problem solving speaking activity

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Speaking skills: Speaking matters

• 1 Speaking skills: Speaking matters
• 2 Speaking matters: Developing fluency
• 3 Speaking matters: Developing and dealing with accuracy
• 4 Speaking matters: Assessing speaking
• 5 Speaking matters: Personalization
• 6 Speaking matters: Problem-solving
• 7 Speaking matters: Role-play
• 8 Speaking matters: Pairwork

Speaking matters: Problem-solving

By Adrian Tennant

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This article looks at problem-solving activities and what they are like. It covers how to set them up, why it's good to use them, the disadvantages and what you should do after the activity.

Introduction

Students need a reason to speak in the classroom. Many speaking activities seem to have no aim other than to get students to talk to each other, but for what reason? By doing the activity what will they achieve? Some activities, like pairwork activities, try to create a purpose by creating an information gap - i.e. where one student has some of the information and another student the rest and, only by speaking to each other can they complete the task. However, this simple transference of information only replicates a small part of what speaking in real life is used for.

Role-plays are another favourite classroom activity designed to get students speaking, but these often focus on creating scenarios or situations where students practise functional language such as giving directions, asking for information, etc. Although this is realistic, it is still often on a level of one student having information that another student doesn't. In real life, we often speak about something when we both, or all, share a lot of the same information. This can take the form of a discussion or a debate where we have opinions, but it can also take the shape of a discussion based on having to solve a problem. In this article, we'll take a closer look at problem-solving speaking activities.

What are problem-solving activities like?

There are a number of types of problem solving activities. For the sake of simplicity I'll split them into three types:

1. The opinion problem-solving activity.

In this type of activity students are given information to discuss where there is not necessarily one right or wrong answer. This type of activity differs from a normal discussion in that there is a built-in problem within the information.

You and three friends rowed out to a small island in the middle of a lake. When you landed you forgot to tie the boat up properly and it has drifted away. Night is now approaching. It is 3km back to the shore, but one of your friends can't swim. You do not have any food with you and you don't know if anyone knows where you are. What do you do?

Students are then expected to discuss the problem and come up with a solution. To help students you can provide a set of ideas/options for them to choose from. You can also make the activity more complicated by giving each student a 'role card' with an extra piece of information on it (that might be a problem) i.e.

There is no wood on the island so you can't build a fire. At night the temperature drops to freezing .

2. The logical thinking problem-solving activity.

In this type of problem-solving activity there is usually one correct solution. To arrive at the solution the students need to discuss information they are given and logically work out what the solution is. There are two ways in which the information can be given, either split between a number of students so that they don't have the same information and they must share it, or where they all have the same information and simply have to discuss things together. In the later version a set of questions can often help students work out the answer. (See activity 2 in the 'Practical ideas' section below for a logical thinking activity).

3.The information gap problem-solving activity.

How does this differ from a normal information gap (i.e. a pairwork information gap where one student has information that the other student doesn't)? Well, the main difference is that in a normal information gap activity it is simply a matter of transferring the information, i.e. two students have a profile of a person. Student A knows the person's age and nationality, etc. Student B then asks 'How old is he?' and fills in the missing information they obtain in the correct space, etc. In a problem-solving information gap, getting the missing information is not the ultimate aim, but merely a stepping stone on the way to solving a problem.

Why use problem-solving activities?

Apart from the fact that these kinds of activities can be a lot of fun they are also very stimulating. They usually require students to communicate information to each other where the focus is on expressing ideas and opinions and not simply repeating phrases. In many ways, problem-solving activities replicate 'real' speaking in that people have a need to speak. Problem-solving activities can also be an effective way of practising language items that have been taught, i.e. both grammar and vocabulary. They are also a great way of developing students' cognitive abilities helping them to process language in a meaningful way.

Are there any disadvantages to problem-solving activities?

Yes, there are. One of the major problems is that stronger students often dominate the discussions, taking over and giving the less able students little opportunity to contribute. Often, this is due to the need for one person to organize and collate information and ideas. One way around this is to give certain students specific tasks, i.e. someone to 'chair' the discussion, someone to make sure everyone has a turn, etc.

Another disadvantage of this type of activity is that students may become frustrated when trying to solve the problem and, especially if they don't have the language skills in English, will switch to their L1. To avoid this it is important that you, the teacher, consider what language they are likely to need in order to complete the task and to pre-teach any necessary phrases, expressions or vocabulary you think they do not possess. Remember, using a problem-solving activity is not the main focus of your lesson/teaching but simply a way in providing students with a forum for using the language they have learnt.

How do you set up a problem-solving activity?

As with other speaking activities, how you set up the activity will often be the difference between a successful activity and one that doesn't work. The first thing to consider is whether the activity uses the language you want the students to practise. If not, then ask yourself why exactly you are using it. Then, it is important to look at the language that is needed and make sure that you pre-teach any new language before they start the activity. This will help the activity run smoothly with the focus being on solving the problem rather than working out the meaning of any new language. Finally, think about whether you want students to work alone to begin with and then discuss the problem with other students or whether you will start with pair or groupwork. Whenever you decide to use pair or groupwork think about who you get to work together so that there is a balance in each group.

What should I do after the activity?

Just as with roleplays, don't just move onto a different activity. If you move on immediately after the activity and don't at least discuss what happened, then students will often lose interest in problem-solving activities, or at least won't benefit to the full. There needs to be an obvious outcome and a rounding-up of the activity. Opening up the activity to a class discussion where you compare solutions is an obvious follow-up. It is also important that during the activity you note down any mistakes students made with the language and think about how you will tackle these either after the activity or in a subsequent lesson.

Some practical ideas

An opinion problem-solving activity

Here I am going to use the idea I mentioned earlier but give a few variations to show how it can be run in a number of different ways.

Variation 1

Put students in groups of 3-5 and give each group a copy (or copies) of the following handout:

Ask students to talk to each other and make a list of possible solutions. Ask them to also think about what problems they might face/encounter with each solution. i.e. If they stay on the island, where will they sleep and what will they eat? What if there is no food on the island? etc.

Variation 2

Give the students the same handout, but also give them the following options (either as part of the handout or written on the board).

• One of you swims to the shore to get help.
• Try and make a fire on the island to attract attention.
• Find somewhere to sleep for the night and then try and get off in the morning.
• Look for the boat and get one person to try and swim to it and bring it back.
• All swim back to the shore taking it in turns to help the person who can't swim.

Variation 3

Give the students the same handout, but also give each one a role card with extra information. i.e.

  A logical thinking problem-solving activity

A new teacher starts working at school. In her class there are a set of triplets, Ana, Bryan and Carl. Unfortunately, the teacher can't remember which one is which, but she has some notes about the three kids.

She knows that two of the triplets are boys and one is a girl.

Carl, one of the boys, is always calm and patient.

• One of the triplets likes playing football and he has a tattoo on his arm.

One of the triplets has red hair, one brown and one blonde.

• The triplet who doesn't get angry easily has short blonde hair.

The triplet with red hair has an earring and she likes to sing.

The triplet who has a tattoo gets angry easily.

Can she work out who is who?

Students should be able to work out the answer simply with the information provided, but, if you want to help them you could also give them a set of questions to answer. e.g.

• Should the teacher have known which triplet was Ana? Why?
• Which triplet likes to sing? How do you know?
• What colour is Ana's hair?
• What else do you know about Ana?
• What kind of person is Carl?
• Does he have a tattoo?
• How do you know?
• What colour is Carl's hair?
• Does Carl like football?
• Which triplet likes football?

These questions guide students through step-by-step, enabling them to work out the answer.

An information gap problem-solving activity

A simple example of this would be to use the same worksheet as above but cut the information about the triplets into strips, put students in small groups and give each student one or two strips. Tell students they have the information between them but that they must not show their information to the other students in their group.

A new teacher starts working at school. In her class there are a set of triplets, Ana, Bryan and Carl. Unfortunately, the teacher can’t remember which one is which, but she has some notes about the three kids. Can she work out who is who?

One of the triplets likes playing football and he has a tattoo on his arm

The triplet who doesn’t get angry easily has short blonde hair.

• British English

Speaking matters: Developing fluency

Speaking matters: developing and dealing with accuracy, speaking matters: assessing speaking, speaking matters: personalization, speaking matters: role-play.

Speaking matters: Pairwork

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• B2 speaking

Dealing with a problem

In this video, Vanya goes to Yuna with a problem. Listen to the language they use for dealing with a problem and practise saying the useful phrases.

Do the preparation exercise first. Then watch the video and do the exercises to check your understanding and practise the language.

Preparation

Speaking B2: Dealing with a problem – preparation

Ana : Hi! I'm Ana. Welcome to What to Say ! 

Do you know what to say when you need to deal with a problem? Listen out for useful language for dealing with a problem. Then, we'll practise saying the new phrases – after this.

Vanya : Yuna!

Yuna : Oh, morning!

Vanya : I've got a bit of a problem. 

Yuna : What's wrong?

Vanya : Can we talk in private?

Yuna : Of course.

Yuna : Right, so, what's the matter? 

Vanya : Well, I've made a mistake. A big mistake.

Yuna : OK. I'm sure we can work it out.

Vanya : It was such a silly thing to do! 

Yuna : I'm getting worried now. What's going on here? 

Vanya : OK. It was late last night and I was tired. I wasn't concentrating and I accidentally used my company credit card instead of my own to buy something! 

Yuna : Don't worry, these things happen. There's a procedure to deal with this. How much did you spend? 

Vanya : It was quite expensive.

Yuna : How expensive?

Vanya : It was very expensive.

Yuna : Vanya, how expensive?

Vanya : £3,782 … and 56 pence.

Yuna : What? You spent £3,782?! 

Vanya : … and 56 pence. 

Yuna : What was it? Vanya?

Vanya : Just a weekend break! I just like a really nice hotel!

Yuna : OK, I see. Thanks for letting me know.

Vanya : Ah! I feel so much better now I've told you. Please don't tell Noelia.

Yuna : Oh, I'm definitely going to tell her!

Noelia : Hi!

Vanya : Hi!

Ana : Hello again! Wow, that's a lot of money for a weekend break. So, did you notice the useful phrases used for dealing with a problem? Listen to me and then repeat. 

What's wrong?

I've got a bit of a problem.

Could we talk in private?

What's the matter?

I've made a mistake.

I'm sure we can work it out.

Don't worry, these things happen.

Thanks for letting me know.

I feel so much better now I've told you.

Ana : Try and use some of these phrases the next time you need to deal with a problem in English. Bye for now!

Speaking B2: Dealing with a problem – 1

Speaking B2: Dealing with a problem – 2

Speaking B2: Dealing with a problem – 3

When was the last time you helped someone with a problem at work?

Language level

Well, at work usually we deal with issues all the time. Since our job is to help others to understand a product features and functionalities, we are solving problems all the time. One of the things I like the most of my job is that we all are always available to lend a hand when it is needed.

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The last time I helped someone was yesterday. It was something related to my parents and I'm still working on that issue wish me luck!

Good luck, I hope everything is getting better.

Currently, I don't have a job, but sometimes I also help my classmates at university when they are absent. For example, I will send them the curriculum of the lesson that the teacher is teaching that day.

I used to help my coworkers, colleagues, sisters and friends dealing with their problems by giving them some tips form my experience, and reciprocally I receive help from them and i don't hesitate a second to ask for help when I'am in a tough situation. I remember once my sister have deleted all data on her phone and she didn't have a clue how to get them back, so I suggested to install a recovery application but it didn't work, i took her to a friend who has a remarkable backgound in this field and thanks to him he fixed the problem and recovered all her important data.

The last time I helped someone with a problem was at school. One of my colleagues had a hard time planning for his studies effectively, so I told him about my studying routine, hoping that it will help him know what he was doing wrong.

Today I helped my colleague and explained her how the calculation should be done.

actually i don't work yet but i used to help my classmates at the university. I sent them what the teacher mentioned in the previous lesson. Thank to that, they could complete the assignment on time.

i don´t work yet but i help my colleagues at school with their homeworks or with classes that they missed

Well the day before yesterday when there was no network in the office available. Connecting with internet provider and our IT helpdesk helped to solve the issue.

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Speaking Activity: Giving Advice (Guess the Problem)

Simple speaking activity for giving advice / making suggestions (esl).

ESL Level : lower-intermediate & intermediate

Target skill : Giving advice

Class Time : 25 minutes

Summary : Students give advice to a classmate. The classmate then tries to guess what problem s/he has.

First, teach some expressions for giving advice. This activity could be done first to achieve this.

