Uno

Time

10-15 min

Materials

Uno cards (either the traditional version or an original version)

Directions

Shuffle the cards and deal out seven cards to each student. Turn over a card from the leftovers pile, then students take turns playing a card that matches the color or number of the card preceding it. If they don't have a card that matches, they must draw one card (or draw until they get a card they can play). The first person to get rid of all their cards wins.

Variations

• In the traditional version of Uno, only one card is played at a time, but in Japanese Uno any amount of cards can be played as long as they are the same number. Similarly, if a draw 2 or draw 4 card is played, the next person can avoid the penalty by playing the same card (at which point the next person must accept the accumulation of the penalties). In Japanese Uno, they also don't say Uno to avoid having to draw two cards. They might say ’riichi’ but it usually passes with no fuss.
• Instead of using numbers, choose 10 vocabulary words that students must say when they play the cards.
• Instead of using the traditional cards (4 colors, numbers 0-9), consider using grammar points. For example, make each color associated with half of a sentence (i.e. I like, I don't like, You like, You don't like) and instead of a number, use 10 different foods or animals. When students play the cards they must read it out loud.

Suggested Topics

• Vocabulary
  • Colors
  • Numbers
  • Animals
  • Fruits
• Grammar
  • I/you like/don't like
  • I/you can/can't

See also

• Go Fish
• Teaching Resources
• Elementary School Activities
• Elementary School Activities by Topic