A fresh take on the classic Last Letter game! 61 clever illustrations allow for countless interpretations and a unique experience each time you play. A fast, fun game that will inspire creativity, laughter and quick thinking!
Components
- 61 Illustrated Cards
- Instructions
Object of the Game
Be the first player to get rid of your cards.
Setup
Shuffle all of the cards and deal five cards face-down to each player. Place one card face-up in the center of the table to create the Discard Pile. The remaining cards can be put aside for future games.
Sample Cards
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When all players are ready, the dealer looks at the card in the Discard Pile and calls out a word that represents something pictured on that card-e.g. «Peek!»
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All players (including the dealer) now look at their five cards and race to find something pictured on any of them that begins with the last letter of the word just called.
If the word was «Peek» players will need to think of a word that begins with the letter «K«-e.g. «Knight«.
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Once a player finds an acceptable word pictured on one of their five cards, he or she calls out the word and places the corresponding card on top of the Discard Pile. All players now look to find a word that starts with this new last letter.
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If two or more players call out an acceptable word at the same time, the first of those players to place their card on the Discard Pile wins the tie. All other players involved in the tie must keep their cards.
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The game continues until one player discards his or her last card. This player is the winner!
Acceptable & Unacceptable Words
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The same word can only be used once per game!
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Specific Objects are acceptable-e.g. «sun«, or «necklace«, or «eggs«.
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Actions are acceptable-e.g. «running«, «eat«, or «think«, but only if someone or something in the image is clearly pictured doing the action.
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Categorical Words are acceptable-e.g. in reference to a lion, the words «predator«, «mammal«, or «carnivore«.
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Emotions or Other Similar Concepts are acceptable (if the picture represents them in an obvious way).
e.g. a lion has a thorn in his paw and shows an expression of pain. Players might call out «hurt«, «anguish«, or «suffering«.
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A word that is not accurately pictured is not acceptable.
e.g., if a character is shown with no particular expression a player, cannot assign an emotion («happy«) or give the character a name («Josh«).
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In all cases, players decide what words are acceptable. In the event of a disagreement, the game is paused and players vote. The dealer’s vote can be used to break any ties.
Variations
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For an additional creative challenge, try changing the Acceptable Words rules, such as «No Colors», «Only Action Words», «Nothing That a Human is Doing» or «Only Adjectives».
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Last Letter can be a great vocabulary builder for foreign languages as well. Try playing using only word in French, or only Spanish, or any other language you want to practice.
Continue Reading
Press any Play buttons below for the instructions to be read for you.
Other name(s): First letter, last letter
The setup
Players have to select a topic. For example:
- Cities
- Food
- Actors
- Singers
- Brands
- Animals
You can pick one of them or come up with another one.
Listen
How to play
1) The first player gives a name related to the topic selected (For example, the topic is Cities and the first player says Paris).
2) The next player has to give a name from that topic as well but starting with the last letter of the previous one (S in this case, so it could be Sydney). And so on.
You lose if you did:
- Use the wrong letter
- Give a name that has already been used
- Hesitate for more than five seconds to give a name
How to win
Be the last player in the game to win.
Listen
Types of games
Active (Outdoor): Great to burn some energy, enjoy the outside and stay fit!
Drawing: Helps getting better at sketching which also has benefits for your creativity, memory and observation skills.
Improvisation: Those games help you being more spontaneous and vulnerable. It can help you gain confidence in groups, leadership and public speaking.
Logic: Helps you practice reflection and reasoning to better problem solve.
Numbers: Calculus and more, to get better with numbers!
Reactivity: Games to train your brain and body to become faster.
Social: Icebreakers and other games to let you open more to others and get to know them better.
Strategy: Become better at anticipating and making decisions through those games.
Words: Perfect games to develop your vocabulary, written skills or train for foreign languages.
Last Letter Word Game:
This is a simple ESL-Game you can play with students who are past their Phonics level and building up their English vocabulary. It’s very easy. You just start with a word, then the student must make a new word starting with the last letter of the word you chose, and so on. Give students three to five seconds to come up with a word, or they are out. Example: I say, “Cat”, next student says “teacher,” next student says “rabbit,” next student says, “tree,” etc. This game can be more fun when all the students get involved with the timing of like (“1-2-3-4-5 Buzzz!! You’re out!”) Of course you continue until the last student is remaining. They will be declared the winner!
Note:
Skill levels can be modified additional or few seconds between words. You can even have some lower level students flipping through their English books to find words if need be. Have fun!
Tags: beginner, intermediate, kids, vocabulary, warmer
The Last Letter First Letter ESL game is a really simple warmer or vocabulary practice technique which is often incorporated into other games.
2+
10-15 mins
Ball (Optional)
Setup
There are two versions of this game. In the first, students make a chain of words together as a class. In the second, students race to make a chain of words, either individually or in teams.
If you are playing the first version, arrange your students in a circle (or in rows).
If you are playing the second version, each student/team will need a piece of paper.
Game
Version 1:
- Give the students a vocabulary category e.g. food.
- The first student says any word in that vocabulary category.
- The next student (to the left or who the previous student throws the ball to) has to say another word in the category. However that word must begin with the last letter of the previous word.
- The students continue in this manner, making a chain of words, e.g. tomato – orange – egg – grapes.
- (Optional) If a student takes too long they have to do a forfeit (e.g. putting an arm behind their back, standing on one leg, or something from our Challenge Generator).
Version 2:
- Give the students a vocabulary category e.g. food.
- The students/teams have to write down a chain of words in that category. Each word must begin with the last letter of the previous word, e.g. tomato – orange – egg – grapes.
- Give them one or two minutes and award points for each word made in the chain. Or, have them shout ‘Stop!’ when they reach five words. That team receives five points while the other teams receive a point for each word they have at that time.
- Repeat for other vocabulary categories. The team with the most points at the end wins.
Target Language
The Last Letter First Letter ESL game is great warmer or vocabulary practice technique for beginner and intermediate students, including kids. Just be aware that some vocabulary categories are more difficult to form a chain with than others! More advanced students may even start to try and give the next student a hard letter in the first version.
Some potential vocabulary categories are food, animals, jobs, sports and hobbies, clothes, and places in the city.
This word-chain technique is often incorporated into other games like I Went To The Shop and Board Race.
Got a picture or video of this activity in action? How about snapping one next time you use it? We’d love to showcase your submissions- find out more here.
What it is: An easy talking game for anywhere from two to lots of players, perfect for car trips, bus rides, or walks.
Best for: 2 players or however many more you want.
What you need: Just people to talk.
How to play: It’s a pretty simple game. First, players pick a category—let’s say food. One player starts by naming any food, say, a strawberry.
The next player has to name a food that starts with the last letter of the previously named food: so, in this case, Y. Yam, for example, would be a good choice.
Then the next player has to name a food that starts with M. And that’s the game! Keep naming food until you can’t name any more. Then choose a new category and go again!
Variations: You can have players go in order, and the first player to not think of a word (at all or within a certain time limit) or say a repeat word is out. Play until you have one winner. Or, if you’re looking for a less restrictive game, don’t set a playing order and have players call out words whenever they have a good one. Play until no one can think of another word. If you’re competitive, you could even keep points—whoever has called out the most words by the end wins. Can you think of any other ways to play?
Printables: Here’s the list of categories if you need help brainstorming some!
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