In this activity, students give advice to a classmate. The classmate, however, does not know what problem they have. After getting advice, they can try to guess what their problem was. For example:

• Student1 : You shouldn't eat late at night.
• Student2 : You ought to sleep with all the lights off.
• Student3 : You had better talk to a doctor.
• Student4 : If I were you , I would take some sleeping pills.
• Student5 : Oh! Do I have insomnia? I can't sleep, right?
• ( All): Correct!

That's the gist of the activity.

Activity Execution Possibilities

To get the list of problems that you'll use in the class, you can either make it yourself or give blank cards to your students and have them write a problem on each.

Possible problems (could also be elicited from class):

• you have insomnia
• your partner is cheating on you
• you can't find your dog
• you're addicted to computer games
• you're gaining weight
• your feet stink (smell bad)
• you're failing all your classes
• your neighbour's dog barks all night
• your parents don't like your boyfriend/girlfriend
• you are depressed
• you are homeless

You could do the activity in the following ways:

• Have one student in front of the class, with his/her back to the board. You can then write the problem on the board and the other classmates can give the advice.
• Tape a problem to the back of each students. They then walk around and try to guess their problem. When they have succeeded, then can switch their problem card with someone else's.

That's it. This is a simple activity for giving advice that is both fun and requires little preparation. You ought to give it a try.

- Matthew Barton / Creator of Englishcurrent.com

Related Pages

• Giving Advice Lesson Plan (Upper-Intermediate)
• Simple Giving Advice Speaking Activity

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4 comments on “ Speaking Activity: Giving Advice (Guess the Problem) ”

thank you! great activity!!

Nice! I’ll use them in my class! Tnx!

Thanks for the ideas!

this is the best information that I get from this site

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Problem solving speaking activity: part 2

Students work in pairs or small groups trying to find solutions to 15 different problems. It is a good opportunity to practice the second conditional ( I would…, If I were in this situation …), modal verbs    ( should, might, mustn’t etc.) and negotiating (agreeing/disagreeing/expressing your opinion/asking about your partner’s opinion).

To practice agreeing and disagreeing please see

Problem Solving ,

School Problems , 

Moral Dilemmas ,

Workplace Dilemmas

Parental Decisions

Personal Experience

I have used this activity both with adult and teenage students, levels intermediate-advanced. It works well as a warm-up (giving the students just one problem) to a regular class, and may also be used during conversation classes (takes around 20 mins.) Make sure to allow some time for the groups to present and compare their ideas at the end of class.

More problem solving

Thanks a lot 🙂

You’re welcome! Happy problem solving!

Thank you so much for sharing.

Not at all, hope your students enjoy this activity!

Thank you so much, dear! I find your activities very hands-on and useful.

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Lesson Plans Digger

• ESL Activities

15 Speaking Activities for ESL Learners [Detailed Guide]

• Posted by by Zaraki Kenpachi
• 3 years ago

Activity 1: “Two Truths and a Lie”

Two Truths and a Lie is a classic icebreaker activity that encourages ESL learners to practice speaking while getting to know their classmates. In this activity, each student takes turns sharing three statements about themselves: two true statements and one false statement. The rest of the class listens and tries to guess which statement is the lie. After each student has shared, the class discusses their guesses and the student reveals the lie.

This activity benefits ESL learners in multiple ways. Firstly, it provides an opportunity for students to engage in conversation and practice speaking skills in a relaxed and non-threatening environment. They can use their existing vocabulary and sentence structures to express themselves. Additionally, the activity promotes active listening as students carefully consider the statements and make educated guesses. It also encourages critical thinking as students analyze the statements and evaluate their credibility. Moreover, the activity helps foster a sense of community within the classroom as students learn more about each other and build connections. Overall, “Two Truths and a Lie” enhances both communication skills and social interaction among ESL learners.

Activity 2: “Picture Prompt Discussions”

Picture Prompt Discussions are an engaging activity that encourages ESL learners to express their thoughts and ideas based on visual stimuli. For this activity, provide each student with a picture or a series of pictures, and ask them to describe what they see, share their opinions, or create a story around the images. Students can take turns presenting their pictures to the class and initiating a discussion. The rest of the students can ask questions, make comments, or express their own perspectives related to the images.

This activity is highly beneficial for ESL learners as it enhances their speaking skills in various aspects. Firstly, it promotes fluency and vocabulary development as students describe the visual elements and articulate their thoughts. They can practice using adjectives, prepositions, and descriptive language to communicate effectively. Secondly, Picture Prompt Discussions encourage critical thinking as students analyze the images and formulate their opinions or stories. They learn to support their ideas with reasoning and evidence. Furthermore, this activity nurtures creativity and imagination as students construct narratives or interpret the pictures in unique ways. It also fosters active listening and respectful communication as students engage in dialogues, exchange ideas, and respond to their peers’ contributions. Picture Prompt Discussions provide a rich and dynamic speaking experience for ESL learners while allowing them to explore their creativity and broaden their perspectives.

Activity 3: “Debate and Discuss”

Debate and Discuss is an activity that encourages ESL learners to engage in structured conversations, express their opinions, and support their arguments. Select a thought-provoking topic relevant to the learners’ interests or the curriculum and divide the class into two groups: one representing the affirmative side and the other representing the negative side. Each group will have time to prepare their arguments and gather supporting evidence. Once prepared, the groups take turns presenting their viewpoints, countering each other’s arguments, and engaging in a respectful debate. The activity concludes with a class discussion, where students can express their own opinions, reflect on the arguments presented, and share their thoughts. Check here for some great communication esl questions you can practice in your classroom.

This activity has numerous benefits for ESL learners. Firstly, it improves their speaking skills by providing a platform for structured and extended discourse. Students practice presenting their ideas clearly, organizing their thoughts, and using persuasive language to convince others. Secondly, the activity enhances critical thinking and reasoning abilities as students analyze the topic, evaluate evidence, and develop logical arguments. They learn to consider multiple perspectives and engage in constructive debates. Moreover, Debate and Discuss fosters active listening skills as students pay attention to opposing viewpoints and formulate effective responses. It also promotes cultural awareness and empathy as students explore different opinions and respect diverse viewpoints. By engaging in debates, ESL learners develop their communication skills, critical thinking abilities, and ability to engage in respectful discussions.

Activity 4: “Role-Play Interviews”

Role-Play Interviews are interactive activities that allow ESL learners to practice their speaking skills in a simulated real-life scenario. Divide the class into pairs, and assign each pair a specific role, such as an interviewer and an interviewee. Provide a list of interview questions or a scenario related to a job interview, a college admission interview, or a news interview. Students take turns playing each role and engage in the interview, using their creativity to respond to questions and demonstrate their communication skills. After the role-play, the pairs can provide feedback to each other, discussing strengths and areas for improvement.

This activity offers several benefits to ESL learners. Firstly, it provides a practical application of language skills by simulating authentic speaking situations. Students practice using appropriate vocabulary, grammar structures, and professional or formal language registers. They also gain confidence in speaking fluently and spontaneously. Secondly, Role-Play Interviews enhance interpersonal and communication skills. By taking on different roles, students learn to adapt their language and demeanor to suit different contexts and audiences. They also develop active listening skills as they respond to questions and engage in meaningful dialogue. Furthermore, the activity fosters empathy and cultural understanding as students step into the shoes of others and experience different perspectives. It encourages teamwork and collaboration as students provide feedback and support each other’s learning. Overall, Role-Play Interviews help ESL learners build confidence, improve their language proficiency, and prepare for real-life communication scenarios.

Activity 5: “Descriptive Presentations”

Descriptive Presentations allow ESL learners to practice their speaking skills while sharpening their ability to describe objects, places, or experiences in detail. Assign each student a specific topic, such as their favorite vacation destination, a memorable childhood event, or an object of personal significance. Students prepare short presentations where they describe their chosen topic, utilizing sensory details, vivid language, and clear organization. They can use visual aids, props, or slides to enhance their presentations. After each presentation, the class can engage in a Q&A session, asking questions to further explore the topic.

This activity offers several advantages to ESL learners. Firstly, it enhances vocabulary acquisition and usage as students search for appropriate words and expressions to vividly describe their topics. They learn to use adjectives, adverbs, and figurative language to engage their audience. Secondly, Descriptive Presentations promote organization and coherence in speech as students structure their ideas and develop a logical flow. They learn to use transition words and phrases to guide their audience through the presentation. Additionally, this activity develops confidence in public speaking as students practice delivering information in a clear and engaging manner. It also cultivates active listening skills as the audience pays attention, asks questions, and provides feedback. Moreover, Descriptive Presentations encourage cultural sharing as students talk about their personal experiences or share insights about different places or objects. By honing their descriptive skills, ESL learners become more effective communicators capable of engaging their audience and conveying their ideas in a compelling manner.

Activity 6: “Picture Storytelling”

Picture Storytelling is an interactive activity that encourages ESL learners to create narratives based on visual stimuli. Provide each student with a series of images that tell a story, or ask them to bring their own pictures. Students take turns presenting their pictures and using their imagination to construct a story around the images. They can incorporate characters, settings, conflicts, and resolutions. The rest of the class listens attentively and can ask questions or make comments about the story after each presentation.

This activity offers multiple benefits to ESL learners. Firstly, it stimulates creativity and imagination as students build narratives using visual cues. They learn to think critically and develop characters and plotlines. Secondly, Picture Storytelling enhances verbal communication skills as students practice expressing their ideas in a clear and coherent manner. They learn to

use descriptive language, dialogue, and narrative structures to engage their audience. Additionally, this activity fosters active listening skills as students pay attention to the presentations and follow the storylines. They can analyze the connections between the images and the story, make predictions, and ask relevant questions. Moreover, Picture Storytelling promotes cultural awareness and empathy as students share stories from their own cultural backgrounds or explore different perspectives through the narratives. It also encourages collaboration and social interaction as students engage in discussions and provide feedback on each other’s stories. By participating in Picture Storytelling, ESL learners develop their storytelling abilities, expand their vocabulary, enhance their speaking fluency, and nurture their creativity.

Activity 7: “Information Gap”

The Information Gap activity is designed to encourage ESL learners to practice their speaking skills while engaging in a communicative and interactive task. Divide the class into pairs or small groups and provide each group with slightly different sets of information related to a specific topic. The information could be in the form of pictures, texts, or charts. Each group member has a piece of the puzzle, and their goal is to communicate effectively with their groupmates to fill in the missing information. They must ask questions, provide explanations, and collaborate to gather the complete set of information.

This activity offers several benefits to ESL learners. Firstly, it promotes meaningful communication as students actively engage in discussions and exchange information to complete the task. They practice asking and answering questions, seeking clarification, and expressing opinions. Secondly, the Information Gap activity enhances listening skills as students need to pay attention to their groupmates’ explanations and respond accordingly. They develop their ability to comprehend and process spoken information in real-time. Furthermore, this activity fosters collaboration and teamwork as students work together to solve the information gaps. They learn to negotiate and compromise, respecting different perspectives and sharing their own knowledge. Moreover, the activity reinforces vocabulary and content knowledge as students discuss and clarify the information they possess. It also cultivates problem-solving skills as students analyze the incomplete information and strategize to fill the gaps effectively. Overall, the Information Gap activity provides a dynamic and engaging speaking experience that enhances communication skills, collaboration, critical thinking, and listening comprehension for ESL learners.

Activity 8: “Cultural Exchange”

The Cultural Exchange activity encourages ESL learners to share aspects of their own culture while developing their speaking skills and cultural understanding. Divide the class into pairs or small groups, ensuring a mix of different cultural backgrounds. Assign each group a specific cultural topic, such as traditional festivals, cuisine, customs, or music. Each group member takes turns sharing information about their own culture related to the assigned topic. They can describe traditions, explain the significance of certain practices, or share personal experiences. The rest of the group listens actively, asks questions, and shows interest in the cultural exchange.

This activity offers multiple advantages to ESL learners. Firstly, it provides a platform for students to develop their speaking skills by discussing cultural topics that are personally meaningful to them. They practice using descriptive language, storytelling techniques, and cultural-specific vocabulary to convey information effectively. Secondly, the Cultural Exchange activity promotes cultural awareness and sensitivity as students learn about and appreciate different cultures. They develop empathy and respect for diverse perspectives and traditions. Additionally, this activity enhances listening skills as students actively engage in discussions, ask relevant questions, and seek clarification about cultural practices they might be unfamiliar with. It also encourages curiosity and open-mindedness as students explore new cultural information and perspectives. Moreover, the Cultural Exchange activity fosters a sense of community and inclusivity within the classroom as students celebrate and learn from each other’s cultures. By participating in this activity, ESL learners expand their cultural knowledge, improve their communication skills, and cultivate intercultural competence.

