Posts in category: AGO Q&A games

AGO Q&A cards can add structured speaking practice to a tumbling block tower game.

Place the cards face down beside the tower. On a player’s turn, they draw a card and ask the question to the next player. The other player must answer before removing a block from the tower and placing it on top.

Continue around the group until the tower falls. The language exchange must be completed before anyone touches a block.

For a more challenging version, require a complete-sentence answer or one follow-up question. To keep the activity collaborative, challenge the group to complete a target number of questions before the tower falls.

Use an unbranded tumbling block set or follow the instructions supplied with the block game. Ensure the tower is placed on a stable surface with enough space around it.

Top Hand is an energetic card-swapping game for four to eight older students. Everyone interacts at the same time while trying to build the strongest poker-style hand.

Remove Jump, Pick Up and Change Direction cards, then deal five cards to every player. Students move around the room and negotiate card swaps. Before two players can exchange cards, they must ask and answer the questions printed on the cards they intend to swap. Players may not directly request a particular card.

When time is called, everyone reveals their hand. Change Color cards are wild.

Scoring

• One pair: 1 point
• Two pairs: 2 points
• Three of a kind: 3 points
• Straight: 4 points
• Flush: 5 points
• Full house: 6 points
• Four of a kind: 7 points
• Straight flush: 8 points
• Five of a kind: 10 points

Play several short rounds and add the scores together. The player with the highest cumulative score wins.

Explain the possible hands before beginning, and consider displaying the scoring list where everyone can see it. This game is lively and rule-heavy, so it is best with confident groups that can move safely and work independently.

AGO Fish adapts the classic Go Fish matching game for AGO Q&A cards. It combines speaking, memory and card collecting, and works best with two to four players.

The objective is to collect pairs of cards with the same number. Deal five cards to each player and place the remaining cards face down as a draw pile. Whenever a player forms a pair, they place it face up in their score pile. Each pair is worth one point.

On a turn, a player chooses a question card from their hand, places it face up and asks its question to another player. After answering, that player hands over a card of the same number if they have one. The questioner completes the pair, scores a point and takes another turn.

If the other player does not have a matching card, they say “Go fish.” The questioner draws one card and play moves clockwise.

For action cards, ask another player whether they have the same action card. A Pick Up card allows its player to draw the stated number of cards and place the action card in their score pile for half a point.

If a player runs out of cards, they draw five more, or as many as remain. Continue until the draw pile and players’ hands are exhausted. The player with the most pairs wins.

Faster variation

In Double AGO Fish, players draw two cards whenever they are told to “go fish.” This is useful when playing with two decks or when lesson time is limited.

Why and Lie extends familiar AGO Q&A questions into longer, more imaginative conversations. It is best for students who already understand the cards and are ready to speak beyond the printed answer patterns.

Why?

After a player answers a question, the questioner asks “Why?” The answer must then be explained. Even a simple question such as “Where do you live?” can lead to richer language when students give reasons and supporting details.

Lie

Instead of answering truthfully, the player invents a deliberately false answer. Other players ask follow-up questions and encourage the speaker to develop the story.

For example:

“Where do you live?” “I live on the moon.” “Why do you live there?” “An alien sold me a very cheap house.”

Creative answers make familiar questions feel new again and can produce memorable, unpredictable conversations. Remind students that the lie is part of the game and should remain playful and appropriate.

The two variations work especially well together: one player invents an answer, and the others continue asking “Why?” and other follow-up questions.

Chit Chat is a relaxed, low-preparation speaking activity that gives students time to explore AGO Q&A questions without complicated game rules.

Spread a selection of question cards face up on a table. Students take turns choosing a card and asking another player the question. The other player answers, and the group may ask natural follow-up questions before moving to the next card.

Continue until the teacher calls time or all selected cards have been used.

For beginners, use a small number of familiar cards and model possible answers first. For more confident groups, require one follow-up question or ask students to expand every answer with a reason or extra detail.

Chit Chat works well as a warm-up, a calm alternative to competitive games, or a bridge into freer conversation.

This fast pair activity combines AGO Q&A speaking practice with Rock–Scissors–Paper. It is particularly effective for building fluency once students are familiar with the questions.

Spread a selection of AGO Q&A cards face down and place students in pairs. Each pair turns over a card. One student asks the question and the other answers; they then exchange roles where appropriate. After completing the language task, they play one round of Rock–Scissors–Paper. The winner keeps the card.

Pairs repeat the process until the cards are gone or the teacher calls time. The player with the most cards wins.

Because all pairs speak simultaneously, the activity works well with larger classes. Make it clear that the question-and-answer exchange must be completed before Rock–Scissors–Paper begins. Change partners between rounds to increase variety and speaking practice.

Quiz Show is a quick, teacher-led activity for introducing or reviewing the language on AGO Q&A cards. It works well as a five-to-ten-minute warm-up.

How to play

The teacher selects a question card and reads it to the class. Students raise their hands—or use a classroom buzzer—to answer. A student who gives an appropriate answer collects the card. If students are unsure, offer clues, model an answer and practice the question together before continuing.

The student with the most cards at the end wins.

Build the active question set gradually. Add a few new cards each week and remove questions that have become too easy. You can also ask the same question several times with small changes. Give an action card as a point to each additional student who answers successfully.

Quiz Show is useful for presenting unfamiliar material because everyone can study the same card with the teacher. However, it is teacher-centered and gives only one student speaking time at once. Follow it with a pair or small-group activity when possible.