Childhood memories board game

🎲 Back to Class · Speaking Game

Welcome back! After the holidays, we start a new term with a speaking activity. We are going to talk, listen and share memories using a board game.

This activity will help you speak more fluently, organise ideas and feel more confident when talking in English.

🧩 The board game

This is the board we are going to use in class:

The board follows different stages of life: infancy, childhood, school years and teenage years.

📌 How to play

1. You will work in small groups (3–4 people).
2. Each group has one board🗺️, one die🎲 and counters♟️.
3. Everyone rolls the die. The highest number starts.
4. Players take turns in a clockwise direction⏰.
5. On your turn, roll the die and move your counter.
6. If you land on a question square, you must:
   • Read the question out loud.
   • Speak about the topic for at least one minute⏳.
7. If you can’t speak for one minute or there are too many pauses, you miss your next turn.
8. Some squares are special (move forward, go back, miss a turn, roll again…). Follow the instruction.
9. The first player to reach the finish square wins.

🧠 Mini vocabulary (before playing)

We will read this vocabulary together before starting the game.

• straightforward – direct
• dice – small cube with each side having a different number.
• counters – small discs used in board games
• miss a turn – not play in the next round
• roll the dice – throw the little cubes to choose a number
• earliest memory – the first thing you can remember
• throw a tantrum – loss of emotional control
• lullaby – gentle song to send a baby to sleep
• caregivers – the person who looks after someone
• grow up – to become older
• get into trouble – do something wrong
• talent – something you are naturally good at
• treat – a small prize

Is one minute too long?

Don’t worry. This model answer shows how you can speak for one minute using simple ideas and clear sentences.

🗣 Model answer (example)

Question:
What is your earliest memory from childhood?

My earliest memory from childhood is when I was about four years old. I remember being at my grandparents’ house and playing on the floor with some old toys. It was a warm afternoon and the windows were open, so I could hear people talking outside. I felt very safe and relaxed because my whole family was there. I don’t remember many details, but I clearly remember the feeling of being happy and calm. When I think about it now, I realise that this memory shows how important family was for me when I was a child.

This is a good example because it:

• Lasts about one minute
• Uses past tenses
• Includes feelings and details

All right, you’ve got it!
Now it’s time to play, relax and enjoy speaking.

First: group the tables into teams of 4–5 people.

Remember: this is not a test. Make mistakes, think, pause, laugh… that’s how we learn.

I’ll be walking around, listening and “keeping an eye on things”, so if you have any questions or get stuck, just ask me.

And next class, we’ll play again — but this time without dice and all together, so everyone will answer one question out loud.

Let’s start. 🎲🗣️