Activity 9: “News Reporting”

The News Reporting activity engages ESL learners in practicing their speaking skills while developing their ability to report information in a concise and organized manner. Assign each student or pair of students a current news article or headline related to a topic of interest. Students take on the role of news reporters and present a summary of the news to the class. They should include key information such as who, what, when, where, why, and how. They can also provide their opinions or perspectives on the news story. After each presentation, encourage class discussions and allow students to ask questions or share their thoughts on the news topic.

This activity offers several benefits to ESL learners. Firstly, it improves their speaking fluency as they practice delivering information in a structured and coherent manner. They learn to use appropriate vocabulary, factual language, and clear explanations. Secondly, the News Reporting activity enhances listening skills as students pay attention to their peers’ presentations and comprehend the information being shared. They develop their ability to extract important details from oral communication. Additionally, this activity promotes critical thinking as students analyze news stories, evaluate the reliability of information, and form their opinions. It also encourages cross-cultural awareness as students explore news from different parts of the world and consider various perspectives. Moreover, the News Reporting activity fosters media literacy as students learn to critically consume and present news in a responsible manner. By engaging in this activity, ESL learners enhance their speaking skills, develop their ability to summarize information, and become more informed and engaged global citizens.

Activity 10: “Problem-solving Discussions”

Problem-solving Discussions provide ESL learners with opportunities to practice their speaking skills while developing their critical thinking and collaborative abilities. Present a real-life or hypothetical problem to the class, such as an environmental issue, a social challenge, or a moral dilemma. Divide the students into small groups and instruct them to discuss possible solutions or approaches to the problem. Each group member should contribute their ideas, provide reasoning, and engage in constructive dialogue to reach a consensus or develop a plan of action. After the discussions, groups can share their findings and engage in a class-wide discussion to compare approaches and evaluate the effectiveness of different solutions.

This activity offers several advantages to ESL learners. Firstly, it promotes the development of speaking skills as students practice expressing their ideas, giving reasons, and engaging in meaningful discussions. They learn to present their opinions, negotiate, and seek consensus. Secondly, the Problem-solving Discussions activity enhances critical thinking skills as students analyze complex problems, evaluate different perspectives, and consider the consequences of their proposed solutions. They develop their ability to think creatively, identify potential challenges, and think systematically. Furthermore, this activity fosters collaboration and teamwork as students work together to find common ground and develop effective strategies. They learn to listen actively, respect diverse opinions, and build upon each other’s ideas. Moreover, the Problem-solving Discussions activity cultivates empathy and global awareness as students explore real-life challenges faced by individuals or communities worldwide. It encourages them to consider ethical implications and develop solutions that are socially responsible. By participating in this activity, ESL learners refine their speaking skills, expand their critical thinking abilities, and become more effective problem solvers and team players.

Activity 11: “Role-Play Situations”

Role-Play Situations provide ESL learners with opportunities to practice their speaking skills in simulated real-life scenarios. Select a variety of situations relevant to their daily lives, such as ordering food at a restaurant, making travel arrangements, resolving conflicts, or participating in a job interview. Assign each student or pair of students a role and provide them with a brief description of the situation and their role’s objectives and characteristics. Students then engage in role-playing, improvising dialogues and actions based on their assigned roles. After each role-play, allow time for feedback and reflection, where students can discuss the challenges they faced, strengths they exhibited, and areas for improvement.

This activity offers several benefits to ESL learners. Firstly, it provides a practical application of language skills in realistic contexts. Students practice using appropriate vocabulary, expressions, and social conventions to navigate different situations. They learn to adapt their language register and demeanor to suit specific roles and social interactions. Secondly, Role-Play Situations enhance communication skills as students practice active listening, turn-taking, and responding appropriately to verbal and non-verbal cues. They develop their ability to ask questions, seek clarification, and express their needs or opinions. Furthermore, this activity promotes confidence-building as students take on different roles and engage in simulated conversations. It allows them to experiment with language and social interactions in a supportive and low-stakes environment. Moreover, Role-Play Situations encourage empathy and cultural understanding as students step into the shoes of others and experience different perspectives. They develop a deeper appreciation for diverse backgrounds and develop their ability to communicate effectively with people from different cultures. By engaging in role-playing, ESL learners refine their speaking skills, boost their confidence, and enhance their intercultural competence.

Activity 12: “Topic Debates”

Topic Debates are engaging activities that encourage ESL learners to express their opinions, present arguments, and engage in structured debates. Select a debatable topic relevant to the learners’ interests or the curriculum, such as the impact of technology on society, the importance of physical education in schools, or the benefits and drawbacks of social media. Divide the class into teams representing different sides of the argument, and provide time for research and preparation. Each team then takes turns presenting their arguments and countering the opposing team’s points. Encourage students to use persuasive language, evidence, and logical reasoning to support their positions. The activity concludes with a class discussion, where students can share their personal opinions and reflections on the debated topic.

This activity offers numerous benefits to ESL learners. Firstly, it improves their speaking skills by providing a platform for structured and extended discourse. Students practice presenting their ideas clearly, organizing their thoughts, and using persuasive language to convince others. Secondly, the Topic Debates activity enhances critical thinking and reasoning abilities as students analyze the topic, evaluate evidence, and develop logical arguments. They learn to consider multiple perspectives, anticipate counterarguments, and respond effectively. Furthermore, this activity cultivates active listening skills as students pay attention to opposing viewpoints, evaluate the strength of arguments, and formulate effective responses. It also promotes cultural awareness and empathy as students explore different opinions and respect diverse viewpoints. Moreover, the Topic Debates activity helps ESL learners develop their research skills as they gather information and evidence to support their arguments. They learn to critically evaluate sources and present well-rounded perspectives. By engaging in debates, ESL learners develop their communication skills, critical thinking abilities, and ability to engage in respectful discussions.

Activity 13: “Interview a Celebrity”

“Interview a Celebrity” is a creative and engaging activity that allows ESL learners to practice their speaking skills while developing their imagination and critical thinking abilities. Divide the class into pairs, and assign each pair a famous celebrity or historical figure. Each pair then conducts an interview with their assigned celebrity, taking turns playing the roles of the interviewer and the celebrity. The interviewer asks questions about the celebrity’s life, career, achievements, or personal experiences, while the celebrity responds in character. The pairs can use their research and imagination to create a dialogue that reflects the personality and background of the celebrity. After the interviews, encourage students to share their experiences and insights with the class.

This activity offers several benefits to ESL learners. Firstly, it enhances speaking fluency as students engage in dynamic and interactive conversations. They practice formulating questions, responding spontaneously, and expressing themselves clearly and coherently. Secondly, “Interview a Celebrity” fosters creativity and imagination as students step into the shoes of a famous personality and create a dialogue based on their research and understanding. They develop their ability to think on their feet, adapt to different roles, and use appropriate language and tone. Additionally, this activity promotes cultural knowledge as students research and learn about various celebrities or historical figures from different backgrounds and time periods. It encourages them to consider the impact and contributions of these individuals. Moreover, “Interview a Celebrity” cultivates active listening skills as students pay attention to their partner’s responses and adapt their questions accordingly. They learn to think critically, ask follow-up questions, and engage in meaningful dialogue. By participating in this activity, ESL learners improve their speaking fluency, develop their research skills, and gain a deeper understanding of different personalities and historical figures.

Activity 14: “Problem-solving Role Play”

The “Problem-solving Role Play” activity provides ESL learners with a practical and engaging way to practice their speaking skills while honing their problem-solving and negotiation abilities. Create scenarios that involve common problems or conflicts that individuals may encounter in daily life, such as resolving a dispute with a roommate, negotiating a price with a seller, or finding a compromise in a group project. Divide the class into pairs or small groups, and assign each group a different scenario. Students take on different roles and engage in role-playing, working together to find solutions and resolve the problem presented in the scenario. After the role play, allow time for reflection and discussion, where students can share their experiences, strategies used, and lessons learned.

This activity offers several benefits to ESL learners. Firstly, it provides a practical application of language skills in real-life situations. Students practice using appropriate language registers, negotiation strategies, and problem-solving techniques to effectively communicate and resolve conflicts. Secondly, the “Problem-solving Role Play” activity enhances critical thinking skills as students analyze the scenario, consider different perspectives, and develop creative solutions. They learn to think on their feet, adapt to unexpected situations, and evaluate the consequences of their actions. Furthermore, this activity promotes collaboration and teamwork as students work together to find common ground, listen to each other’s viewpoints, and reach consensus. They develop their ability to empathize, communicate effectively, and build positive relationships. Moreover, the “Problem-solving Role Play” activity fosters confidence-building as students step into different roles and engage in simulated conversations. It allows them to practice assertiveness, active listening, and respectful communication. By participating in this activity, ESL learners refine their speaking skills, develop their problem-solving abilities, and become more effective communicators in real-life situations.

Activity 15: “Just a Minute”

“Just a Minute” is a fast-paced and engaging activity that challenges ESL learners to think quickly and speak fluently on a given topic. Choose a variety of interesting and thought-provoking topics, such as favorite hobbies, memorable vacations, or current events. Set a timer for one minute, and each student takes turns speaking on the given topic for a full minute without hesitation, repetition, or deviation. Encourage students to be as expressive and detailed as possible within the given time limit. After each round, allow time for feedback and discussion, where students can share their thoughts and reflections on the activity.

This activity offers several benefits to ESL learners. Firstly, it improves speaking fluency as students practice speaking spontaneously and coherently under time pressure. They learn to organize their thoughts quickly and deliver information in a concise and engaging manner. Secondly, the “Just a Minute” activity enhances vocabulary and language usage as students search for appropriate words and expressions to describe their topic within the time limit. They develop their ability to think on their feet and access their linguistic resources effectively. Furthermore, this activity fosters confidence-building as students challenge themselves to speak for a full minute without hesitation. It helps overcome the fear of making mistakes and encourages risk-taking in language production. Moreover, the “Just a Minute” activity cultivates active listening skills as students pay attention to their peers’ speeches, evaluate the coherence and fluency of their delivery, and provide constructive feedback. It also encourages critical thinking as students analyze the topics, generate ideas, and structure their speeches within the given time frame. By participating in this activity, ESL learners refine their speaking skills, boost their confidence, and enhance their ability to think quickly and express themselves fluently.

These 15 speaking activities provide ESL learners with diverse opportunities to practice and improve their speaking skills in a fun and interactive manner. Each activity focuses on different aspects of communication, such as fluency, vocabulary, critical thinking, cultural understanding, and collaboration. By incorporating these activities into the ESL classroom, teachers can create a dynamic and engaging learning environment that nurtures students’ confidence, promotes language proficiency, and develops essential communication skills for their future success.

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9 EFL/ESL Speaking Games & Activities Perfect for Beginners

Games are a huge part of teaching English. This is especially true for beginners, either children in their early stages of English education, or older students picking up the language for the first time.

Some established games and activities, however, rely on students having a wide vocabulary, or the ability to string sentences together. Beginners don’t have those tools. So here are 9 unique and entertaining games and activities perfectly suited for beginners, each with useful tips.

Some of these games and activities have been created by teachers across the world, while others are my own inventions. They are all suitable for small groups, big classes, and, in most cases, one-to-one tutoring.

• What’s Changed?
• Alphabet Race
• Packed Pictures
• Swat the Word
• Chain Comparisons
• Say and Draw
• Higher or Lower
• 21 (or 51 or 210 etc.)
• Monster Factory

Finding suitable games for beginners can be challenging. So beyond this list of 9, I’ve got a whole bunch more. 20, in fact. In my free ebook of 20 EFL/ESL games you have plenty to choose from, with guidance and tips for encouraging beginners and less confident students.

To get your hands on the ebook, sign up to the Enchanted ESL Newsletter . Not only will you get the ebook, but access to a treasure trove of lesson plans, role-play scenarios and game materials.

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A quick word on energy and vocabulary

Each of these games and activities requires a certain amount of energy. Some are exciting, physical and fast-paced, while others are calm and best done sitting at a table. Students have different amounts of energy in class. Each of the 9 games/activities presented has an associated energy level to help you choose the right one to fit your group best.

Vocabulary is crucial at beginner stages. Many of these games aim to consolidate or elicit vocabulary in a natural, relevant way. To ensure your students learn words quickly, read my article on the best method to improve vocabulary .

Now let’s get to the list!

1. What’s Changed?

Everyone knows how to play spot the difference. What’s Changed is a much more engaging alternative, in which things get mixed up in the classroom.

Estimated time: 5 minutes per round Energy level: 5/5 Materials: None

How to play One student (identifier) steps outside the room, while the others have one minute to change things inside (move tables, rearrange the pens, turn a chair upside-down, etc.). When the identifier returns to the classroom, they have to say what has changed.

