Combining favourite games can breathe new life into ESL lessons. That's the thought behind the game which blends Tic Tac Toe with Hangman. This innovative game doesn't just promote reading and spelling but also requires strategic thinking. It becomes even more intriguing when it's used as a tool to showcase the differences between American and British English, both in vocabulary and spelling.

Tic Tac Toe/Hangman Details:

The game is versatile and suits all age groups, provided the students can read. While it's adaptable to varying difficulty levels, it requires a brief preparation time of about 5 minutes. Depending on the group's size and engagement, a game might last anywhere from 10 to 25 minutes. The essentials for this game? Just a whiteboard and a marker.

Setting Up:

Before diving in, make sure you have a list of words you'll use. This list should be handy, perhaps jotted down on a small grid for easy reference during the game. Your whiteboard will need a large 3x3 grid, with each of the nine squares spacious enough to accommodate a Hangman game. To denote the American and British versions of a word, use slashes in each square. For instance, the American spelling might have its designated slashes followed by an equal sign and then the British variant.

Playing the Game:

Here's the exciting part! Start by dividing the class into two teams. A simple coin flip can determine which team represents 'X' and which one 'O'. The losing team gets the privilege of choosing the starting square. As the game progresses, ensure there's an alternation between teams for every guess. Once a puzzle is solved, the victorious team marks that square with their sign, either 'X' or 'O'. The other team then selects the next square for the challenge. The excitement continues until a team achieves the classic Tic Tac Toe win: three in a row.

After the Main Game:

If the Tic Tac Toe concludes rather swiftly, there's still a learning opportunity. Go back to the puzzles that were left unsolved. This extended play will further highlight the American versus British English differences, making the learning process much more enjoyable than standard flashcards.