Video summary

ESL Games for Online Classes | 10 Easy Games For Online Zoom Classes - Videos For Teachers

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main ideas / lessons

  • The video presents 10 easy ESL/classroom games that can be used in online Zoom classes, from quick teacher-led activities to tasks using free/paid apps.
  • Many activities are designed to:
    • Keep students engaged (often through movement instead of staying at their desks).
    • Use Zoom features like screen sharing and the whiteboard.
    • Rely on visual and auditory prompts (pictures, sounds, memory).

The creator also encourages viewers to comment for more games and mentions free teaching downloads available through an online store.

Methodology / game instructions

1) Bamboozle

  • How to play (online Zoom):
    • Share your screen and play the game in the browser/app.
  • Key features:
    • Includes loads of pre-made boards.
    • You can make, save, and share your own boards.
  • Teaching options:
    • Use an easier version for younger kids.
    • Change team names.
    • Optionally go through questions as a whole class to try to achieve the best time.

2) Simon Says

  • How to play:
    • The teacher gives commands such as:
      • “Simon says, stand up.”
      • “Simon says, sit down.”
      • “Stand up.”
      • “Touch your nose, please.”
      • “Touch your ear, please.”
      • “Touch your eye.”
      • “Don’t touch your eye.”
  • Main skill targeted:
    • Following instructions and listening carefully (including the trap when “Simon says” is omitted).

3) “What do I have?” (guessing by description)

  • How to play:
    • The teacher describes an item step-by-step; students guess.
  • Example clues:
    • Fruit: “yellow, sour” → lemon
    • Animal: “green, jumps, doesn’t have any teeth” → frog

4) Sound identification

  • How to play:
    • Play/trigger audio; students identify the animal/sound.
  • Examples:
    • “That’s a rooster.”
    • “That’s a rabbit.”
  • Resource suggestions:
    • Mentions there are apps (some free, some paid/ad-supported) and likely online versions that provide these sounds.

5) Bring something to the camera (and mini-race/show-and-tell)

  • How to play:
    • Give prompts like:
      • “Get something blue.”
      • “Get something the same size as your head.”
    • Students bring the object into view on camera.
  • Extensions:
    • Race mode: set a timer and have students compete.
    • Show and tell: students bring a pencil case and talk about it as a “show and tell.”

6) Exercise / movement breaks (yoga + chants)

  • How to play:
    • Do movement activities such as:
      • Yoga
      • Chants
  • Best-loved idea (by parents):
    • Combine calendar learning with yoga stretches:
      • “January, February, March…” while doing yoga stretches
      • Continue through April.
  • Other movement option:
    • Do “jumping jacks” (or another fun activity) to help students move and get away from their desks.

7) Pictionary / Draw and Guess

  • How to play:
    • The teacher draws on the Zoom whiteboard or another whiteboard app.
    • Students guess what the drawing represents.
  • Alternative:
    • Students can use a whiteboard tool to do the same draw-and-guess process.

8) Hangman

  • How to play:
    • Play using a whiteboard.
  • Note from the teacher:
    • The speaker says “Hangman sucks,” but acknowledges that many people seem to like it, so it’s still included.

9) Memory game (picture recall + “change the picture”)

  • How to play:
    • Show a picture for a short time (example timing: 5 seconds or 7 seconds).
    • Remove/cover it and ask questions.
  • Example questions:
    • “How many sheep are there?”
    • “What color is the goat?”
  • Tools/resources:
    • Mentions using an A Go Brain Box as the source/tool for the game.
  • Magnets/physical extension:
    • Do it with magnets:
      • Make your own picture
      • Show it
      • Remove it
      • Change something and ask if students notice what was changed or taken away

10) Charades

  • How to play:
    • Students act out a word/idea without speaking; others guess.
  • Example:
    • “What is it? It’s a banana.”

Sources / speakers featured (at end)

  • Primary speaker/creator: Unnamed teacher/host (speaks directly to viewers).
  • Referenced tools/resources (not necessarily speakers):
    • Bamboozle (game platform)
    • Zoom (screen share + whiteboard)
    • A Go Brain Box (mentioned as a memory game tool)
    • Online/other apps that play animal sounds (specific app names not provided)
    • Magnets (physical materials for a memory variant)

Original video