For complete beginners, identifying can be as simple as pointing and saying the name of what has changed, e.g. “tables”. For slightly more confident groups, you could encourage them to say “tables moved”, or even “they moved the tables”.

• Safety and respect for people’s belongings is important – establish what is acceptable before the game and make clear everything has to go back exactly as it was at the start.
• Don’t change too much. Aim for about ten things per identifier. With a small group, each student in the classroom may change 2-3 things, while in a class of 30, have 3 students as identifiers, while the rest change one thing each.
• Make sure the identifier actually says something instead of just pointing.
• Write down what has changed and gather any new vocabulary.
• If the identifiers take too long, set a time limit.

2. Alphabet Race

This game works best in small groups, but can apply to whole classrooms or individuals. The idea is to get to the end of the alphabet as quickly as possible without making a mistake.

Estimated time: 2 minutes (although you can repeat it several times) Energy level: 4/5 Materials: Stopwatch

How to play Organise the students into a circle or line, so there is a clear order. Start the stopwatch. When you do, the first student in the order says “A”, the next “B”, then “C” etc. This continues until someone makes a mistake (start again), or you get to the end – stop the stopwatch.

This game only works once you’ve practiced the alphabet a little, otherwise you can’t get very far along the order before someone makes a mistake.

General TIPS:

• Join in yourself, acting as a model for some of the trickier letters.
• When someone makes a mistake, instead of starting from the beginning of the order, start with the student after the one who got it wrong.
• Make a note of your times and letters reached, so the group can see their progress.
• Keep the pressure low – don’t blame or criticise anyone for making a mistake, instead encourage them. Get the others students to follow your lead.
• If one student consistently struggles, put them somewhere in the order where they can get some easier letters.
• A variation is to say a word beginning with the letter instead of the letter itself.
• Take it to the next level of difficulty by going through the alphabet backwards.

Big class TIPS:

• If your class lines up to go to break/lunch, take a moment to do an alphabet race every day.
• If students get wise and start looking for positions in the order with easy letters, keep things varied – start from someone in the middle, or go in reverse order.
• If you have over 26 children, why not go around the alphabet twice?

3. Packed Pictures

This is an activity rather than a game, although there are ways to add game elements to it. It involves using a picture packed full of activity. The kind of thing you see in novelty jigsaws or those books in which you have to find a character, like Where’s Wally/Waldo.

Estimated time: 15-30 minutes Energy level: 2/5 Materials: Printed picture with lots of things happening, A4 dry-erase pockets (optional).

Not only are these pictures great fun to look at, but they provide stimulus for new vocabulary. Some of this can be targeted – you get the students to find specific things, or people doing certain actions – alternatively, it can be more student-led with them encouraged to find things that most interest them.

Here are some fun mini-games you can do:

• How many X can you find?
• Tell me five red things in the picture.
• Each student says something the others have to find (the harder to find, the better).

These pictures work really well if you have A4 dry-erase pockets. The students can draw and write all over the picture again and again, and you can re-use the pictures in later classes.

Pictures can be themed around the topic you’re studying, or a certain time of the year, like Halloween. As I don’t own any of the pictures, I can’t post them here, but searching Google Images will bring up plenty of options. I prefer the ones with a mix of both objects and people.

4. Swat the Word

An exciting, competitive listening and vocabulary game. Students have to react quickly to hit the correct word with their “fly swat”.

Estimated time: 15-20 minutes Energy level: 3/5 Materials: Fly swats OR rolled up sheets of paper, whiteboard/blackboard

If you have some fly swats, or can get them easily, students love it. If not, take some scrap paper, roll it vertically and squeeze one end to make a paper stick – easy to make and less likely to result in students “accidentally” swatting others in the class.

How to play Write at least 20 words on the board. Two students stand by the board. The teacher says a description of one of the words, and the students have to “swat” the word first. If they swat the correct word, they get a point. If they swat the wrong word, they aren’t allowed to try again, and the other student can take their time. Pushing, blocking, or any other physical contact is illegal.

The competitive aspect of this game can cause some issues, depending on your class. It can get a little too tense for some. However, if everyone knows the rules and the stakes aren’t too high, it’s great fun.

• In a large class, divide the students into two equal teams and have representatives from each team (this can get rowdy)
• Get the students to brainstorm the vocabulary first.
• Don’t remove the vocabulary even if someone has already swatted it.
• If you’re in a small class without a whiteboard, use a piece of paper as the board, and the end of a pen as the “swatter” – you could call it Word Jab instead of Word Swat.
• Word your descriptions carefully. Ideally, you’ll have related vocabulary in which one part of the description applies to many e.g. “It’s an animal with four legs…”, “it lives in the jungle”, “and it’s orange and black”. Each part of the description gives an extra clue and narrows it down. This means the students have to listen well.

It’s interesting to see how your students approach the game. Some are so eager to swat a word, they hardly listen to the description and just swat the first thing they see (usually wrong). Others wait for their opponent to mess up first. And some are so afraid of getting it wrong, they never swat anything!

Of course, the games on this list are just the start. I have many more to share with you in my eBook of 20 ESL Games. Many of them are ideal for beginners, or can be easily adapted. You can get it all for free by signing up to the Monthly Newsletter!

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5. Chain Comparisons

This game practices vocabulary and introduces the idea of comparatives. This one is great for small groups and big classes, but doesn’t work too well with one-to-one classes.

Estimated time: 3 minutes (can be repeated) Energy level: 4/5 Materials: Timer

How to play Organise the class into a circle or line to show a clear order. Establish how things will be compared e.g. size: bigger/smaller. Start a timer for 2 minutes. Teacher starts with a word, for example: “car”. The first student in the order has to say something bigger than a car. They might say, “house”. The following student now has to say something smaller than a house, e.g. “cat”. Then the next says something bigger, then smaller, and so on. Repetition is not allowed. Count how many correct words they come up with before the 2 minute timer ends – that’s the class score.

There’s an element of competition in this game, but it’s the whole class working together. It can get quite stressful with the time pressure, so gauge your class and remove that element if it’s causing issues.

Other things you can compare with are cost: cheaper/more expensive; speed: slower/faster; age: younger/older and many more.

• Make a note of the score each time, and try to improve when you repeat the game (I found my students love trying to get a new high score).
• Vary the time limit depending on the class level. If they know very little vocab, reduce the timer to one minute, or 90 seconds. If you have a big class, extend the time limit so each student gets multiple goes.
• Encourage the students to think of a few answers before their turn, so they’re ready to say something. If they don’t, the pressure can make their minds go blank.
• If students shout out answers when it’s not their turn, you can deal with it by stopping the timer, deducting points from the class total, or removing them from the game. Alternatively, you might want to encourage them to help each other (as long as they allow the person whose turn it is to think first).
• Join in the order yourself to introduce some new vocabulary on your turn.

6. Say and Draw

Need a few minutes to calm down? Say and Draw is great for getting students to relax, practice their listening skills as well as speaking. There’s also an eyes-closed variation which is hilarious.

Estimated time: 2 minutes per turn (do as many turns as you like) Energy level: 1/5 Materials: Drawing equipment for each student (A4 dry-erase pockets are ideal)

This activity is remarkably simple, but gives an opportunity for practicing vocabulary, prepositions, and even some grammar forms. You can find out how to play in this video! (While you’re there, subscribe for many more brilliant game ideas).

One person describes what the others should draw. It’s best to start with the teacher describing, to indicate how fast to speak, and the kind of language they can use. For example:

First of all, draw a beach with the sea next to it. PAUSE. In the middle of the beach, there’s a palm tree with three coconuts. PAUSE. Under the palm tree, draw three baby turtles and their mum. PAUSE. It’s sunny, with two small clouds in the sky.

The students don’t need to understand everything you’ve said. In fact, it’s a good way to expose them to some more natural English, as long as you clearly say the specific things they need to draw.

When you’ve given them an example or two, let one of the students have a go at describing. While they’re speaking, gently ask them questions to elicit more details, like “where?”, or “how big?”

• It’s not an art competition – students should draw as quickly as possible to keep up with the person talking.
• Watch them draw and modulate the speed of your description to match – they should be in a slight rush, but not overwhelmed.
• Let them be creative with descriptions. Turtles on the beach are nice, but hamsters riding unicorn-dragons on the moon will have everyone laughing.
• To increase the fun a step further, have the drawers close their eyes. The descriptions need to be simpler, but the results are often hysterical, especially when they use their English to justify why the dog’s eyes and ears are on its back.
• Conversely, if you want to create a relaxed atmosphere, play some gentle music and slow the pace.
• It might be tempting to let the describer pick which drawing they like best. I avoid this as it turns into a popularity contest. Instead, you could reward students who have drawn the picture most accurately given the instructions.

Either as a fun game sitting down, or a gentle listening exercise, this is a great way to take a break from an exciting lesson, while letting your students express their imaginations.

7. Higher or Lower

Most card games require an intermediate/advanced level of English. Not this one. Higher or Lower is the card game you all know, just with an English focus. It’s possible to play this with a full class with a few modifications, but it works better with smaller groups.

Estimated time: 5 minutes Energy level: 3/5 Materials: A deck of standard playing cards

Before you play, make sure your students are familiar with the rankings of a standard deck of playing cards, because they might not know what the Jack, Queen or King represent.

How to play Shuffle the cards and flip over the top one. The first student (left of the teacher) says if the next card is higher or lower. Turn over the next card to see. If they’re correct, they continue. If they’re wrong, they keep all the visible cards except the last one flipped over, and the turn moves to the next student who does the same. If the card turned over has the same rank as the one before, continue onto the following card. When the deck is exhausted, the player with the most cards wins.

To make this an English-focused game rather than just a normal card game, change the words “higher” and “lower” to other comparatives (e.g. cheaper/more expensive), saying big objects or small objects, or separate vocabulary into two categories, for example team sports and individual sports and assign them to “higher” or “lower”.

There are a number of different ways you can adapt this game to your needs, so get creative and know your students. They will love it when they get a long run of correct answers.

• Avoid putting too much emphasis on the winner – it’s a game of luck, and sometimes a student loses through misfortune, not their English skills. Play a few games and their luck will probably balance out.
• In a large class, divide into groups. If you can’t, instead of students playing individually, put them in 2-4 teams and have them line up. The player at the front of the line gives one answer and goes to the back of the line. This way you rotate quickly and there’s more energy and anticipation for those waiting in line.

8. 21 (or 51, or 210, etc.)

This game practices numbers. I used to play it as a drinking game at university and had a great time, although there’s no alcohol involved in this version. Even so, the mathematical aspect of the game might make it unsuitable for very young children.

Estimated time: 5 minutes Energy level: 3/5 Materials: None

21 is the standard version of the game, for practicing numbers between 1 and 21, but if your students are beyond that point, you can change the numbers to range from 30 to 51, or going up in tens from 0 to 210. Maybe you’re learning thousands, go from 50,000 to 71,000. It doesn’t really matter which numbers you use, as long as there are 21 numbers in play.

How to play Players make a circle. The first player begins at 1 and play proceeds in a clockwise direction. Each player can say one, two, or three numbers. If they say one number (e.g. “one”), the turn passes to the next person. If they say two numbers (“one, two”), the direction of play changes and the turn passes to the next person (now in the other direction). If they say three numbers (“one, two, three”), the turn skips the next person and goes to the following. Play continues until someone is forced to say the number “twenty-one” (or whichever number your game ends at). That player then has to do a “punishment”, e.g. talk for 30 seconds about a topic. Suggested rules: If someone says two numbers (e.g. “five, six”), the next person can’t say two numbers – they have to say one number or three numbers. The same applies to saying three numbers. Extra fun rule: Each round, someone (could be the loser of the last round) creates a new rule. For example, instead of saying “five” you have to say a colour. Or, if you’re feeling really confident, the new rule could be to reverse the order of the numbers.

If you’re familiar with this game, the rules here should make sense. If not, and my brief description of the rules isn’t enough, here’s a link to the rules for the drinking game on wikipedia .

• Keep the “punishments” light and related to English. Making them talk about a topic for 30 seconds is a good choice, as long as your students won’t feel uncomfortable doing that. An alternative would be to say all the numbers in the game in reverse order.
• Mistakes during the game, like talking out of turn, or saying an incorrect number, shouldn’t be a problem. If they’re becoming too frequent, think up a minor “punishment”.
• If you’ve got adults who have quick minds, you can get really creative with the added rules. For example, on multiples of four, they have to stand up and do a dance and on multiples of five, they have to shout the number (see if they remember to do both on 20).
• If you’re playing in a full-sized class, you will want to either split them into groups, or extend the range of numbers, so each student gets a couple of turns. I’d suggest the first option. Groups of 5-8 are optimal.

