The Tomb of the Mummy I is a very difficult puzzle game. Because of its difficulty, it’s ideal to use it with an upper intermediate – advanced class in a connected classroom (i.e. one with a computer & a data projector or IWB) and to use it to generate language used for hypothesis (should, conditionals, [...]
Here’s a great Christmas quiz to let your learners play and see how much they know about Christmas. It’s timed, so you can see how long it takes them to get the answers right.
You can find it here: http://www.sporcle.com/games/calvinbudnick/christmasknowledge
The site has many other timed quizzes. Here are some more Christmas-themed ones:
Guess this Christmas message
Reworded Christmas [...]
Brain Cell (http://www.desq.co.uk/braincell/braincell.htm) is a short but engaging puzzle of a game with 3D graphics and sound. It’s a room escape game with a science-fiction atmosphere and has been made by DESQ, an organization devoted to the development of Web-based and digital learning projects. You can read more about Brain Cell here.
It works well as [...]
A speaking activity on the subject of gaming that requires no connectivity in the classroom.
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Designing the layout of a gaming shop
Language Focus: Future clauses with if, when etc
Time: 20 – 30 minutes
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalleboo/2154554422/
Preparation
Download a copy of the gaming shop worksheet and print off enough copies for each pair of learners.
Playing
1) Don’t hand out the [...]
Tube Crisis is a short point-and-click puzzle game that is good for stimulating conversation with (upper-intermediate + ) learners if you are lucky enough to teach in a connected classroom (i.e. one equipped with a computer and data projector and/or interactive whiteboard)
Language: descriptions of people, relative clauses and the difference between first and second conditionals. [...]
The Game
Runescape is a very popular online role playing game where players can interact with each other within a medieval style fantasy world. It has a short tutorial which serves to walk new players through some of the simple every day in-world activities such as choosing what their character looks like (physical features and clothes) [...]
Machinarium is an incredible hand drawn online video game with engaging puzzles, a little humour and a walkthrough that is great for a phrasal verbs gap fill activity.
The Game
You are a robot and you find yourself in a scrap yard and you need to get back to the city. First of all you need to [...]
Gateway is a short, absorbing and entertaining puzzle game with ten levels that can be used to generate language in the ESL classroom, especially if you have access to a connected classroom (with an internet enabled computer and a data projector).
The Game
You have to guide a robot through a number of different rooms, each of [...]
Level: Upper-intermediate
Topic: Planning stories
Writing Focus: Fictional story
Time: 1 hour/ 1.5 hours
Game: Arcane Season: The Miller Estate part 1
Key Language: cellar, path, lantern, chest, hook, matches, well, rope, bucket, firewood, crate, rug, trapdoor, wine rack, barrel.
Preparation: Connected classroom or computer room. One printed copy of the flashcards. One photocopy of the walkthrough.
The ‘Arcane season’ [...]