Picture/Adjective Card is a game I created after attempting to make a DIY Dix-It. It ended up feeling more like Apples to Apples. Actually, it plays a lot like my other game, Sentence Filler. Still, it’s a really fun game that my kids enjoy and ask to play quite often. When I first started playing this game, all the pictures were from google images and all the adjectives cards were just index cards I wrote on. It’s been about two years and now I’ve designed my own deck of cards which you can download below.
How to play
Every student gets 4 picture cards. The teacher then takes an adjective card and puts it down in the center. Each student picks one card from their hand to place face down. After that, the teacher turns over the cards put by the students. The teacher picks which picture embodies the adjective in the center the most, and gives the adjective card as a point to the student who placed that picture down. The students then replace their cards by drawing from the deck. Continue this until time runs up or the cards are finished. The winner is the student with the most cards.
This is what I call the base game. It’s simple and quick since it’s very much teacher directed. And since you are in control, it’s very easy to cheat a little so that students who are feeling left behind can get some points as well. The con of this version is that it isn’t all that great at getting the kids to use their English. So, I’ve created some modified ways to play the game that is more student centered and opens the class up for discussion.
Intermediate Playing
Instead of having the teacher be the judge, let the students do it – either by having them take turns, or by having whoever won the last round judge the next one. Keep playing this way until the time is up.
The students will prefer this variation more because they have more control. It also gives them more reason to actually discuss the various cards. Just be warned that kids may be tempted to cheat by picking the card they think their friend put down. Also, I find that some students may take very long in deciding which card to pick which slows down the game a lot.
Advanced Playing
Instead of having an individual pick the winner, make the students vote on it. Have them practice their persuasive skills and try to convince the each other why their card matches the adjective the best. Some may even realize their card isn’t good and instead try to help their friend get the point.
I recommend playing this version after reviewing how to share opinions. Actually, if you have a lesson specifically teaching them persuasive language, this version of the game is perfect practice.
This method will slow down the game significantly, but it’s good English practice and should be done with more advanced students. And of course, if they are evenly divided on two cards, the teacher will get the final say.
About the Pictures
The fun part of the game is in the pictures. My PDF file has some picture cards ready for you to use (all pictures I either took or drew myself). Still, I encourage you to google your own pictures to print out and play with. Think of the students you are playing with. For example, I currently live in South Korea, my students are around 9-14 years old, and they love video games and cartoons. So here are some of the cards I’ve printed just for them:
But your own amusement is also valid, and I would recommend also printing pictures that make you laugh and smile as well:
Thanks to this game, my classes and I have so many different inside jokes now, which is part of the reason why my kids love the game so much and continuously ask to play it. I am always adding more pictures as their vocabulary grows and their interests change, so I’d love to see what pictures you print for your kids.
Here are the free downloads. The first two are my created decks that will hopefully help you get started on your own (They’re quite small). The other two DIY decks are for you to make better customized cards for your students. It’s a bit more work, but I promise it’s worth it. Enjoy!
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