9. Monster Factory

Practice numbers, body parts and more with this crazy activity of building the weirdest monster you’ve ever seen. Children and adults will love it in equal measure.

Estimated time: 5 minutes prep + 5 minutes per turn Energy level: 2/5 Materials: Drawing materials, paper, scissors

Before the activity, you need to set up two pots/hats/piles with folded pieces of paper inside. In one, the pieces of paper will have a number (1-8) and in the other, they’ll have parts of the body.

It’s a good idea to get your students to help. If they come up with the body parts and even write the words themselves, they’ll get some vocab review and spelling practice.

Ideally, the pieces of paper with the body parts should all have something different on.

How to play One student is in charge of the pots/hats/piles. They are the Monster Designer who reveals what’s on the pieces of paper during the game. First, the other students should draw a blank torso and head on a piece of paper (or A4 dry-erase pocket) to get them started. Next, the Monster Designer takes one piece of paper from each pot and reads them out loud. For example, “three” and “nose”. If they have the ability, they can make a full sentence of “draw three noses on your monster”. The students who are drawing should now draw three noses on their monster. This continues for five repetitions (or more, if you want). At the end, the students will have a ridiculous picture of a monster with all sorts of crazy body parts.

Some drawings I’ve seen from this game are beyond my wildest imagination, and have had the whole class roaring with laughter. This is a great opportunity to get some conversation going as each person talks about their picture.

• If you only have time for one round, have all the students drawing, and alternate who unfolds the pieces of paper
• You can do this with a full class, or in smaller groups. In a full class, consider switching who unfolds the pieces of paper each time so everyone speaks.
• Use A4 dry-erase pockets instead of paper and pens/pencils – it’s easy to rub out mistakes and doesn’t waste paper.
• If your students are struggling, simultaneously draw a monster of your own on the board.
• If your students have gone beyond vocab for parts of the body, you can introduce items of clothing and even have a pot for the monster’s feelings.

The randomness of this game makes it great. I would say it’s not the best game for getting students to speak, but it’s certainly a good listening and vocab exercise, both vital skills for beginners.

Adapt and innovate

When I research games and activities online, I rarely stick with the exact rules shown. It’s important to adapt. What I like about all 9 games here is their flexibility for different group sizes and abilities.

Ultimately, the point of these games is to learn English in a fun way. Whatever it takes to achieve that goal, you need to do it – and that includes changing the way you play, and innovating your own variations.

I hope these games help your students take their English up a level. And if you’re looking for more great games, sign up to the Enchanted ESL Newsletter to get your free copy of the 20 EFL/ESL Games ebook and take advantage of the monthly emails with role-play scenarios, lesson plans and more games!

If you’re looking for more games and activities, check out my other lists: 9 EFL/ESL Speaking Games & Activities Perfect for Beginners 9 EFL/ESL Games & Activities for Intermediate Learners 9 EFL/ESL Games and Activities for Advanced Learners 9 High Energy EFL/ESL Games for Boosting Vocabulary 9 Engaging Homework Ideas for EFL/ESL: No worksheets! 9 Exciting EFL/ESL Activities for Writing & Spelling 9 Fun EFL/ESL Games & Ideas With Standard Playing Cards 9 EFL/ESL Games With No Materials or Preparation Needed 9 EFL/ESL 5 Minute Games Every Teacher Needs to Know 9 Superb EFL/ESL Games & Activities Using Just Pen & Paper 9 Classy EFL/ESL Games & Activities for Adults (+ tips) 9 Confidence-Boosting EFL/ESL Speaking Games for All Levels 9 Exciting Flashcard Games for EFL/ESL Classes

I’m Will, a teacher, blogger, and fantasy author. I grew up in England, but now I live in Spain where I teach private English classes to dozens of wonderful students.

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71+ Free Social Problem-Solving Scenarios

Do you have kiddos who struggle with their social problem-solving skills? Teach your students the simple process of how to solve a problem along with having them review how well their solution worked or didn’t work.

Why Teach Problem Solving Skills?

Learning to problem solve is an essential skill that is used not only throughout childhood but also into adulthood. Social problem solving is the ability to change or adapt to undesirable situations that arise throughout our day.

On a daily basis, a child will encounter social problems that they will need to solve.

Anything from:

• arguing with another student
• to hurting a friend’s feelings
• to having a difficult conversation
• working with others

Start with Small Problems

Many of the “problems” children encounter are often small problems which the child may be over-reacting to, such as wanting a different coloring crayon or wanting to be first in line, however, these small problems are still very real to the child.

Practicing problem-solving with these small problems can be a great learning opportunity. Children can practice problem-solving with a small problem which can help them learn how to handle bigger problems in the future.

Problem Solving Importance

Social problem-solving skills are critical to a child’s social interactions, personal and professional relationships. A child’s ability to handle change, cope with stress, and handle challenges improves with a child’s ability to successfully solve social problems.

The ultimate goal is that the child will be able to solve social problems all on their own, but until they can independently solve a problem they will need to learn how to communicate and self-advocate to positively solve their problems.  

Steps to Problem Solving

Children can be taught how to problem solve through a guided process of breaking down the problem and using simple steps to solve the problem.

Learning specific steps to problem-solving can allow children to remember how to solve a problem when they become overwhelmed or stressed.

Although learning to solve a problem independently can take some time and practice it is well worth the investment to have a child who can eventually solve most social situations in a positive manner on their own.

What we learnt about solving problems is don't freak out, if one thing doesn't work , try something else out. And work together as a team. #melthammathsweek #MELTHAMPUPILVOICE @problemsolveit pic.twitter.com/iVm1Im4Aue — yr6melthamce (@yr6melthamce) February 4, 2019

Problem Solving Form

Teach your students the 4 steps to becoming a social problem-solver.

• Identify the problem. For instance, start by having your student identify the social problem.
• Create three solutions. Also, have your student come up with three different solutions that they could use to solve the problem that they identified.
• Identify the consequences. Then, identify the consequence for each individual solution.
• Pick the best solution.  Lastly, have your student identify which of their three solutions is the best choice Then have your student put into words why they think that solution is the best solution.

Problem Solving Review Form

After your students go through the social problem-solver have them use the social problem-solving review form.

• What happened.  For instance, after your student tried their solution have them explain what happened next.
• Review the results. Also, have your student identify whether or not their solution got them the results they wanted.
• Use this solution again. Furthermore, have your student identify whether or not they would use this solution again in the future to solve the same or similar problem.
• What would you do differently? Finally, have your student explain what they would do differently if they didn’t get the results they wanted or if they wouldn’t use that solution again in the future.

71+ Social Problem Scenarios + 6 Blank Scenarios

Use the 71 social problem-solving scenarios to have your students get great experience practicing how to solve a social problem.

Also, included are 6 blank scenarios. Then laminate them so you can use them over and over again. Therefore, create social problems that the student experiences and needs help solving.

Wordless Video teaching Problem Solving

Watch this super cute wordless animation with your students and have them discuss the problem they see and how to best solve the problem.

Use this as a fun practice example to get your students started towards learning how to problem-solve.

Demonstrate Through Modeling

Model and discuss empathy.

First and foremost, children need to understand how another person might be feeling in a given situation in order to become a good social problem solver. The student needs to learn how to “stand in someone else’s shoes” for a little bit.

One way you can work on this skill is during the reading time you can focus on how a particular character in the story might be feeling.

Ask questions, such as:

• “How do they feel right now?”
• “How would you feel in that same situation?”
• “Why do you think they feel that way?”

Model Problem-Solving Skills as the Teacher

When you are faced with a problem you can solve the problem by thinking aloud for the students to hear how you solve a problem.

You can state the problem, then come up with possible solutions, then identify the possible consequences to each solution, then pick and explain why a solution is the best option.

For example, you could say, “I was hoping to take the class outside for a stress walk around the track before the reading test, but the problem is that it is raining outside. I could still take you outside, but then you will get wet, or we could walk the halls, but then we’d have to be really quiet because there are other classes learning, or we could just skip the walk and take the reading test, but then you might not do as well on the test. I think based on all of those solutions the best solution will be to walk the hallway, but you guys will have to promise to be quiet so that we don’t disrupt other classes.

Modeling the problem-solving process can be very helpful for the students to watch, observe, and later implement themselves.

Teach Communication

Have students communicate how they are feeling.

Teaching your students to share their emotions in a respectful way can improve their ability to problem-solve.

Have students use an “I” sentence frame, such as, “I feel _____ (insert feeling word) when _____ (identify what made you feel that way).”

For example, “I felt sad when Jackson broke my favorite pencil” or “I was mad when I wasn’t picked to be first in line.”

This way students can communicate how they are feeling using honest and open communication. Teaching students to appropriately communicate their emotions can help solve some social problems from the beginning.

Encourage Independency

Encourage your student to problem solve.

If your student is struggling to problem solve independently encourage them to do so using open-ended questions.

• “How could you fix this problem?”
• “What would be a fair solution?”
• “What would happen if you used that solution?”

Let the Student try to Problem Solve Independently

Give your students the space to try and solve their own problems using the guided strategies. Try not to come running to their rescue for every little problem.

Some problems are small and a great opportunity for the student to learn and practice. If an adult does all of the problem solving for a student then what are they really learning?

Give your students the time and space they need to practice solving small problems on their own. Of course, if it is a bigger or more serious problem then have an adult help guide the problem-solving process.

Tell an Adult

Remind your students that there are still some problems that are too big for them to solve on their own and that it is okay to get help from an adult to solve big problems.

For example, if the student doesn’t feel safe, someone is being hurt physically or emotionally, or if they tried to solve a problem independently but it didn’t work and they need help. Let them know that it’s okay to tell an adult.

Teach How to Disagree and How to Make Up

Discuss how to disagree respectfully.

Remind your student that they won’t always agree with their teacher, friends, classmate, or parents and that’s okay. Even the people we like might have different opinions, interests, and likes than we do.

However, even if we disagree with someone we should still treat them with respect. Treating someone with respect means to not call them names, ignore them, yell or hit them. It means that you do try to create solutions that both parties can agree with and to apologize when we hurt others’ feelings.

Role-Play How to Make Up

Practice in everyday life how to make up after a social problem .

Students are really having to stretch their brains today. It's @NSPCC #NumberDay and @problemsolveit are challenging Y9 and 10 to solve the escape room boxes. It's not as easy as it looks! The promise of a few sweet treats for the winners seems to be helping though! pic.twitter.com/AxRRJnJIv2 — CongletonHS (@CongletonHS) February 2, 2018

Be sure to get your free social problem solver today below! I hope you and your students love this freebie.

Have your students use task card scenarios to help them identify how they and others might feel in different social scenarios. Be sure to discuss the problem, identify possible solutions, identify the consequences of those possible solutions, and then based on those consequences pick the best solution.

Make social problem-solving a game by telling the students that they are social detectives and that it is their job to use what they know about social rules to help them identify the possible and best solutions.

Start practicing today with 71+ free social problem social task cards! Do your students need more practice?

Be sure to check out my other freebie for 31 wordless animated videos to teach problem-solving and so much more.

Make Problem Solving Easier with this Freebie!

Download yours today to get started.

Get More Problem Solving Time Saving Materials

Next, be sure to check out the following time-saving materials to continue to teach your students how to solve their social problems in addition to this freebie.

Weekly Social Pragmatics Homework

• Weekly problem-solving.   Send home a  weekly homework page  that includes a problem-solving scenario plus an idiom and a conversational practice scenario.

Restorative Justice Problem Solving Flip Book

• Restorative justice graphic visual.  Use this graphic visual to help your student  restore a social relationship  after a social problem.

Self-Advocating Role-Play Scenarios

• Self-advocating in high school.  Teach your high schoolers the process to  self-advocate  for what they need.

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

Problem solving.

Level: Upper Intermediate - Advanced

Type of English: Business English

Tags: problems at work problems and solutions declaring and diagnosing a problem making suggestions Situation based

In this lesson, students learn useful language for handling and solving problems at work. Vocabulary for describing different types of problems and solutions is studied. Students then listen to several dialogues and study the expressions used by the speakers to declare and diagnose a problem as well as make suggestions and take action. At the end of the lesson, there is a role play activity in which the language from the lesson is put into practice. There are two animated videos which can be played instead of the dialogue or given to the student(s) as material to take away.

Problem-solving-Ex3

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COURSE PLANS

This comprehensive course plan covers the full range of language needs – listening, role play, vocabulary development.

