Review games

Hot Seat

One student sits with their back to the board while teammates describe the word written behind them. A top ESL speaking game, also called "Back to the Board".

  • πŸŽ“ Grades 3–12
  • ⏱ 10–20 min
  • πŸ‘₯ Two or more teams
  • πŸ“¦ Low prep
🎲 Another game

How to play Hot Seat

  1. Place one chair per team facing away from the board.
  2. One player from each team sits in the hot seat.
  3. Write a vocabulary word on the board.
  4. Teammates describe the word without saying it, spelling it or using gestures that give it away.
  5. The first hot-seat player to say the word wins a point. Rotate players.

Variations

  • Allow gestures only for younger learners.

Keep playing

Similar classroom games

Review games

Fly Swatter

Two students race to swat the correct answer on the board with a fly swatter.

  • ⏱ 10–20 min
  • πŸŽ“ K–8
Review games

Classroom Taboo

A student describes a vocabulary word to their team without saying the word or any of the "taboo" words listed on the card.

  • ⏱ 15–30 min
  • πŸŽ“ 6–12
Review games

Classroom Bingo

Students mark answers on a bingo card as you read clues.

  • ⏱ 15–30 min
  • πŸŽ“ K–12
Quiet games

Classroom Boggle

Students find as many words as possible in a grid of letters.

  • ⏱ 5–15 min
  • πŸŽ“ 3–12
Review games

Categories

Pick a letter and a list of categories.

  • ⏱ 10–20 min
  • πŸŽ“ 3–12
  • ✏️ No prep
Review games

Charades

Students act out a word or phrase without speaking while their team guesses.

  • ⏱ 10–30 min
  • πŸŽ“ K–12