This activity is suitable for elementary to intermediate-level English language students. On pieces of adhesive paper, write as many verbs appropriate to the language level of your students as you have students in the class. Ask each student to stand up and stick one of these pieces of paper on her back so that everyone in the class can read the verb except this student. Students now mill around the class asking each other yes-or-no questions to work out what verb they have on their back. For example, “Do I do this in the morning?” “Do I like doing this?” “Does everyone do this?” After 15 minutes, stop the activity and ask each student to tell the class what verb she thinks she has on her back.
This activity is suitable for beginner to upper intermediate-level English language students. Divide the class into two teams. Give each team 20 slips of paper and ask them to write a different verb on each one. Ask a student from team A to stand up and take a slip of paper from team B. She must now mime this verb to her team. Award one point if the team guesses the correct verb within 30 seconds. It is now team B's turn for a student to stand, take a slip of paper from team A and mime the word. The winning team is the one with the most points when all the slips of paper have been used.
This familiar childhood game is suitable for beginner to elementary-level English language students. Lead the students in a game of Simon Says, varying the verbs of instruction that you use. Continue the game until only one student, the winner, remains. Repeat the activity with a student giving the instructions.
This activity is suitable for lower intermediate to intermediate-level English language students. Arrange the students in a circle with you as part of it. Say, “I went to the market and I bought an apple.” The student to your left must repeat this sentence and then add his own clause to it, but using a verb other than “bought.” For example, “I went to the market and I bought an apple and I looked at the animals in the pet store.” The student to his left must then repeat this sentence and again add his own clause to it using a verb other than “bought” or “looked at.” Continue in this way, eliminating any students from the game who forget the correct sentence or cannot think of a new verb. The winner is the last student remaining.