Lesson Plans in English for Work and Life course plan

Type of English: Business English Level: Upper Intermediate - Advanced

Type of English: General English Level: Upper Intermediate - Advanced

Lesson Plans in English for Business course plan

Make your lessons unforgettable

Did you know that your students can review the target language from our worksheets with our Expemo flashcard app? To let your student know, just enter their email address below (multiple emails can be separated with a comma).

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Problem solving activities.

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Ages: 4 and up

Grades: PreK and up

Author: Jean Gilliam DeGaetano

This 120-page workbook is full of unique problem solving activities and goes one important step beyond choosing a solution to a problem. The activities concentrate on the possible long-range outcome that could happen when a certain solution is chosen. While students frequently choose the easiest solution to a problem, they will learn to think about and predict what could happen if they choose that method to resolve the problem. This workbook encourages responsible thinking.

Includes: 120 pages, reproducible

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Problem Solving Games, Activities & Exercises for Adults

Here is our list of the best problem solving games, activities and exercises for adults.

Problem solving games are activities that require players to use critical thinking skills to solve puzzles. Example activities include escape rooms, Sudoku, and murder mysteries. The purpose of these exercises is to sharpen reasoning and decision-making skills in group settings and to do team building with employees.

These activities are a subset of remote team games , found in problem solving books , and are similar to team puzzles , team building brain teasers and team riddles .

This article contains:

• team building problem solving activities for employees
• free problem solving games for adults
• virtual problem solving activities for students
• group problem solving activities
• problem solving team builders

Here we go!

List of problem solving games & activities

From word and number puzzles to role-playing games, here is a list of inexpensive and free problem solving team builders that help groups practice the art of critical thinking and compromise.

1. Espionage! (Team Favorite)

For an exciting game of social deduction, check out Espionage! This thrilling experience will put your team’s wits and instincts to the test.

Espionage! offers the following:

• a 90-minute session led by an experienced host
• undercover teams of agents and spies
• challenging puzzles, tasks, and maneuvers
• team conversations to help uncover secret identities

The best part is we will bring all the necessary game materials to your preferred location. If you are interested in boosting communication and critical-thinking skills within your team, then consider Espionage!

Learn more about Espionage!

2. Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh (Hosted)

You can turn your team into skilled detectives with Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh! In this captivating mystery, participants will locate the stolen artwork, The Bedroom .

Key features of this experience include:

• a 90-minute adventure led by a world-class host
• detailed puzzles, clues, and mysteries to unravel
• trails of evidence and hidden secrets
• group discussions to find the art

Additionally, you can include a cocktail kit to spice up your event. Through Art Heist, you will enhance your team’s ingenuity and problem-solving skills!

Learn more about Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh .

Get our free team building toolbox

• icebreaker games
• bingo cards

3. War of the Wizards (Popular)

With War of the Wizards, teams roleplay as minions of powerful wizards to vanquish forces of evil. Participants will play thrilling games and go on a quest to restore harmony to the realm!

War of the Wizards offers the following:

• a 90-minute journey guided by a distinguished host
• immersive storytelling that transports players into a magical realm
• engaging activities like world-building, role-playing games, and storytelling
• opportunities for forming alliances, facing challenges, and going on quests

Through the power of imagination and teamwork, your team can overcome tasks and participate in an epic fantasy battle. To improve communication and bonds, include War of the Wizards in your agenda!

Learn more about War of the Wizards .

Sudoku is one of the most popular free problem solving games for adults. The objective of this game is to fill each box of a 9×9 grid so that every row, column, and letter contains each number from one to nine. The puzzle makes a great team challenge. To play Sudoku on Zoom, screen share the game board. Then, turn on the annotation features. Using the add text functions, participants can fill in the numbers on the grid.

We made a starter puzzle you can use in your next meeting or virtual team bonding session:

Here are more online Sudoku puzzles .

5. Crossword puzzles

Crossword puzzles are word games that ask players to fill in words based on clues. Words interconnect, and players must think critically about the surrounding words to select the right phrase for the space.

You can use an online crossword puzzle maker to create a custom puzzle. Here are a few themes you may want to consider:

• teammates’ tastes and interests
• company knowledge and history
• industry terms and trends

Or, create a miscellaneous puzzle just for fun.

We made a sample puzzle you can use for your game:

To complete puzzles during online meetings, you can use the share screen function and add text through annotations.

Or, subscribers can play the New York Times’ daily crossword puzzle virtually . Dictionary.com also offers a free daily online crossword puzzle .

Check out more vocabulary games .

6. Online Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are timed games that get groups working together to solve puzzles. Traditionally, players enter a locked room and must complete all puzzles in an hour or two to unlock the door. However, groups can also play escape rooms online.

Digital escape rooms typically come in one of two forms: in a Zoom room and led by a host, or in a choose-your-own adventure format via Google Forms or websites. To play escape rooms virtually, enter a video meeting and follow the prompts, or screen share the Google Form and work out the puzzles together.

Check out our full list of online escape rooms .

7. Murder Mysteries

Murder Mysteries are story-based games that ask players to take on the roles of suspects or detectives while trying to identify a killer. These games often involve reading lines from a script, searching for clues, and occasionally solving puzzles to get hints.

These games make participants pay attention to conversations, analyze other characters’ behavior, and search for hidden meaning in the script. Players must use their powers of observation and logic to unravel the mystery.

Check out our list of Zoom murder mystery games .

8. Treasure Hunts

Treasure hunts are scavenger hunts with intention. While virtual scavenger hunts often ask players to collect random items, treasure hunts require participants to locate clues that lead to other prompts and hints. The game typically ends with players finding a treasure or solving a mystery, sometimes both.

The treasure hunt can have a specific theme such as secret agent missions or a hunt for pirate treasure, or you can run a more general hunt. Teammates can either compete simultaneously via Zoom call, or can play the hunt on an app individually and compete to beat each other’s scores.

Check out our list of treasure hunt apps .

9. Poem or story challenge

Most team building problem solving activities for employees revolve around science, math, and logic. Poem/story challenges rely on writing skills and are sure to appeal to the language lovers on your team.

Each player receives a limited word bank to use to create a story or poem. Then, players have a few minutes to craft their pieces. Afterward, everyone reads out or screen shares their creations.

Here are a few word challenge activities you can do remotely:

• Found poems or stories : Participants make poems or stories out of words they find by visiting websites, searching emails, glancing out the window, or taking a walk or drive around the neighborhood.
• Random word generators : Teammates use a random word generator to populate a word bank, and must use each word in the poem or story.
• Poetry magnets : Group members make poems using poetry magnets. You can send poetry magnet sets to employees and assemble the verses on a cookie pan during a Zoom call. Or, teammates can play with poetry magnets online .
• Page poems: Participants receive one page of a book or magazine, and must make a poem or story by blocking out other words so only the chosen text remains visible. This activity is part storytelling, part art, since story crafters can illustrate the pages as part of the design.
• Ransom note stories or poems : Players cut out letters from magazines and must form new words to make poems and stories. Or, players can receive a mix of random letters, form words, and run the text through a ransom note generator .

These activities are suitable for teams and individual players.

10. Moral challenge

Some problems are ethical rather than factual. Moral judgment plays just as important a role in the decision-making process as technical prowess. Players can flex their moral problem-solving skills by tackling ethical dilemmas or social puzzles.

Here are some social problem solving games online:

• Moral machine
• Scruples – the game of moral dilemmas
• Morality play

To play these games, either download the apps, or pull up the website and then screen share the prompts. These games are best played when discussed as a group, because the more belief systems and opinions, the harder an issue is to resolve. These exercises provide practice for real-life conflict resolution.

You can find similar challenges on our list of online personality tests .

11. Frostbite

Frostbite is a group game that hones team leaders’ communication skills while sharpening teammates’ listening and cooperation skills. The premise behind the game is that a group of explorers gets caught in a snowstorm and must build a shelter. Frostbite has paralyzed the leaders’ hands and snow-blinded the rest of the team. The leader must give the team instructions to build a tent that can resist arctic winds.

To play Frostbite, each teammate wears a blindfold. Then, the leader gives directions. Once the structures are complete, players turn on a fan to test whether tents can withstand the wind.

Frostbite is usually an in-person game, however you can also play virtually. In the remote version of the game, teammates construct tents out of cards and tape, while the leader surveys the scene on screen.

This exercise demonstrates the challenges of leading remotely, as teams need to operate with minimal oversight or supervisor observation. Therefore, instructions need to be clear and direct to be effective.

Check out more team building games .

12. Virtual Hackathons

Hackathons are events where participants have a set amount of time to design and pitch a new product or solution. This type of event originated in the programming world and is often used to create new apps, however you can apply the game to any industry or school subject.

Virtual hackathons are online versions of the event. Teams enter the competition, then work with each other via virtual meeting software or remote work communication platforms to design the solution. At the end of the competition, teams pitch ideas to a panel of judges and a winner is decided.

To run a virtual hackathon, first announce the theme of the event and collect sign-ups. So that no teams work ahead, hint at the general idea of the issue, and only explain the precise problem when the event begins. Then, give teams anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete the project.

Discover more virtual hackathon ideas .

13. Improv games

Improv games are excellent problem solving activities. These exercises force participants to think and respond quickly to keep scenes moving in a logical and entertaining way.

Here are some good problem solving improv games:

Banned words : Performers cannot say certain words. Scene partners will conceive of situations that encourage the actors to use those words, and the actors must find alternatives, such as using synonyms or taking the scene in a new direction.

Scenes from a chat : Audience gives a suggestion for a scene, and players act the scene out. Though it’s a fictional and often ridiculous scenario, actors must react to the situation and solve the problem in order for the scene to end.

Miracle cure : Miracle cure is a quick-moving exercise that follows a simple format. One player declares, “I have a problem.” Another player responds, “I have a….[random object.]” The first player then replies, “great! I can use the [random object] to….” and describes how they will solve the problem.

Check out more problem-solving improv games .

14. Spaghetti Tower

The spaghetti tower is a classic team building game. Participants gather uncooked spaghetti and marshmallows, and must construct the tallest freestanding tower.

During the in-person version, players must construct one tall freestanding tower. However, for the virtual version of the game, players construct individual towers. You can send groups to breakout rooms for the build, then reconvene in the main room for judging. Teams are judged on three main factors: number of towers, height, and uniformity.

This version of the game not only tests the structural integrity of the tower, but also consistency and quality control. This exercise teaches teams to align and collaborate remotely, and produce a consistent product even when far apart.

15. What Would You Do?

What Would You Do? is a simple situational game that challenges participants to react to different circumstances. To play this game, read prompts one by one, and then ask participants to respond with gameplans. You can use the polling or raise hand feature to vote for the best option.

Here are some problem solving scenarios for adults or kids to use in the game:

• Zombies attack and you have to find a place to hide.
• You are at the zoo and the animals escape. Which one do you try to corral back into the pen first?
• After waiting in line for hours, someone cuts in front of you last minute. The person appears to be visually and hearing impaired, and doesn’t notice your protests. An official announces that due to diminishing supply, this individual will be the last in line to be served.
• You are eating a meal with important clients and/or your partner’s parents, and you want to impress. The individuals make you a dish that does not fit within your dietary restrictions, but you do not speak the same language and cannot explain why you do not want to eat.
• An imposter has infiltrated the organization, who looks, speaks, and behaves exactly like you. How do you convince your peers that you are the original?

For similar dilemmas, check out this list of Would You Rather? questions.

16. Desert Island Survival

Desert Island Survival is a game that challenges players to prioritize. The premise is that players have been stranded on an island, and must decide what order to perform survival steps.

Here are the possible actions:

• Set up shelter
• Explore the island
• Try to signal for help
• Make weapons for self-defense
• Build a raft to escape the island
• Start a fire
• Choose a group leader
• Search for other survivors

All group members must agree on the order of the steps. Players should explain the reasoning for the order of each step while ranking the actions.

Another version of the game involves players receiving a list of 15 to 20 items, and selecting five or so to bring to the island. You can also vary the location of the game, substituting remote islands for destinations like outer space or the distant past.

17. Choose Your Own Adventure

Choose Your Own Adventure stories enable readers to determine the outcome of the story by making decisions. Each action has a consequence that takes the tale in a different direction. Participants can try to guess how the story may unfold by talking through the different choices. When completing the activity in a group setting, the majority of the team must agree on an action before moving forward in the story.

There are a few ways to facilitate these activities online:

• Play an online role playing video game
• Watch an interactive movie like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
• Read from a Choose Your Own Adventure book on Zoom
• Click through a Choose Your Own Adventure platform
• Create your own story using a Google Form

Whichever way you choose to do the exercise, you can use the screen share feature in your virtual meeting software so that listeners can more easily follow along.

