TPR activities for ESL: a 10-minute action word game for K–2

1. Pick six actions: stand up, sit down, jump, clap, touch your head, turn around. Add one new action each day.
2. Say and do. Say "Stand up" while you stand. Students copy you. Go through all six twice, slowly, then faster.
3. Say only. Now say the action without moving. Watch who responds right away and who waits to copy a friend. Repeat the slower words.
4. Mix it up. Chain two actions: "Jump, then clap." Then add a silly one: "Touch your nose, then turn around."
5. Play Simon says with no outs. If a student moves without "Simon says", they simply do a funny wiggle and keep playing, so no one sits out and loses practice.
6. Student leaders. Toss the beanbag to a student who gives the next command. Accept one word ("Jump!") from new speakers.

For Spanish or Portuguese classes, use the same steps with these singular commands (Spanish / Brazilian Portuguese): levántate / levanta; siéntate / senta; salta / pula; aplaude / bate palmas; tócate la cabeza / põe a mão na cabeça; da una vuelta / dá uma volta. The game is "Simón dice" in Spanish and "Seu mestre mandou" in Brazil. Use the plural forms if you have already taught them.

Tip: keep a steady rhythm and smile. TPR works best when it feels like play, and the moment students laugh is often the moment they understand.

Differentiation: for brand-new learners, keep it to "say and do" for the first two days. For students ready for more, add body parts and position words ("Put your hand on your knee"), or let them give two-step commands. For students who speak the target language at home, make them leaders and ask them to teach the class one extra command. For students who use wheelchairs or have motor needs, offer an arm or head version of each move (raise arms for "jump", tap the tray for "clap"); for students sensitive to noise, use "quiet clap" fingers on palm.

Quick check: without modeling, say three commands in a row and watch which students do all three correctly. Note who needs another day.

If you try it, tell us which action word your class learned fastest, and in which language.