WATERMELON

This article is intended as a lesson suggestion for English teachers and is part of the ESL.com series 'ESL for Teachers.' 
Today's lesson comes courtesy of Kevin Fabris and Easy ESL Games. 
This is quite possibly the easiest ESL game of all time.  A childhood favorite in almost every language that goes by many names.  I call it Watermelon.
he rules are simple. One person describes a person, place or thing WITHOUT using it’s name. Instead the person must refer to the person, place or thing only as “my watermelon”.  The other players must then try to guess what the “watermelon” is.

The Details:

• This game is ideal for smaller groups.  Anywhere from 2 - 6 members.
  
• There are no materials required.
  
• It can be played by students with almost any level of English ability. However I find that if students are older than 10 it tends to work better.
  

How to:

1. Split your class into groups of between 2 and 5 students.  
   
2. Choose a player to go first.
   
3. That student must think of a person, place or thing and describe it without saying it’s name.  It must always be referred to as “my watermelon”.
   
4. Other group members are allowed to ask questions about the “watermelon” but they must call it “your watermelon”.
   

Speaker - My watermelon is cute.
Speaker - My watermelon is furry.
Speaker - My watermelon is named Fido.
Group Member - Is your watermelon a dog?
Speaker - Yes it is!

1. The first group member to guess what the “watermelon” is wins.
   
2. Switch speakers and repeat steps 2 - 5 as desired.
   

This game is very effective as a warm-up, application or just for fun.  It helps students practice fluency, vocabulary, listening and circumlocution.  

Have you ever used this game in your ESL classroom?  Do you have a different name or use slightly different rules?  If you have any great tweaks on this classic game I’d love to hear them.​

Enjoy!