The reason I call the game Big Word is because none of my students know what the hell ‘Taboo’ is or means. I’ve played that game numerous times and had to explain it, or better yet, look it up on Google Translate. Either way takes time and attention away from what you’re trying to do, which is get kids to use the English words they already know.
Figure out what vocabulary unit you’re studying, and write down about 20 words that the kids should know. I always throw in a few easy common knowledge words to make it more fun, and to make my prep work easier. Here are a few examples of the words that I use:
To make it more interesting, students get points. If they only have to say the first word under the Big Word, their team will get 4 points. If they say 2 words, they get 3 points; 3 words, 2 points; and if they have to say all of the words before their team guesses, they get 1 point.
My students have enjoyed this game immensely, and I’ve found it’s a really good option for when parents come to watch your class. Give it a try in your class; I’m confident you’ll get the same results.