18. MacGyver

MacGyver is a show where the hero escapes sticky situations by improvising tools out of unlikely materials. For example, in one episode the hero makes a telescope out of a newspaper, magnifying lens, and a watch crystal.

To play MacGyver, you can either list three to five objects participants can use, or challenge players to use items that are within arms reach.

Simply state a desired end result, such as “a way to open a locked door,” or “a getaway vehicle,” and then ask teams to explain what they will build and how they will build it. To make the activity more collaborative, you can give teams five or ten minutes in breakout rooms to strategize and design a prototype.

19. Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a roleplaying game where players pretend to be magical figures and creatures. One player serves as the dungeon master, who guides the game, while the other players pick characters and make decisions to move the story forward. Upon choosing a course of action, players roll a twenty-sided die to determine whether or not the plan succeeds. The game is story-based, the possibilities are nearly limitless, and truly creative problem solving options arise. Also, since gameplay is mostly verbal, Dungeons & Dragons is an easy activity to do over Zoom.

Here are the basic rules for Dungeons & Dragons .

20. Pandemic

Pandemic is a game that pits players against the forces of nature in a race to contain and control disease outbreaks. At the beginning of the game, each player receives a role such as containment specialist or operations expert. Participants must carry out the duties of their roles by choosing appropriate actions. Pandemic is a great game for groups because each team member has a clear part to play, and players must collaborate and work together instead of competing against each other.

To play the game online, you can use a Pandemic game app , or talk through the exercise while one attendee moves and displays pieces on the board.

Note: The subject of this game might hit too close to home for some players, considering recent history. You can find games with similar mechanics that deal with different subject matter, such as Forbidden Island.

Check out more team building board games .

21. Model UN

Model UN is one of the best virtual problem solving activities for students. This exercise casts participants in the role of international diplomats who must negotiate to solve realistic problems. Each player assumes the role of a country ambassador and must form alliances and propose solutions to solve crises.

Here are some sample Model UN scenarios:

• Human rights violation by powerful country
• Food shortage
• Disease epidemic
• Technology privacy violations
• Civil war branching into surrounding countries
• Natural disasters

Depending on the size of the group, participants either take on the part of an entire government of a country, or play a certain role within the government. To carry out the activity on Zoom, players can take turns giving speeches, message other countries privately via the chat, meet in breakout rooms to form alliances or have more intimate discussions, and use the polling feature to vote on propositions.

If politics does not resonate with your group, then you can alter the exercise by applying the same activity structure to a different theme, such as the Justice League, movie characters, business board members, or reality TV stars.

The main purpose of the exercise is to research, talk through problems, and compromise. As long as these elements are present, then the specifics of the setup do not matter.

There are many types of problem solving activities for adults. You can do online problem solving games, which require a different skill set than in-person problem solving. For instance, communication must be much clearer and more abundant when group members are far apart and unable to demonstrate or pick up physical cues.

Though many problem solving games include props and in-person elements, there are many games you can play together online. These exercises work well as educational tools as well as team bonding accelerators. Upon completion, participants are likely to feel a sense of accomplishment and increased confidence. These games are also great practice for real life conflict resolution, creative thinking and team building.

Next check out this list of connection games , this collection of crime-solving games , and this post with conflict resolution games .

We also have a list of the best decision making books and a list of team building problems for work .

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FAQ: Problem solving activities

Here are common answers to questions about group problem solving activities.

What are problem solving games?

Problem solving games are challenges that ask players to think critically and use logic to overcome issues or answer riddles. Examples include sudoku, murder mysteries, and spaghetti towers. These games are also known as “problem solving exercises”, “problem and solution games” and “group problem solving activities.”

What are the best problem solving games for groups?

The best problem solving games for groups include online escape rooms, moral challenges, and improv games.

What are some good problem solving team building activities for students?

Some good problem solving activities for students include crossword puzzles, choose your own adventure stories, and model UN.

How do you play problem solving games online?

The best way to play problem solving games online is to join a video call meeting to talk through the issue. Using the screen sharing and digital whiteboard features helps participants visualize the problem more clearly. Breakout rooms give teams the chance to discuss the issue more intimately.

Author: Angela Robinson

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com. Team building content expert. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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Engaging Resources

Engaged therapy sessions, here you come! Speech & language activities that are guaranteed to catch the attention of any child. Perfect for digital learning and in-person fun.

BUNDLE Executive Function

✨ As seen on Boom Cards Featured Bundles!

This BUNDLE of executive function cards includes problem solving stories, social stories, predicting stories, sequencing stories, and flexible thinking stories.

Multiple types of wh- questions, why and how questions, labeling exercises, multiple choice, and drag and drop categorizations   are included throughout this bundle to encourage an in depth understanding of each executive functioning skill.

⭐️ 80 Problem Solving

• Multiple choice question
• 2 labeling exercises

⭐️   52 Social Stories

• Topics of social skills to choose from (feelings, manners, listening, sharing & turns, making friends, being kind)
• Sorting exercise
• 2 wh- questions

⭐️   50 Predicting (✨ as seen on Top Premium Boom Cards ✨)

• What questions
• How questions

⭐️   50 Sequencing

• 3 different what questions per story

⭐️   40 Flexible Thinking (✨ as seen on Top Premium Boom Cards ✨)

• Why questions
• Labeling exercise

Each deck includes a teaching slide and visual to help your students better understand executive function skills before practicing! 

CLICK HERE for Boom Cards Preview.

To use Boom Cards, you must be connected to the Internet. Boom Cards play on modern browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge). Apps are available for modern Android, iPads, iPhones, and Kindle Fires. For security and privacy, adults must have a Boom Learning account to use and assign Boom Cards. You will be able to assign the Boom Cards you are buying with "Fast Pins," (a form of play that gives instant feedback to students for self-grading Boom Cards). For assignment options that report student progress back to you, you will need to purchase a premium account.If you are new to Boom Learning, you will be offered a free trial of our premium account.Read here for details: http://bit.ly/BoomTrial .

Wh- Questions & Short Stories

15 short stories to target wh- questions, auditory comprehension, reading comprehension, recall, and more!

Multiple levels of difficulty, including both shorter and longer paragraphs for a variety of length and detail in the stories.

⭐ Wh- Questions in Short Stories

• 15 Paragraph Short Stories
• 6 Wh- Questions for every story
• Stories are 4-9 sentences in length
• What, where, who, when, why, and how questions for every story

*This product contains the same activities as the Boom Cards version. If you would like the Boom Cards version, view   Wh- Questions & Short Stories, Auditory Comprehension, Boom Cards.

Compare and Contrast

Compare and contrast a variety of topics with 5 different activities and over 400 prompts! Improve understanding and use of similarities and differences using this comprehensive activity. 

This resource includes   5 different ways to practice comparing and contrasting , including stories, Venn diagrams, wh questions, short answers, pictures, graphs, and more. Real photos are included in this resource.

⭐️ Compare and Contrast:

• 5 stories with Venn diagrams
• 10 picture pairs with wh questions and Venn diagrams
• 10 picture pairs with wh questions and short answer questions
• 10 word pairs with wh questions and short answers
• 10 word pairs with graphs and word banks
• 2 blank templates

⭐️   Targeted Skills:

• Improve use of compare and contrast
• Increase comprehension of similarities and differences
• Expand skills for answering questions

Topics & Questions

80 unique topics with 4 wh- questions and a story prompt to improve expressive and receptive language skills, with REAL pictures. Questions and story prompts improve story telling and sentence generation skills. What, where, who, when, why, and how questions are included, with 4 different questions for each picture.

✨ As featured on Boom Cards Top Premium Decks ✨

⭐ 80 Topics & Categories

• 5 activities for each topic
• Real picture for every topic
• 4 wh-/how questions for every topic
• 1 story prompt for every topic
• What, where, who, when, why, and how questions included

⭐  Targeted Skills

• Improve receptive & expressive language
• Enhance skills for   answering questions
• Boost   story telling skills
• Develop   noun labeling and describing

Practice describing topics and categories, by answering questions and discussing a story prompt for each topic!

To use Boom Cards, you   must   be connected to the Internet. Boom Cards play on modern browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge). Apps are available for modern Android, iPads, iPhones, and Kindle Fires. For security and privacy, adults must have a Boom Learning account to use and assign Boom Cards. You will be able to assign the Boom Cards you are buying with "Fast Pins," (a form of play that gives instant feedback to students for self-grading Boom Cards). For assignment options that report student progress back to you, you will need to purchase a premium account.   If you are new to Boom Learning, you will be offered a free trial of our premium account.   Read here for details:   http://bit.ly/BoomTrial .

Conversation Starters

Conversation starters to improve commenting, asking questions, and answering questions during conversations. Conversation prompts has variety of ways to practice conversations, including questions, open response, fill in the blank, and more.

This resource includes   multiple ways to practice conversations , including pictures, comments, questions, asking questions, and more.

⭐️   All About Me Conversation Starters:

• 2 what questions
• 1 how question
• Open response opportunity

⭐️   Conversation Topics:

• 20 unique topics
• 3 open response opportunities to practice
• Practice asking questions and making comments

⭐️   Conversation Photos:

• 20 unique photo prompts
• 2 open response opportunities to practice

⭐️   Boom Cards include:

• 20 conversation topics
• 20 conversation starters with real photos
• Open response opportunities to practice

⭐️   Targeted skills:

• Improve conversation abilities
• Increase ability to ask and answer questions in conversations
• Expand commenting skills during conversations

NOTE: This resource includes 1 printable PDF with a Boom Cards companion. The Boom Cards contains part of the PDF resource, but does not include the "All About Me" conversation starters. Boom Cards are digital resources. PDF pages can be used digitally with PDF applications or can be printed for in person use.

To use boom cards, you must be connected to the internet. boom cards play on modern browsers (chrome, safari, firefox, and edge). apps are available for modern android, ipads, iphones, and kindle fires. for security and privacy, adults must have a boom learning account to use and assign boom cards. you will be able to assign the boom cards you are buying with "fast pins," (a form of play that gives instant feedback to students for self-grading boom cards). for assignment options that report student progress back to you, you will need to purchase a premium account. if you are new to boom learning, you will be offered a free trial of our premium account. read here for details: http://bit.ly/boomtrial ..

Problems & Solutions with Problem Size

Problem solving stories, problem size, solutions, common problems   and more are included in this set.   There are 80 unique problem solving and solution scenarios   for critical thinking. Open response questions and multiple choice questions are included in every story! You will receive problem size and common problem teaching pages, as well as multiple examples.

⭐️   80 Problem Solving Stories

• 80 unique problem scenarios
• Multiple choice question for every story
• 2 open response exercises for every story

⭐️   Problem Size Slides & Questions

• 5 in-depth teaching pages
• Problem size (small, medium, big) definitions
• Emotions related to problem sizes
• Color coordinated problem size visual
• 2 small problem exercises
• 2 medium problem exercises
• 2 big problem exercises

⭐️   Common Problems & Questions

• Teaching slide with definitions & examples
• 6 scenarios of common problems
• 2 free response problem & solution questions per scenario 

With 80 unique stories, 12 common problem scenarios, 6 problem size questions and multiple teaching pages, you will be able to use this resource for   many   teaching sessions. You won't need anything else!

Story Builders & Create A Story

Improve creative writing with these narrative and short story prompts! This set of   70 short story builders   comes with character, location, event and time learning targets.

Help your students improve their stories and increase their creative narrative skills. There is space for students to type or write their stories, as well as an organizing task for story parts. 

Your students will have all the tools they need to create unique and imaginative stories!

⭐️ Includes:

• 70 story builders
• 3 practice levels
• A combination of who (character), where (location), what (event) and when (time) story part targets
• 36 story builders that include 2 story parts
• 20 story builders that include 3 story parts
• 14 story builders that include 4 story parts
• Story parts organizing task with pictures
• Space for creative writing and narrative generation
• Instructions on each page 

⭐️ Teaching slides:

• In depth information about the 4 included story parts
• Descriptions
• Picture matching activities 

Save your time and energy, this set is NO PREP! Includes everything you need to elicit creative, engaging stories from your students.

Perfect for SLPs, teachers, or parents looking to expand language or writing in a fun and creative way!

Social Skills & Pragmatics

Social skills and pragmatic language set to improve executive functioning skills.   52 unique stories with sorting and wh- questions!

Social skills topic can be organized by category or practiced in random order, depending on your goals! Your students will sort each card into "appropriate" or "inappropriate" categories. They also will have an opportunity to explain how to improve social skills. Keep students engaged with interactive drag and drop!

