Hide and Seek Vocab
This is a great interactive game for any class, but it’s especially wonderful for language classes working on pronunciation!
How to play
1. Divide your students in half randomly and write their names on the board under the headings “HIDE” and “SEEK” (in your language).
2. The first pair sends their “seeker” into the hall for 20 seconds while the “hider” hides a piece of brightly colored paper somewhere in the room. My rules for hiding are:
- It must be hidden in the perimeter of the room. (Not in anyone’s personal belongings)
- My desk is off limits.
- It has to be a little bit visible, but you may fold it.
- It has to be reachable by the “seeker,” so unless they are really tall, be considerate!
3. I project the word for the whole class to see using Quizlet flashcards.
4. The “hider” opens the door for the “seeker” to return, and the whole class chants the word on the board, being careful to pronounce it correctly. We chant more loudly as s/he gets closer to the hiding spot. To avoid screaming and bothering other classes, we wave our hands in the air when s/he is really close.
5. When the student finds the word, s/he must tell us the definition.
Some classroom management tips
- If it’s a really large class and everyone wants a turn, I set the timer on my phone for 1:15. If the “seeker” hasn’t found it by the time the buzzer goes off, the “hider” gets to show him/her where it was.
- I let my students know the purpose of this game is to practice pronunciation and everyone must chant together in rhythm so we hear it accurately.
- If I hear students repeatedly mispronouncing a word, or speeding up too much, I use the audio feature on Quizlet to get them back on track. I just click it 3 times in a row to redirect them.
My Spanish students love playing this interactive game! Be sure to set clear expectations before you start to avoid any classroom management difficulties, and then have lots of fun!
Click here for more games using Quizlet!
I just saw this post on Quizlet. Do you give the teams points?
Hi Pam. They are not really playing in teams, but more collaboratively, so there are no points. It is VERY rare that a student doesn’t find the hidden word, and I feel like the class would work against the seeker if points were on the line.