🚫

Taboo

Describe a word without using the forbidden clue words listed on the card.

⏱ 15-20 min⚡ Medium energy👥 Teams of 3-4

• topic nouns

• adjectives

• lesson vocabulary

• academic words

• Taboo cards (each with one target word and 3-4 forbidden words)

• Timer (30-60 seconds per turn)

📋 How to Play

Prepare taboo cards — each card has a target word at the top and 3-4 forbidden words below.
Example: Target word = OCEAN. Forbidden words = sea, water, fish, big.
Divide class into teams of 3-4.
One player picks a card and must describe the target word to their team.
They CANNOT say the target word or any of the forbidden words.
Team members shout out guesses.
If the team guesses correctly within the time limit, they earn a point.
If the player says a forbidden word, the turn ends with no point.
Rotate so every student gets a turn describing.

✓Make your own taboo cards using lesson vocabulary — takes 10 minutes to prepare.

✓Start with only 2 forbidden words for younger or weaker students.

✓Appoint one student per team as the "buzzer" who watches for forbidden words.

✓This game dramatically improves paraphrasing and describing skills.

→Play with no forbidden words — just describe without saying the target word.

→Use gestures only — no speaking allowed.

→One student describes to the whole class instead of just their team.

Want full 50-minute lesson plans for Ages 7-10?