Color Games, Activities, Lesson Plans & Worksheets (for ESL)

If you’re looking for some of the best color games, then you’re in the right place. We have more than 20 what color activities, along with worksheets, lesson plans, guess the color games, and more. It’s everything teachers need!

ESL Color Games and Activities

Here are some of the best color games for kids, teenagers, and adults.

#1: Picture Prompt

This is a color activity! Show a very colorful picture and elicit from students what they see (a dog). Ask what color it is (black and white).

It’s a nice way to learn what students already know before jumping into the lesson. Find out more here:

ESL Picture Prompt.

#2: Flyswatter Game

#3: Chain Spelling Color Game

A nice way to review the spelling of colors is to use this chain spelling game. It turns something kind of boring and adds an element of fun by making it a little bit competitive. Check it out:

Chain Spelling Game.

#4: Whiteboard Race

For whatever reason, students love to write on the whiteboard! You can do a color race if you don’t have a lot of students in your class.

Divide the class into a few teams (it depends on how big your whiteboard is). Then, the first student from each team gets a marker. There are a few options but students race to be the first one to complete the task.

• Spell the color that you say.
• Write down the color of an object.
• Write an object that is usually the color that you say.

Here are some more ideas:

ESL Whiteboard Activities.

#5: Taboo

I like to play this game when I’m teaching colours. Students have to describe a color, without saying it. The other students have to guess it and then first one gets a point. Find out more:

ESL Taboo Game.

#6:  Total Physical Response

A nice way to get kids involved with learning their colors is to use total physical response. Have children stand up and then tell them to touch something that is a certain color. Once they do, everyone stops and the student can attempt to say what object that they’re touching.

#7: Word Association

#8: Flashcards

I generally never set foot into a class with children without a set of flashcards. They are just so useful! Teaching colors are a natural fit for this. Check out some of my favourite ideas:

ESL Flashcard Activities.

#9: The Color Walk

This is a nice color game for young children. Have students stand up in a circle around a table. Put various colours of construction paper on the table in front of each student. They can walk around the table as music plays. Once the music stops, each student has to say the color in front of them.

#10: Rock Scissor Paper Color Game

A fun way to review colors is to use this game. Write down a bunch of objects that are typically a certain color and then also put the color next to it. Cut them all out. For example:

• Sun   yellow
• tree leaves    green
• fire truck    red

Give students a few of these pieces of paper and they have to circulate around the class to find a match. When they do, they can play rock scissor paper to find out who gets the point. Check it out:

Rock Scissor Paper ESL Game.

#11: Hot Potato Color Game

#12: Use Realia for Teaching Colors

Sure, you can explain about colors to students but it’s even better to show them! Bring some interesting things into the classroom and talk with students about what colors they are. This is known as realia.

#13: Use Origami Paper

Give each student a few different pieces of origami paper of various colors. When you call out a color, they have to hold the correct one in the air.

#14: Consider Using the Test Teach Test Approach

Unless you’re teaching absolute beginners, it’s likely that they already know at least some of the colors. That’s why I like to use something like the TTT approach. It’s designed to figure out what students know, so that you can tailor the lesson to what they don’t. Find out more:

TTT Approach.

#15: Do This!

Give each student a piece of paper. Then, call out a color and some action (blue, stand up). Everyone with a blue piece of paper must stand up. Repeat more rounds until everyone has had a chance to play once or twice.

#16: Odd One Out

#17: Learn the Colours of the Rainbow

There are lots of nice songs on YouTube to learn the colors of the rainbow. It’s a natural fit for this unit so be sure to have a look and you’ll be able to find something that’ll work for your class.

#18: Drilling Color Games and Activities

Colors are one of those things that are perfect to drill. Students should know them so well that they could do them in their sleep and drilling is one of the ways to help achieve this. Here are some of my ideas:

ESL Drilling Games and Activities.

#19: Memory Circle

#20: Color Idioms

This is a nice activity for higher-level students. There are a ton of idioms that involve colors. For example:

• Green with envy
• Beet red
• Not black and white
• Black sheep
• Born with a silver spoon in her mouth
• Caught red handed

Teach some of these idioms and give students some opportunities to practice them.

FAQs

There are a number of common questions that people have about teaching the colours. Here are the answers to some of the most popular ones.

What are some fun ways to teach colors?

Here are some fun ways to teach colors:

• Online games.
• Coloring pages.
• Total physical response.
• Simon Says.
• Bean bag toss.
• Drilling games.
• Whiteboard race.

What order should colors be taught?

There is no specific order that colors should be taught. However, start with the most useful, basic ones first (red, blue, yellow, black, white, brown, orange, purple, etc.).

How do you teach color vocab for beginners?

To teach color vocab for beginners, hold up an object or piece of paper that is the certain color. Say it. Have students repeat it. Then spell it. Continue.

What Color Is It? Online Games

If your students want some extra practice with learning their colours, here are some of the best online games to recommend.

ESL Games Plus

Crazy Games

Colour Worksheets

If you’re a teacher, then you already know how much time it can save to not create your own materials. Here are some of the best worksheets for learning the colors.

ISL Collective

Boggle’s World

ESL Color Lesson Plans

Here are some of the top options for color lesson plans for ESL/EFL.

ESL Kids Stuff

Games 4 ESL

Twinkl

More Ideas for Teaching English

The key to better English classes is a wide variety of engaging and interactive games and activities. This book will help you get there in style: 101 ESL Activities for Kids.

Pick up a copy today and get ready for better English lessons tomorrow.

Color Games: Join the Conversation

Do you have any ideas for teaching colors to English learners? Leave a comment and let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

Last update on 2022-10-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API