Gamifying Travel: Fun Classroom Activities to Prepare Students for International Tours
Preparing students for an international tour doesn’t have to be all lectures and textbooks. By incorporating games and interactive challenges into your lesson plans, you can make learning about the destinations, cultures, and history of your trip a fun and engaging experience. Here are some creative ways to gamify the learning process and get your students excited for their upcoming adventure!
1. Destination Bingo
A fun way to introduce students to the destination is with a game of “Destination Bingo.” Create bingo cards filled with interesting facts about the country or city they’ll be visiting—such as famous landmarks, local cuisine, customs, or historical events. As students learn about each topic, they can mark it off on their cards. The first student to get a bingo wins a prize! This game encourages active participation while helping students absorb key information about the destination.
2. Cultural Trivia Challenges
Test students’ knowledge of the culture, language, and history of the destination with a trivia challenge. Divide the class into teams and ask questions related to the destination's traditions, famous historical figures, or local customs. The team with the most correct answers at the end wins. You can add a twist by incorporating fun facts that students might not expect, such as quirky traditions or lesser-known facts, to keep them intrigued and motivated to learn.
3. Travel Scavenger Hunt
Create a scavenger hunt that encourages students to research and find specific cultural or historical items related to the destination. You can assign clues like “Find the name of a famous landmark in [destination]” or “What is the traditional dish eaten during festivals in [destination]?” Have students work in pairs or small groups to find the answers, either online or in books, and then present their findings to the class. This activity promotes collaboration, research skills, and deepens their understanding of the place they’ll be visiting.
4. Virtual Cultural Exchange
Before the trip, arrange a virtual exchange with students from the destination you’ll be visiting. Have your students create a short presentation or video about their school, city, or country, and share it with the students abroad. In return, the international students can send videos or messages to introduce themselves and their culture. This activity fosters a sense of connection and curiosity about the world, building excitement for the upcoming trip.
5. Language Learning Games
Language skills can be a fun part of preparing for an international tour! Create simple language games like "Pictionary" or "Charades" with vocabulary from the local language. Students can learn useful phrases, greetings, and common expressions while playing. You could also have a "Language Challenge" where students earn points for using the new language during class or practicing phrases in everyday conversations. The more they practice, the more confident they’ll feel when navigating the country abroad.
6. Historical Role-Playing
Make history come alive by assigning students historical figures or events related to the destination and having them act out important moments in history. This could be a reenactment of a key historical event or a “day in the life” of a person from the past. Role-playing helps students immerse themselves in the history of the destination and understand the cultural context they’ll experience during the trip. It’s also a great way to integrate creative thinking and teamwork into their learning.
