Game for Engagement: Taboo Vocabulary

Adaptations for ALL content areas

I’ve been observing student teachers in middle and high school classrooms. It’s amazing how engaged students can be when learning is gamified, especially in small groups rather than the whole class. This way, more are involved.

This modified “Taboo” works great because it takes little prep and can be used in any content area.

How to Play Taboo in the Classroom

Goal:
Students reinforce vocabulary and deepen their understanding of key concepts by describing terms without using specific “taboo” words.

Materials Needed:

• Index cards or slips of paper

• Markers/pens

• A timer (optional)

• A list of vocabulary words related to your current unit (e.g., forms of government, ecosystems, Pythagorean theorem, chemical compounds, etc.)

Game Setup:

1. Let Students Prepare the Cards

   • Project the words and ask students to write a vocabulary word on each index card.

   • Below the word, list 3-5 “taboo” words that cannot be used when describing it. You could have this decided ahead of time or decide it together.

   • Example for "Photosynthesis":

     • 🚫 Sunlight

     • 🚫 Oxygen

     • 🚫 Carbon Dioxide

     • 🚫 Plants

     • 🚫 Energy

   • *From blogger with templates for making your own cards

   

2. Divide the Class

   • Organize students into small teams (3-5 students per group).

   • Give each team an equal number of Taboo cards or have them create them.

How to Play:

*All teams are playing simultaneously so the engagement is high.

1. One student from a team picks a card and tries to get their teammates to guess the science term without using the “taboo” words.

2. If a player accidentally says a taboo word, the team loses that round.

3. Each correct guess earns the team a point.

4. Rotate roles so that each student has a turn describing words.

5. Continue playing for a set amount of time (e.g., 10-15 minutes). The team with the most points wins!

Scaffolds for Multilingual Learners (MLs):

✅ Pre-Teach Vocabulary:

• Before playing, review the key vocabulary with visuals, gestures, or real-life examples.

• Use word walls with definitions and pictures.

✅ Provide Sentence Starters & Frames:

• “This is something that happens when ___.”

• “You can find this in ___.”

• “It is the opposite of ___.”

✅ Use a Word Bank:

• Allow MLs to see a list of related words to help them make connections while describing.

✅ Modify the Rules for Beginners:

• Instead of a “taboo” word list, let beginners describe the word using one of the listed words to support them.

• Give partner support so a stronger English speaker can assist.

• Organize one group to play in the home language if you have 3 or more who speak it.

✅ Visual & Gestural Clues:

• Allow students to draw or act out concepts if they struggle with verbal explanations.

✅ Think-Pair-Share Before Playing:

• Let students practice describing words with a partner first before doing it with the whole team.

Example Round (With Scaffolds for MLs)

Word: “Gravity”

• Taboo Words: Force, Pull, Fall, Apple, Earth

• Sentence Starters for MLs:

  • “This is something that makes objects go down.”

  • “If you drop a ball, it moves because of ___.”

  • “It keeps us on the ground.”

• Gestures: Pretending to drop an object

Why This Game Works for MLs & All Students

✔ Reinforces content vocabulary in a fun, engaging way
✔ Encourages critical thinking and communication
✔ Provides multiple entry points (speaking, listening, gestures, visuals)
✔ Builds confidence in using academic language

Have you done this?

What adjustments have you made?