & grammar . Writing Sports Sentences (Past Tense Activity).
Students choose a small sports card and write a sentence using the simple past tense to describe the action. For example: She played baseball yesterday. This activity helps learners practice writing complete sentences, review past tense verbs for sports, and connect visuals with grammar in a meaningful way.

Activity 6. Students pick any small sports card and write a sentence to describe it using different grammar structures.

Activity 7 to adapt for stronger/weaker learners . Sports and Facilities Matching Activity
Students match each sport to the place where it is played. After matching, they can say or write simple sentences like You play baseball at a baseball stadium. This activity helps learners connect vocabulary for sports and facilities, practice prepositions of place, and use complete sentences in context.

Here are the most common prepositions of place related to sports and their facilities that your students can practice:

• on – for open flat surfaces
• 🏈 You play soccer on a field.
• 🎾 You play tennis on a court.
• 🏒 You play hockey on the ice.
• in – for enclosed or indoor spaces
• 🏊 You swim in a pool.
• 🏀 You play basketball in a gym.
• 🏋️ You exercise in a gym.
• at – for general places or specific venues
• ⚾ You play baseball at the stadium.
• ⛳ You play golf at the golf course.

 

Activity 8.  Famous Sports Facilities Match.
Students investigate the names of famous sports facilities around the world, such as Wimbledon for tennis or Yankee Stadium for baseball. They write the name of each facility on a small piece of paper and match it to the correct sports flashcard or picture. This activity helps students connect real-world examples to the vocabulary while practicing writing and reading skills.

There are  Ready-to-print worksheets to go along this resource. Here is the blog post: 

https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/11/sports-worksheets-for-esl-vocabulary.html

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Sports Flashcards for ESL | Vocabulary and Grammar Activities

 This resource ( Sports Vocabulary Flashcards for Elementary ESL Learners) is included here:   https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sports-for-ESL-Vocabulary-and-Grammar-Activities-14663481

Students will learn the names of common sports and related verbs and equipment in context. Talking about sports helps learners make connections between English and their daily interests and experiences.

Sports Flashcard Activities for ESL Classrooms

Flashcard Drill Game where the teacher holds up a flashcard and says the sport: basketball!  students repeat. Then, show a new card silently, and students shout the sport. This is an easy way to learn vocabulary related to sports.

Fast Grab: Place several sports vocabulary flashcards on the floor. Call out a sport, and two students race to touch the correct card.

Charades as Extension Activities. A student picks a flashcard secretly and acts out the sport without speaking. The class guesses: You’re playing golf!

Sort the sports by:  team vs. individual sports

• indoor vs. outdoor sports

Class Graph or Survey. Each student picks their favorite sport flashcard.

• Make a class chart: How many like soccer? How many like basketball?
• Practice speaking: I like bowling. / I don’t like karate.

Simple past statements. Yesterday I Played…Show a flashcard (e.g., football). Students make a sentence:  Yesterday, I played football. Extend with different time expressions: Last weekend, two days ago, etc.

Then, ask questions with What and Who?

Ask Yes/ No questions in the past as you show the flashcard and the students stand up if the answer is yes!

What Are They Doing? Show a flashcard. Ask: What is he doing? Students answer:
He is playing volleyball.

Who’s Speaking? Place several flashcards and say: I am diving. Students point to which card matches your sentence. Then, students take turns being “the speaker.”

Like It or Not Sorting Game. Place Two baskets or areas labeled “I like” and “don’t like,”. Students pick a flashcard and decide where it belongs.  They must say the full sentence:
“I like table tennis.” or “I don’t like sailing.”

Do the same with can and can’t as a review of that grammar structure. Student: I can play basketball, but I can’t play soccer.

Label the clothes each player is wearing and the sports equipment.

Matching sports, their equipment, and equipment flashcards helps students connect vocabulary.

There are printable games for this resource, check it here:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/11/sports-games-for-esl-vocabulary-and.html

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