⭐️   52 Social Skills short stories

• 2 scenarios per slide
• Drag and drop sorting for "appropriate" or "inappropriate" behavior
• What question to target improving behaviors
• Why question to target critical thinking

⭐️   Skills are able to be sorted by topic:

• Sharing & Turns
• Making Friends

BUNDLE for Executive Function Skills also available in Shine Speech Activities shop , which includes problem solving, predicting, flexible thinking, social skills, and sequencing/planning, too!

Use this deck to help teach and practice pragmatic skills - you won't need anything else!

Sentence Comprehension & Language Comprehension

Improve sentence comprehension, language and reading comprehension, and picture comprehension with 4 activities and over 125 prompts for speech therapy or classrooms! Target comprehending, receptive language, and more.

This resource includes   4 different ways to practice sentence comprehension , including wh questions, pictures, fill in the blanks, and more. Real photos are included in this resource.

⭐️ Sentence Comprehension:

• 40 sentence comprehension task cards with 3 questions each
• 30 real photo sentence comprehension prompts
• 30 multiple choice reading comprehension activities
• 30 fill in the blank language comprehension prompts
• Improve sentence comprehension skills
• Increase receptive and expressive language abilities
• Expand skills for understanding sentences and pictures

Categories with divergent naming, convergent naming, group, similarities, differences, and more! Words, cartoons, and real pictures included for a variety of ways to practice.

This resource includes   6 different ways to practice categories , including describing, naming, grouping, similarities, differences, and topics. Category cards include words, cartoon pictures to color, and real photos!

⭐️ Categories:

• 40 Describe the category
• 40 Name the category
• 40 Categories Grouping
• 24 Categories similarities
• 24 Categories differences
• 6 Categories Topics
• 10 Describe the category
• 15 Name the category
• 15 Categories Grouping
• 15 Categories similarities
• 15 Categories differences
• 5 Categories Topics
• Improve understanding categories
• Expand ability to describe categories
• Practice language with categories 

NOTE: This resource includes 1 printable PDF with a Boom Cards companion. The Boom Cards contains part of the PDF resource. Boom Cards are digital resources. PDF pages can be used digitally with PDF applications or can be printed for in person use.

Picture & Word Describing Webs

This set of 70 picture description webs targets describing pictures and words by color, shape, size, location, material, function, category and more. Includes 8 wh- questions for each word!

Teaching slides are also included to teach your students how to describe pictures.

⭐️ Picture Description Webs:

• 8 fill in the blank questions to target descriptions
• Color description targets
• Size description targets
• Shape description targets
• Location description targets
• Material description targets
• Function description targets
• Category description targets
• Who (who uses it?) description targets
• Color coded targets to improve memory of ways to describe

⭐️ Teaching Slides:

• Question example for each description target
• Concrete examples of each description type 

⭐️ Bonus Pages on PDF:

• Colored blank picture web template with 8 questions
• Black and white picture web template with 8 questions

BONUS! A blank PDF template for a color web and a black and white web are also included.   Your students have the opportunity to draw their own unique pictures and create webs.

70 trials, plus blank webs, allows for unlimited practice of picture and word describing. 

Help your students learn how to describe with this activity! PDF and Boom Cards versions are included.

Predicting in Short Stories

This activity includes   50 predicting stories . Unique and original scenarios for predicting practice!

✨ As seen on Boom Cards Top Premium Decks ✨

Each scenario   includes a "what" question and a "how" question   for further discussion and analysis for your students.

50 stories means you won't need any other activity for predicting! Use these randomized trials track data over multiple sessions.

⭐️   50 Predicting story slides

• Unique predicting scenarios
• What question for predicting
• How question for analyzing prediction

BUNDLE Figurative Language

This BUNDLE of figurative language cards includes idioms, metaphors, hyperboles, personification and similes. Over 255 practice targets with figurative language!

The set targets multiple skills so your students will have an in depth understanding of each type of figurative language! This set is a truly comprehensive approach to understanding and using figurative language.

⭐️ 60 Idioms

• Yes/no questions for every trial
• What questions for every trial
• Free response (students have an opportunity to create their own idioms) for every trial

⭐️ 40 Metaphors

• Free response (students have an opportunity to create their own metaphors) for every trial

⭐️ 40 Similes

• Free response (students have an opportunity to create their own similes) for every trial

⭐️ 45 Hyperboles

• Free response (students have an opportunity to create their own hyperboles) for every trial

⭐️ 40 Personification

• Free response to give students opportunity to create short stories with personification

⭐️ 35 Allusions

• 2 what questions for every trial
• Free response to encourage building allusions in sentences
• Allusions to Historical figures, literature, famous fictional characters, locations/landmarks, Greek mythology, movies and more

⭐️ Each deck includes a teaching slide

• Definitions
• Help your students understand and identify figurative language before practicing

Preview Boom Cards HERE.

Prepositions & Spatial Concepts

This set of   prepositions targets spatial and location concepts with 60 trials ! Teach your students prepositions and location with this robust, comprehensive deck.

You can pick which preposition to target, or practice with randomized slides. The teaching module will   teach your students everything they need to know about each preposition   before practicing! 

⭐️   Prepositions include:

⭐️   learning module includes:.

Use the practice slides to practice prepositions with multiple choice. Navigate between the learning module and practice cards using the buttons at the bottom of each slide.

CLICK HERE for Boom Card Preview.

To use Boom Cards, you  must  be connected to the Internet. Boom Cards play on modern browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge). Apps are available for modern Android, iPads, iPhones, and Kindle Fires. For security and privacy, adults must have a Boom Learning account to use and assign Boom Cards. You will be able to assign the Boom Cards you are buying with "Fast Pins," (a form of play that gives instant feedback to students for self-grading Boom Cards). For assignment options that report student progress back to you, you will need to purchase a premium account. If you are new to Boom Learning, you will be offered a free trial of our premium account. Read here for details: http://bit.ly/BoomTrial .

Main Idea & Supporting Details

Main idea and supporting details with 5 different ways to practice and 50 unique prompts! Improve reading comprehension and writing skills using this main ideas and detail resource.

This product contains a PDF version and a Boom Cards companion.

This resource includes   5 different ways to practice main idea and supporting details , including stories with questions, main ideas vs. details, create-a-story, grouping, and pictures with questions. Real photos are also included in this resource.

⭐️ Main Idea & Details:

• 10 Stories & Questions
• 10 Main Ideas vs. Details
• 10 Create-A-Story
• 10 Grouping
• 10 Pictures & Questions
• Improve understanding main ideas and details
• Increase reading comprehension abilities
• Expand skills for creating stories

To use Boom Cards, you must be connected to the Internet. Boom Cards play on modern browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge). Apps are available for modern Android, iPads, iPhones, and Kindle Fires. For security and privacy, adults must have a Boom Learning account to use and assign Boom Cards. You will be able to assign the Boom Cards you are buying with "Fast Pins," (a form of play that gives instant feedback to students for self-grading Boom Cards). For assignment options that report student progress back to you, you will need to purchase a premium account.  If you are new to Boom Learning, you will be offered a free trial of our premium account.  Read here for details: http://bit.ly/BoomTrial .

Expanding Language with Wh Questions and Real Pictures

Expand expressive language using wh- questions and sentence generation prompts with real pictures.   Improve expressive language, answering questions, labeling verbs, and story generation!   What, where, and who questions are included for every picture!

⭐ Expanding Language with Real Pictures

• 80 real life pictures
• 3 wh- questions   for every story
• Free response prompt   for every story
• Large variety of actions and topics within pictures
• What, where, and who questions for every story
• Printable pages

⭐ Targeted Skills

• Improve expressive language
• Enhance skills for answering questions
• Boost sentence and story generation skills
• Develop verb describing and labeling

Sequencing and Planning

This set of 50 sequencing and planning activity deck will help your students improve their planning skills! The deck includes a variety of sequencing and planning scenarios and trials for your students.

Each open-ended short story includes 3 color-coded wh- questions to guide sequencing.

⭐️   50 Sequencing short stories

• Unique sequencing stories
• 3 wh- questions per story
• Color-coded questions, to match teaching slide

⭐️   Teaching slide

• 6 unique teaching  slides with visuals
• Color-coded information to match questions in trials
• Drag & drop activity
• Synonyms for key words
• Example of a story sequence

CLICK HERE for Boom Cards Preview

Flexible Thinking & Reframing

This set of 40 flexible thinking and reframing thoughts cards   teaches your students how to improve flexible thinking   in difficult situations.

Each unique scenario includes   multiple questions as well as a labeling exercise   to encourage flexible thinking and increasing creative problem solving.

⭐️   Each Flexible Thinking trial includes:

• Why question
• How question

⭐️   Teaching slides include:

• Flexible v. rigid thinking comparison
• Flexible thinking examples
• Strategies for use of flexible thinking in difficult moments

INCLUDES: Both a PDF version and a Boom Cards version!

BUNDLE for Wh- Questions also available in Shine Speech Activities shop , which includes short stories and sentences!

CLICK HERE for Boom Cards Preview .

*This product contains the same activities as the PDF version. If you would like the PDF version, view   Wh- Questions & Short Stories, Auditory Comprehension .

Inferencing & Context Clues

70 inferencing and context clues trials to improve critical thinking skills! Each trial comes with 4 unique clues to help your students make an inference. They can then provide their answer, and drag the cover away to see the correct answer and a picture.

⭐️   As featured on Boom Cards Top Premium Decks   ⭐️

⭐ 70 Inferencing & Context Clues Slides:

• 4 clues for every word
• Space to type an answer
• Drag to uncover the correct answer
• Pictures of the correct answer

⭐ Skills targeted:

• Improve inferencing
• Enhance ability to understand clues
• Increase critical thinking and executive function abilities
• Boost deductive reasoning skills
• Improve ability to draw conclusions

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Tim's Free English Lesson Plans

Use them, share them, comment on them, and share my link in return.

Tag: problem solving

Another desert island task.

Saw this shared on facebook and just had to repost it, should cause some interesting debates.

Desert Island Problem Solving Speaking Activity

Follow me on twitter  @ RobbioDobbio

Before you use these materials… We’ve created a new podcast aimed at B2+ level English students and teachers alike. You can listen for free at our SoundCloud page below. We have released 5 episodes so far and you can download teacher’s notes to accompany them from our Facebook page or from this blog. All comments and feedback welcome! Give us a like and a share 😉

https://www.facebook.com/2tspodcast/

Task handout:

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=79CFF252BEEA0A7D!503&authkey=!ABjaGRY8sNM-iRU

Language handout:

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=79CFF252BEEA0A7D!504&authkey=!AICWqGyfQ2DTrCE

It’s an old classic but as they say, the old ones are the best!

Warm up questions

What’s the most remote place you’ve ever visited?

Did you spend the night there?

Do you like camping?

Have you ever slept under the stars?

Would you consider it?

What’s the most dangerous natural environment you’ve been in? Jungle? Desert?

What things do you always take with you on holiday?

Give out desert island and language handouts and explain the situation.

You have been selected to take part in a social experiment. You and your group will be taken to a desert island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. You will have to survive there for a year without contact with the outside world. The island has:

• Fresh water
• Banana trees
• Coconut palms

The climate is mild (not too hot, not too cold) first individually make a list of 8-10 things you think you will need to survive. Then, as a group you will have to decide on 8 things, list them in order of importance.

Students think of their own personal lists first.

In groups they first list all the possible problems they will encounter, then decide on a list of items that will help with these problems.

Students present their lists to class explaining their decisions.

Students must go into more depth about how their island will work.

Students must decide on:

• Roles and responsibilities
• Division of labour
• Justice / punishment / laws /rules
• Decision making

Students present their system to the class, other groups can ask questions.

We’re definitely going to need ________________

__________________ will be vital / essential / extremely useful / completely useless / a waste of space

I can’t live without ____________________

Making Suggestions

I think we should……………….

I reckon we ought to…………………

Why don’t we………………………..

How about / what about + gerund………………………….

Agreeing / Disagreeing

The €100,000 question, conversation topic

Put your students in groups of 3 and ask them the following question:

What would you do with €100,000?

Give them 2 minutes to share their ideas, then have them report each other’s answers to the class. (each person reports someone else from their group’s answer)

Did anyone give it to charity?

Give out the following handout:

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=79CFF252BEEA0A7D!452&authkey=!AB2H6x3IinOC6wE

In their groups students discuss the problem and then present their ideas to the class.

As a wrap up ask the students which suggestions they thought were the best, see if they can come to an agreement as a class on how to give the money away.

A long lost aunt that you didn’t know you had has recently passed away. In her will she left your group €100,000 with a note saying it should be given away to “make the world a better place.” Decide in your groups who you are going to give it to.

I think we should……………….

I reckon we ought to…………………

Why don’t we………………………..

How about / what about + gerund………………………….