Board Slap

In the Board Slap ESL game, students slap the correct vocabulary item on the board when it is called out.

Students for Board Slap ESL Game:2+Time for Board Slap ESL Game:5-15 mins
Resources for Board Slap ESL Game:
Internet or Prepared Images; Projector; Flyswatters (or similar)
Setup

Project a set of vocabulary items on the board, as pictures only. If you have a projector and Internet connection available, try our online Board Slap game, which has a wide variety of vocabulary options.

In class, divide the students into two teams. You can also play without teams and point-scoring if this is more appropriate.

Game
  1. Each team sends one student to the board. These students stand a few steps away from the board, with a flyswatter. With young students, they could also just use their hands or even a ruler if you don’t have a flyswatter available.
  2. Call out a vocabulary item pictured on the board. The two students have to slap the appropriate picture with their flyswatter as fast as they can.
  3. The student who hits the correct picture first wins a point for their team.
  4. Repeat for future points. If your students are able to, let the rest of the class take turns saying the vocabulary items for pronunciation practise.
  5. Every three points, switch the students playing. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Target Language

The Board Slap ESL game is very versatile and can be used to review many different types of basic vocabulary with beginner and low intermediate students. As well as generating pictures, our online game includes settings to practise colours.

It works particularly well with verbs, sports and hobbies, health problems, jobs and food. You could also use it to practise tag questions, by writing different tags on the board (e.g. isn’t it?), then reading out different questions.

For versions of the game to practise the alphabet and numbers specifically, see Alphabet Board Slap and Numbers Board Slap.


Got a picture or video of this activity in action? How about snapping one next time you use it? We'd love to showcase your submissions- find out more here.

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