Describe It Card Game – Fun & Engaging Oral Language Activity

Make learning interactive with this Describe It Card Game, a lively oral language and vocabulary-building game where players must describe a word without saying it! This exciting Describe It card game encourages students to think critically, expand their vocabulary, and improve their speaking and listening skills—all while having fun!

This engaging card game helps students in a number of ways including:

• Boosting oral language and communication skills
• Strengthens vocabulary and critical thinking
• Encourages teamwork, active listening, and quick thinking

How to Play Describe It Card Game in the Classroom

This describe it game can be played as a whole class as a fun warm-up or brain break, small groups to encourage teamwork and discussion, english groups, or support for ESL students to help develop their language confidence in a low pressure, engaging way.

Here’s how to play:

• A player selects a Describe It card with a mystery word on it.
• The player must explain the word using clues, synonyms, definitions, or related ideas—without saying the word itself!
• The rest of the group listens carefully and guesses the correct word based on the description.
• Set a Timer for Extra Challenge – Add a time limit to keep the game exciting and encourage quick thinking!
• Use Variations for Different Skill Levels – Modify the game by allowing gestures for younger students, limiting the number of clues, or playing in teams for added support.
• Keep Score (Optional) – Award points for correct guesses or challenge students to describe the most words within a set time.

Download and Have Fun with this Describe it Card Game

The Describe It card game is a must-have for classrooms looking to make vocabulary practice engaging and effective. Use it as a warm-up, a fast-finisher activity, or a fun way to reinforce learning across subjects. 

Use the dropdown menu to choose between the easy to print PDF version of this resource or the editable Google Slide version.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher and a Teach Starter Collaborator. 

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