Compound Noun List

afterbirth dishwasher heartbeat saltwater

aftermath doorbell highway saucepan
aircraft downfall homework sawdust
airfield downpour honeymoon screenplay
airmail drawback horsepower screwdriver
armchair dressmaker housework seashell
armpit driveway jellyfish seaweed
background drugstore jigsaw shellfish
backlash drumstick keyboard shoplifter
backlog eardrum kneecap shorthand
backside earphone ladybug shotgun
bandwagon earring leftovers sickbed
bankbook earthworm letterhead sideburns
banknote earwig lighthouse sidekick
barman egghead lipstick sidewalk
baseball eyelid loophole silkworm
bathroom eyewitness lovebird skullcap
bedspread farmhouse mailbox skyscraper
bedtime fatherhood manhunt slaughterhouse
billboard feedback mastermind sleepwalking
blackbird fingernail middleman snowball
blacklist fingerprint neighborhood snowfall
bulldog firearm network softball
bullfight firefly newsletter songbird
catfish firewood newspaper soundtrack
chairman fishbowl nightclub spaceship
cheapskate floodlight nightmare sportsman
checkup footnote notebook spotlight
chopstick footprint outlook stalemate
clockwork freeway overcoat stepchild
clotheshorse foretaste overseas stopwatch
clothesline fruitcake overtime strongbox
copycat gatecrasher painkiller suitcase
copyright ghostwriter pancake summertime
cornerstone godfather paperback sunspot
countdown goldfish passport sweetheart
countryside greenhouse password swordfish
courthouse guidebook penknife tablespoon
courtyard guideline pickpocket teardrop
cowboy gunfire pigtail teaspoon
crackdown gunpowder pocketknife toadstool
crossroad hairdresser quicksand toothpick
cutback handbag racehorse tugboat
daybreak handshake rainbow watchdog
daytime handwriting rattlesnake wheelchair
deadline headlight roadrunner windpipe
deadlock headquarters runway wiretap

What's The Word? (2)

Level

Intermediate.

Skills Practised

Vocabulary recall and sentence construction.

Time

Flexible.

About this game

In this game players take turns eliciting compound nouns by miming each of the constituent
words. To begin, a player indicates 'first word' by raising a finger and then acts in such a way
as to suggest this word. Those watching call out any words they think of until someone calls
out the correct one. The player miming then nods and begins miming the second constituent
word. For example, if the word is 'basketball', the player tries to elicit 'basket', and then 'ball'.
The player must not, however, mime the word 'basketball' itself by running around as if
playing the game.
Preparation

1. Print out the set of cards provided, or make your own set by checking our list of compound
nouns.

2. Draw a scoring table on the board, like this:

Team A Team B

How it Works

1. Explain the game and model if necessary (emphasize that the players must not try to mime
the target word itself, but each part of the word in turn). Then divide the class into two teams
and have each team choose a name. Next place the cards face down in a pile at the front of the
classroom.

2. Ask for any member of the first team to come forward. This player then takes the top card
and tries to elicit each part of the word as explained above. If one of those watching correctly
guesses the first part, the player miming nods and then continues by trying to elicit the second
part.

3. If any member of either team thinks he or she knows the complete word, he or she raises a
hand. If correct, his or her team wins a point. The player stating the correct word can then
earn his or her team another point by correctly using the word in a sentence.

4. A player from the second team then comes forward to elicit whatever is written on the next
card, and so on. Play continues until all the cards have been used, with the team earning the
most points winning.

Notes:
- If no-one has guessed the word within a reasonable length of time, ask for the player miming
to state it. A player from the other team then comes forward to continue play.
- To play a shorter game, either set a time limit for the game as a whole or use just a few of
the cards.
headphones homework

starfish keyboard

bathroom crossword

basketball sunflower

racehorse cupboard

© 2008 TEFLGames.com
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