Party Planners: The Invitation Game
Teams race around the board by inviting, accepting and declining in realistic teen situations. They practise 'Can I…?', 'Would you like…?' and 'Do you want…?' through role plays, team decisions, mimes and short presentations.
A free Classic Board Game Race for Teens at CEFR B1 level. Topic: Making invitation/acceppting/declining.
Speaking prompts on the board
- Ask your partner if you can join their study group. Use 'Can I…?' Your partner accepts or declines with a reason.
- You want to bring your cousin to a friend's birthday party. Use 'Can I…?' to ask politely. Your partner decides and explains.
- Why is it important to give a reason when you decline? Try: 'Sorry, I can't because…' and give an example.
- Act out asking a teacher 'Can I join the drama club?' with gestures only. Then ask it aloud while your team guesses the request.
- Ask your partner 'Would you like to come to the cinema with me?' Your partner accepts and asks one question. Try: 'I'd love to!'
- Your team must agree on the best place for a class party, then invite the other team using 'Would you like…?'
- Which is harder for you: inviting someone or saying no to an invitation? Explain why with an example.
- You have 30 seconds to invite the class to an imaginary school event. Use 'Would you like…?' and give the time and place.
- Stand up and mime an activity you enjoy. When your team guesses it, they invite you using 'Would you like to…?'
- ⭐ Your friend invites you to a concert, but you have an exam the next day. Decline politely and suggest another plan.
- Have you ever said yes to an invitation and then regretted it? Describe what happened and what you learned.
- Describe the perfect party invitation. What information must it include so that guests don't get confused?
- Ask your partner 'Do you want to play basketball after school?' Your partner declines and gives a believable excuse.
- Compare 'Would you like…?' and 'Do you want…?' Which sounds more polite, and when do you use each one?
- Discuss with your group: is it OK to decline an invitation by text message? Agree on one rule for polite declining.
- Invite your partner to a picnic using 'Do you want…?' Your partner accepts but must change one detail, like the time.
- A new student invites you to their house. How do you answer, and why? Explain what you say.
- ⭐ Act out a phone call: invite your partner to a museum trip. Your partner declines twice, and you keep suggesting new dates.
- If your best friend doesn't invite you to their party, how will you feel? What will you say to them?
- Ask your partner what kind of invitation they always accept and what kind they always decline, and why.
- Your team must plan a surprise party for your teacher, then invite the other team. They accept or decline politely.
- Explain how people in your family usually invite guests. Do they use the phone, messages or face-to-face invitations?
- ⭐ You have 60 seconds to convince the class to come to your charity bake sale. Use 'Do you want…?' at least twice.
- Tell your partner about the best invitation you have ever received. Your partner asks two follow-up questions.
Printable worksheet
This Classic Board Game Race comes with a free printable worksheet: 3 parts for students to do after the game, and an answer key for the teacher. It prints at three levels (Support, Core and Challenge); this is the Challenge sheet. Sign in free to print the whole sheet.
What's on the worksheet
- Say why · Answer in two sentences. Use "because" in one of them.
- Write your own card · A new card about Making invitation/acceppting/declining for the class game.
- The board game on paper
Part 1: Say why
Answer in two sentences. Use "because" in one of them.
- ⭐ Your friend invites you to a concert, but you have an exam the next day. Decline politely and suggest another plan.
- Explain how people in your family usually invite guests. Do they use the phone, messages or face-to-face invitations?
- You have 30 seconds to invite the class to an imaginary school event. Use 'Would you like…?' and give the time and place.