«Give us the news» [YL]

Versions of this game roam around the world, but here's one I've adapted for my li'l buggers. 3-4 children is probably best to play with.

You'll need:

1) a pack of preferably colourful cards (you can even make your own getting pictures off the Web);

2) some creativity.

Preparation:

For every type of card, say all ones, all twos, all yellows, all reds etc. create a corresponding physical action or a sentence to repeat, depending on what you'd like your kids to learn. E.g. All ones might be "Stand up!" or all reds "Blow a raspberry!". During the lesson you will ask your kids to create their own physical actions or sentences, but make sure you prepare one for all types of card nonetheless.

Make your own pack of cards using the types of card you've chosen (you might decide to leave out a few types so the game is not too challenging), and include the Joker as well. 

Down to business:

Here's how the game goes down. First ask each child to choose a card and create a corresponding action or sentence (you might want to give an example first, but use a card that the kids wouldn't probably choose themselves), then split the pack amongst everybody (even yourself) so that everyone has the same number of cards. Each player plays a card without looking at it, placing it face up in the middle of the table (or carpet, even better). When the players see the card they perform the corresponding action. Last one to perform, or first one to make a mistake, picks up the card and puts it in his pack. The first player to discard all his/her cards wins.

After you've played a few rounds introduce the Joker. When the Joker is played everybody shouts to the player who played it "Give us the news!"; the player then creates and performs an action off the top of his/her head and everybody mimics him/her. Again, last one to perform or first one to make a mistake picks up the card and puts it in his pack. The next time the Joker is played the whole process is repeated and a new action is assigned to the Joker.