ESL Basketball Game

Things You Need: flashcards (optional depending on your target English), a ball (or small stuffed toy), a basket (or 4 chairs arranged so that their backs form a square basket), and a scoreboard (also optional)

1. Divide the kids into teams and form two lines.
2. Set up the basket. This actually works well if you are using the four chairs to set up the basket because it creates an air of mystery. Set the basket fairly close to the students so that it's likely that most of them can make a basket.
3. Have the first students in each line play rock, paper, scissors to see who can go first. The first student in the winning team asks the first student in the other team a question using the target English. The student responds. Then the winning team's student gets to shoot the ball and try to make it in the basket. 4. Reverse roles and let the second team shoot the ball and try to make it in the basket.
5. Proceed through the line so that all students can have a turn.
6. After all students have had a turn or two, make a face like something just isn't right...then realize that the basket is much too close to them and move it back very far. This will get the students, particularly older ones, excited about having another turn to try the "hard" basket.