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Inspired by the game "Chinese Whispers", this game offers a playful way to memorise and revise newly acquired hobby vocabulary by using movementbody movements without making any sounds.

Target group and Time

The game is recommended for younger students but can equally be played by older age groups as long as they enjoy learning by doing. The difficulty of the game is dependent on the vocabulary and students creativity and therefore can be modified to the group‘s abilities. The ideal time is around 5-10 minutes.

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The object is to offer an alternative and fun way to practice new words. Memorisation is supported by making use of gestures and having visual associations to vocabulary. Chains of Charades is especially suitable for a topic like hobbies because most of the hobbies are performed physically anyway and therefore easy to act out with the body.

Instructions to set up the activity

• The game does not need much preparation but the vocabulary should have already been introduced in class in order to avoid misunderstandings. The only preparation needed are pieces of paper with the vocabulary words which the students will draw during the game. (Words which work well are: watching moviessinging, dancing, ..., swimming, surfing, playing football etc)
• While explaining the rules, emphasise that students are allowed to move and not to speak!

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1. Students stand behind each other in a line.

2. The last student in line draws a piece of paper containing a word/phrase (e. g. watching moviessinging, dancing, …).

3. This student has to use gestures (and if needed facial expressions) to enact the word. The next student in line is the only person to see the enactment.

4. As soon as the second student believes to have understood, they will also enact the word and show the next person in line. This step is repeated until it reaches the last student.

5. The last student has to answer which word/phrase has been enacted. If the answer is correct, the group gets a point.

6. After that, the student moves to the back of the line and the steps 2 to 5 are repeated. 

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