Imperative Practice- Ball Games

Imperative Practice- Ball Games

Giving instructions ball game
Throw the ball toward another student just after you shout out an instruction like “Catch the
ball with two fingers” or “Don’t touch the ball” and see if your partner can do that thing
(quickly enough). If you say “Don’t…”, they can do any other action apart from the “…” that
you said, e.g. they can touch the ball as long as they don’t catch it if you said “Don’t catch
the ball”. If you are scoring, you get one point for doing the right action or one point if the
other person doesn’t say what to do before they throw the ball, and the other person gets
one point if you can’t do the action.

Guessing instructions ball game
Mime doing something with a ball or avoiding doing something with a ball (for “Don’t…”)
and see if your partner can guess what instruction you are making gestures for.

Ball game instructions brainstorming game
Work in three teams, with at least one student in each team. Take turns brainstorming
possible instructions with a ball until someone repeats, says something that is impossible,
or gives up.

Guess the ball game game
Give instructions related to one sport like “Kick the ball”, “Don’t catch the ball” and “Don’t
push the other players” until your partner guesses what sport you are talking about.

p. 1

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2021

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(Don’t)

block
blow
catch
chest
dodge
give me
head
kick
knee
look at
pass me
pick up
punch
shoulder
shout at
slap
stop
touch
write on

the ball (with one hand).

(with two hands).
(with two fingers).
(with your knees).
(with your elbows).
(with your chest).
(once).
(twice).
(three times).
(… times).

p. 2

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2021