ESL Scattergories!



Online ESL Scattergories is a simple no preparation warmer/cooler. This activity works particularly well with teens and adults and is a great way to practice vocabulary and quick thinking. ESL Scattergories works well in face-to-face classes and also in online zoom/Google classes too!

How to play 


  1. To play ESL Scattergories, first, put students in teams or groups of 2 or 3. Each group will require a piece of paper to write down their answers.

  2. Next, click “choose” a letter. This is the letter that each word must start with for each category.

  3. When everyone is ready, click on “Start Timer”. Students have 120 seconds to try and think of a word for each category.

  4. When the time is up, the teams swap papers and check each other’s answers. The team with the most valid words in each category gets a point (giving a maximum of three points available each round).

  5. For subsequent rounds, repeat with a different starting letter.

  6. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.


Want to play low level learners or kids? Try our other version of this game:
Scattagories for Kids! – Now play with young learner and lower level students in this simplified version of our classic game.

More Online ESL Games
Discover more of ESL Kids Games’ online activities  .

Irregular Verb Challenge – Practice irregular verbs with your students using this tool. This versatile game can be played in many different ways and is a great routine to master irregular verbs with your students.

ESL Odd One Out – An online game that is a great way to practice vocabulary and speaking with young learners. This activity is great to help students practice for the Cambridge Movers exam.

Number Match – A simple multiplication challenge to get students thinking and multiplying in English. A great warmer to get your students thinking and focused!

ESL Vocabulary Fortunes – An online game for teens and adults that is a great way to practice vocabulary on a large number of topics.

ESL Bomb Game – Bomb is a engaging scoring system that adds excitement to any game.

Interactive Word Search Online interactive word search (word soup) puzzles for Young learners with target vocabulary for Cambridge Young Learner Exams (Starters, Movers and Flyers A1 & A2. A Fun way to practice spelling with students in class, on their own or online with Zoom.

ESL Hangman – Hangman is a no-prep way to practice spelling and vocabulary recall with your students.

Blockbuster – Gamify your online and face to face lessons with Blockbuster. Use this game to practice vocabulary, word formation or just about any activity. Students work in teams and have to get across the board.

ESL Category Generator – Generate categories to get your students practicing vocabulary. Great activity to be used with a ball or in online classes to get students thinking at the start of class as a warmer.

Random Letter Generator – Generate random letters from the alphabet with this simple letter generating tool.

ESL Idiom Generator – Generate over 100 of the most common English language idioms. Get students to draw or mime out the idioms as a way to introduce them to the most common idioms in English.

Random Noun Generator – Randomly generate over 200 of the most common nouns in the English Language. Great for Pictionary and other end of the class coolers.

ESL Boggle – Boggle is a great warmer that can be used in the classroom. With this online version get students writing words to be the top of the class.

Anagram Word Game – A simple word game. Suitable for teens and adults with an intermediate and above level of English.

ESL Brain Teasers – Do you want to get your students thinking? Practice lateral thinking and reading with this brain teasers for all ages and levels.

Describe the photo – Practice speaking about photos for B1 (PET) students.

ESL Countdown – Practice vocabulary and spelling with countdown.

ESL Writing Prompt Generator – An entertaining way to practice writing with young learners and even teens.


Find more games and activities on our YouTube Channel