39 ESL Vocabulary Activities: For Teenagers and Adults - Jackie Bolen, Jennifer Booker Smith 2015

Concentration
Games and activities for all levels

Skills: Reading

Time: 10-15 minutes

Materials: Concentration cards

This is a memory game designed to help students remember vocabulary words and definitions. Make up sets of cards with words on half the cards and the matching definition on the other half. A total of 16 cards (8 sets of words and definitions) works well. Make enough cards so that there is one set for each group of four students.

Students mix up the cards and put them face-down on the desk in an organized fashion. The students play rocks-scissors-paper. The first student chooses two cards and places them face up on the desk so that everyone is able to see them. If they make a set, the student keeps the cards (they're removed from the game), gets one point and is able to choose again. If they don't make a set, the student places them face-down in the same spot (it's a memory game!) and the game continues with the next student.

Procedure:

1. Make concentration card sets of words and definitions (16 cards per set, one set per four students).

2. Have students mix the cards and place them face down on the desk in an organized manner.

3. The first students chooses two cards and places them face up on the desk. If they make a set, the students keeps the cards and get one point. If they don't make a set, the student places them face down in the same spot and the game continues with the next student who reveals two more cards.

4. The winner is the student with the most points.