Transportation Vocabulary Game – Guess the Vehicle From the Picture
This transportation vocabulary game can be used in lessons teaching basic vehicle names to kids and beginner ESL students. Students will see 10 images of common vehicles hidden behind some colored shapes. As the shapes disappear, students must guess the mode of transport as quickly as possible. The simple game format makes it perfect for beginners and also easy to adapt for different levels. Play the video below and read on for detailed instructions on how to play, plus some useful tips for getting the most out of this activity.
How to Use This Transportation Game in Class
Open the video from this page or from our YouTube channel and press play. The basic idea is that students should guess the transportation word before the image is fully revealed. There are several ways you can use it in class:
Whole Class Warm-up
Play the video as a quick warm-up. Ask students to raise their hands or call out when they’re ready to guess. This is a great way to activate students’ existing knowledge of transportation vocabulary and set the context for the lesson.
Pair Work Activity
To make the game more interactive, put students in pairs and give each pair a set of transportation flashcards. Have them place the cards face down on their desks. As soon as they recognize the vehicle in the video, they race to find the matching flashcard and hold it up.
Team Game
Divide the class into teams and give each group a small whiteboard or piece of paper. Pause the video partway through the reveal and ask teams to write down their guess. Then play the video again to confirm the answer. Award points for correct guesses.
Differentiation
This activity can be easily adapted for different levels. With complete beginners, simply practicing vehicle names is enough. With higher-level students, extend the challenge by asking them to respond in full sentences or short dialogues. For example, instead of just saying “bus,” you could ask, “How do you go to school?” and the student answers, “I go to school by bus.”
More Transportation Lesson Materials
- Transportation Worksheets – Printable worksheets for practicing vehicle vocabulary.
- ESL Lesson Plan About Transportation – A ready-to-use lesson plan to teach transportation vocabulary to kids.