If you’re looking for some of the best parts of the body ESL games and activities, along with worksheets, lesson plans and a whole lot more, then you’re in the right place. Keep on reading for everything you need to know about body parts ESL.
ESL parts of the body activities
Parts of the Body Activities and Games
Let’s get into the best ESL body parts games and activities.
#1: Concentration ESL Memory Game
I love to use the concentration game with my students when teaching them new words. For beginners, you can use the word and corresponding picture. More advanced English learners can use the word and definition, or word and clues about it.
Then, it becomes basically a matching game that requires some serious memorization skills. Find out more here:
#2: Fly Swatter Vocabulary Game
If you want to have some fun with your students, then consider playing this vocabulary game. The way it works is that you write a bunch of body part words on the whiteboard. Then, one student from each team comes up to the boards and gets a fly swatter.
You can give hints about which body part it is and the first person to slap the correct words gets a point for their team.
#3: Parts of the Body Songs and Chants
There are a ton of great body parts songs that you can use when teaching kids. If you’re not musical (like me!), not to worry! That’s what YouTube is for. You’ll surely be able to find one that’ll work for any group of students.
#4: A to Z Alphabet Game
In many cases, students will have seen a number of these body part vocabulary words before unless they are absolute beginners. You may want to use this warmer activity to help your students activate their prior knowledge so that new words can “stick” more easily.
In pairs, students can write the alphabet down on a piece of paper. Then, they have to think of a body part for each letter. The winner is the team with the most words at the end of the allotted time. For example:
B = back
E = eyebrow
N = Nose
S = Stomach
#5: 10 Questions
This is a variation of the popular game, 20 Questions that I’m sure you’ve played before. I make it into 10 questions when I limit the category like parts of the body, animals, jobs, hobbies, etc.
The way it works is that students have to ask yes/no questions to try to uncover the secret body part. A guess counts as an answer to. I make this rule to prevent random guessing which doesn’t make the game that fun. Try it out with your students today! This is also a nice idea for teaching ESL/EFL online.
#6: Word Challenge Whiteboard Race
#7: Chain Spelling Body Parts Game
A quick game that you can use to review the spelling of these words is chain spelling. The way it works is that everyone stands up and you say a word. Students have to spell out that word, letter by letter. If someone misses, they sit down and are “out.” Continue the game until there’s only one person left.
#8: Dialogue Substitution
#9: Simon Says Touch Your _____
A fun game for preschool or kindergarten kids is Simon Says. I’m sure you’ve played it before. You can say the following:
Simon says touch your _____.
Then, students have to touch that body part. You can try to trick your students by saying quickly, “Touch your nose” but without the Simon part. Whoever touches their nose is out.
#10: Parts of the Body Odd One Out
A quick review or warm-up activity that you can use for body parts is odd one out. Write body parts on the board in groups of 4, one of which doesn’t fit with the others. Students have to choose which one doesn’t fit and then say why. For example:
- Arm, leg, eye, nose
There are many possible answers but an obvious one is nose because there’s only 1, not 2.
#11: Human Body Trivia
A fun thing you can do it trivia. It’s simple, makes an excellent warm-up or time-filler and is just handy to have in a folder in your classroom for those just in case moments. Check it out here:
#12: Vocabulary Auction
ESL Body Parts Lesson Plans
Let’s get real here. What English teacher in Korea or around the world doesn’t want a body parts lesson plan that you can just print off and take to class, right? Right. That’s why you’ll want to consider some of these ones here:
ESL body part activities
Parts of the Body ESL Worksheets
A huge teaching timesaver can be worksheets that are ready to just print and take to class. The good news is that there are a ton of good ones for body parts. Here are some of the top picks:
Online Practice for Parts of the Body
If your students need some extra practice with body parts, then you’ll probably want to direct them to the following places for some online games and exercises:
Did you like These Body Parts ESL Games?
6 Reviews
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Bolen, Jackie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 76 Pages - 11/28/2015 (Publication Date)
Yes? Thought so. Then you’re going to love this book over on Amazon: 39 ESL Vocabulary Activities for Kids. It’s the book you need if you want to have better vocab classes because there are dozens of engaging, student-centred and interesting games and activities that kids love.
Seriously. This is the book you need if you want to make your life easier when it comes to lesson planning. Keep a copy on the bookshelf in your office to use as a handy reference guide. Or, consider taking a copy with you on your phone, tablet, or Laptop to your favourite coffee shop for some serious lesson planning on the go.
Yes, it really is that easy! Check out the book for yourself on Amazon, but only if you want a serious dose of ESL teaching awesome in your life:
Body Parts ESL FAQs
There are a number of common questions that people have about teaching ESL body parts. Here are the answers to some of the most common ones.
How do I teach my body parts to ESL students?
You can teach my body parts to ESL students by introducing the target vocabulary using pictures. Then, use some fun activities, games and songs to help students remember the new words. Something like head, shoulders, knees and toes, or a matching concentration game works well.
How do I teach a Kindergarten body part?
To teach a kindergarten age child body part names, try the following. Point to your nose and say, “nose.” Have the child repeat the name and also point. Add in more body parts and then do so review by mixing up the order or what you point to.
Have your Say about Parts of the Body for ESL
What do you think about these ESL body parts activities and games? Have you tried out any from this list or do you have another that you’d like to recommend? Leave a comment below and let us know. We’d love to hear from you.
Also be sure to give this article a share on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter. It’ll help other busy English teachers, like yourself find this useful resource.
Last update on 2022-06-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
