Review games

Hot Seat

One student sits with their back to the board while teammates describe the word written behind them. A top ESL speaking game, also called "Back to the Board".

  • 🎓 Grades 3–12
  • ⏱ 10–20 min
  • 👥 Two or more teams
  • 📦 Low prep
🎲 Another game

How to play Hot Seat

  1. Place one chair per team facing away from the board.
  2. One player from each team sits in the hot seat.
  3. Write a vocabulary word on the board.
  4. Teammates describe the word without saying it, spelling it or using gestures that give it away.
  5. The first hot-seat player to say the word wins a point. Rotate players.

Variations

  • Allow gestures only for younger learners.
How to play Hot Seat: printable classroom rule card with the steps, time (10–20 min), grades 3–12 and prep

📌 Rule card to print or pin

The rules of Hot Seat on one card. Print it for the board or a sub folder, or save it to Pinterest for later.

Save to Pinterest Download / print rule card
Up next🐟 Fishbowl (Salad Bowl) →

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