This document discusses using games to help teach English writing skills to ESL students. Some suggested games include: 1. Memory games like matching words to pictures or questions to answers. 2. Using platforms like Flickr or Quizlet to create digital flashcards for homework. 3. Games involving unscrambling words or sentences like tic-tac-toe or missing letters. 4. Relay races where students take turns writing words, sentences, or answering questions at the board.

1. ESL Writing and games
A possible match
Adapted from Simone Gordon Gellhaar’s presentation at 7th LAURELS International Conference
By Dani Lyra

2. Memory Games
• Match word to picture.
• Match picture to sentence.
• Match questions to answers.

3. Give a digital twist.
• Use a photoediting site to upload your
flashcards and ask students to practice at
home.
See na exampke here Flickr
See na example here Quizlet

4. Tic- Tac-Toe
• Unscramble words
• Unscramble sentences
• Write questions on the Tic-Tac-Toe and
students answer them on the board.
• Write questions on the Tic – Tac- Toe and
students answer them on the board.
• Have pictures / words on the Tic-Tac-Toe and
students write the vocabulary or sentences/
questions with the pictures.

5. Missing letters:
• Write words or sentences with missing letters
and have students complete them.
• Circuit Game
• Relay Race
• Hot Bag

6. Relay Races
• Divide students into two groups and have them
line up facing the board. There are different
games that you can play:
• Writing words
• Writing sentences.
• Answering questions.
• Circle and erase words.
• Chinese whispers. Whisper
words/sentences/miming

7. Hangman
• With words
• With sentences
• With questions

8. Writing from picture
• Show students a picture ( e.g. a scene with
objects in different places, a scene with people
doing different actions, a book cover. Play
different games.
• Write words from it.
• Write sentences about it.
• Answer questions about it.
• Write questions about it.
• Describe a scene or a picture or a book so that another
student can identify the picture.

9. Matching
• Give each student or group a picture, give
strips of paper. Have students put the strips in
oder to make a sentence.