For parents and teachers
ESL vocabulary games for kids: a 10-minute practice plan
Choose three familiar objects, check their English names, then practise recalling their spelling from pictures. Finish by using each word in a sentence. This 10-minute plan combines a short game with speaking and meaning checks; adjust it to the learner rather than racing the timer.
By Petket team · Updated
Try stage 1 free →No account for stage 1 · Stages 2–10 free with email sign-in · US$3.00 once for later stages
Before you start: choose the words and device
For a first English lesson, use apple, pear and banana. Bring real fruit or open the illustrated fruit word list. Ask the child to name or point to each fruit before asking for spelling. If the English name is new, introduce it first using a picture, a spoken example and, where helpful, the child’s home language.
A computer supports keyboard practice; a phone supports letter-by-letter spelling. For a group, take turns at one screen or let children practise individually. Try the first stage before planning a lesson around the game. Petket currently has individual email accounts, not a teacher dashboard, class roster or assignment system.
A suggested 10-minute activity
| Time | Activity | What to notice |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 minutes | Point, name and listen. Check the meaning of three words. | Can the learner identify the fruit without reading its name? |
| 2–4 minutes | Read the spelling together, then hide it. | Which letters are easy to miss or swap? |
| 4–8 minutes | Try a short game or take turns spelling from the pictures. | Is the obstacle recall, reading the clue or finding keys? |
| 8–10 minutes | Say a sentence and choose one word to revisit. | Can the learner use the word beyond the game? |
The first game stage contains 20 words, so a 10-minute activity need not finish the stage. Pause when the planned practice is over. Use only three picture cards if the full stage is too much for a beginner.
Offer help without disguising it as independent recall
Choose Free practice in Settings to remove the timer. When letters are hidden, Show spelling lets the child see the answer and keep typing. The first use in each run explains that this attempt will not count as correct and earns no starlight or companion XP. Later encounters with that word can count normally.
Accepting help is a useful learning step. First ask the learner to notice the difficult part, such as the two p letters in apple; then return to a hidden-answer attempt another time. During group play, give each child their own turn before classmates supply the answer. Do not treat a shared answer as evidence of one child’s recall.
Finish with language the child can use
Ask “Which fruit would you take on a trip?” A beginner might say “A pear.” A longer answer could be “I would take a banana because it is easy to carry.” Keep the sentence within the learner’s current ability.
Open My wordbook to revisit encountered words and choose a small follow-up activity. On another day, point to the fruit again or find the word in a short text. Game scores and companion XP describe game progress; they do not measure speaking ability or certify a CEFR level.
Common questions
Can a teacher use the activity without creating accounts for the class?
The picture list and this plan are public. Stage 1 is playable without an account. For group practice, use the public cards or take turns with the first stage; Petket has no class-management feature.
Is this only for Cambridge exam preparation?
No. These activities suit supplementary English vocabulary practice. A2 Key and B1 Preliminary preparation also needs reading, writing, listening and speaking work.
Keep exploring
Try the practice for yourself.
Pictures, pronunciation and a short story: see whether the first stage suits your learner.