Balloons? Yes please!

Who doesn't love balloons? Well, my sister is actually afraid of them (Random fact: globophobia is the fear of balloons) 

Other than my sister though balloons are fun! They make us think of parties and other get-togethers. How can you bring the excitement of balloons into the class?

Games

• My college courses often play a review game where they blow up balloons and then divide the class into two groups. The students each take turns coming to the class and popping balloons different randomly selected ways. "Pop the balloon with your butt, against someone else, with your chest, with your hands, etc" Once they did that, they could run to the board and answer a question. If they answer the question correctly their team gets a point. As a teacher I thought it was a waste of time (all the balloon popping really doesn't have much of an educational aspect), but my students loved it! They got SO involved in the class I think it was worth it. I added another aspect, if anyone spoke any language other than English their team lost a 1 point.
• There's a great game on reviewing categories with balloons here Essentially balloons are treated as whiteboards and students have to fill them with different vocabulary words. There's a similar game involving balloons without helium here (it is essentially a volleyball game).

Visuals

• If you are reading from a book or having them listen to a tape script where students may be confused about who says what use balloons to distinguish. Write the names on the different colored balloons and hold the appropriate balloon up when the appropriate person is talking.
• Learning emotions? Draw faces on balloons! Students LOVE it :-)
• Add some fun to group work! When checking multiple choice quizzes have students review their answers in a group and then hold up a colored balloon to indicate their choice (A-red, B-yellow, C-orange, D-white)