Action charades
Action charades skips titles and goes straight to doing things: 224 verbs and everyday scenes, from "brushing teeth" to "assembling flat-pack furniture". They are quick to act, need no special signs and work in any language, which makes them a favourite with ESL teachers.
The funny section is where adult groups usually end up. The group section suits reverse charades, where a whole team acts out one scene.
Making the bed
Easy action charades for kids60 of 101
This set has 101 ideas. Start with "Brushing teeth", "Jumping rope", "Riding a bike" — give each actor 30 to 60 seconds; it one clear gesture each, so the round moves fast and every player gets a fair turn.
- Brushing teethEasy
- Jumping ropeEasy
- Riding a bikeEasy
- SleepingEasy
- Eating spaghettiEasy
- Blowing bubblesEasy
- Flying a kiteEasy
- Building a sandcastleEasy
- Climbing a treeEasy
- Taking a bathEasy
- Reading a bookEasy
- FishingEasy
- Walking a dogEasy
- Watering plantsEasy
- Eating ice creamEasy
- Playing the guitarEasy
- Playing the drumsEasy
- Playing the pianoEasy
- Hula hoopingEasy
- Kicking a ballEasy
- Driving a carEasy
- Riding a horseEasy
- Rowing a boatEasy
- Digging a holeEasy
- Jumping on a trampolineEasy
- Going down a slideEasy
- Swinging on a swingEasy
- Taking a photoEasy
- Watching TVEasy
- Mailing a letterEasy
- Sweeping the floorEasy
- Washing the dishesEasy
- Making the bedEasy
- Taking out the trashEasy
- Washing a carEasy
- Flipping pancakesEasy
- Hammering a nailEasy
- Sword fightingEasy
- Climbing a mountainEasy
- Slipping on a banana peelEasy
- SnoringEasy
- Feeding a babyEasy
- Washing handsEasy
- ClappingEasy
- CryingEasy
- LaughingEasy
- SneezingEasy
- YawningEasy
- Waving goodbyeEasy
- Hopping on one footEasy
- SkippingEasy
- DancingEasy
- SingingEasy
- Drawing a pictureEasy
- PaintingEasy
- CookingEasy
- Baking cookiesEasy
- Bouncing a ballEasy
- Catching a ballEasy
- Throwing a snowballEasy
Funny action charades
This set has 19 ideas. Start with "Playing air guitar", "Getting a pie in the face", "Sneaking a midnight snack" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.
- Playing air guitarMedium
- Getting a pie in the faceMedium
- Sneaking a midnight snackMedium
- Walking into a glass doorMedium
- Stepping on a toy in bare feetMedium
- Getting a brain freezeMedium
- Stubbing a toeMedium
- Hiding from a beeMedium
- