Bulls-eye

There are many variations of this game, but it basically involves throwing something at the board to get points.  The simplest is just to put concentric circles with different number values in them.  Then show a flash card and the fastest team to say gets to throw a ball at the target to get points.  If you have a sticky ball or darts it is useful for scoring.  Another option is to put word endings (eg: -ig, -ug, -ag) in circles and when you say "bag" or "bug" etc, they have to chose the right circle.

Paper planes

Get a selection of boxes and stick flashcards and point values to the front of them.  The kids make and decorate a paper plane.  When you say the card, they have to try to get their plane into it.

Daruma san

Say a command (eg: touch red), lean up against the wall covering your eyes, count out loud to three and then try to catch as many students as possible who haven't done the instruction. The last student not out wins.

Two of a kind

You need a set of flash cards made up of pairs of each item.  Put one of each item on the table and have the students close their eyes.  Then add one of the pair cards to the table.  The students open their eyes and race to find which card there is two of.  If they say it out loud (not touch), they get to put down the next card.  Try making noise in a place you don't put it to confuse them.

What's Gone

A very simple game.  Put the flash cards on the table, then remove one when the students have their eyes closed.  The first person to say what's gone gets to remove the next card.  Try removing two or three for a challenge.

Board Shiritori / Board Association

A good way to get the older kids remembering words and the younger kids using the mini dictionaries at the back of their text books.

Put a starting word on the board, then they take the last letter and have to write a word that starts with it (eg: cat -> tank -> king -> gold etc).  If they are several kids, have them make teams and race to write ten or fifteen words.

Association works in the same way , but is associating the meanings, and is good for older kids. (eg: sea -> blue -> sky -> bird etc)

Karuta

A popular, but indispensable favourite.

Put cards on the table and when you call out the word the kids have to take it before the others.  You can be sneaky and say words that aren't there, or for older kids make mistakes in the grammar that they have to listen for.  Getting them to put back a card if they get one wrong makes them really listen.

In, On, Out

A great game for prepositions is give the kids a paper cup and a marble each. They put it on the cup and say on, then using one hand, flip the cup over and get the marble "in", then drop it "out" into the other hand. They love trying to get the hang of it and is a great excuse to teach "I did it!". They will also think you are amazing cause you can do it first time.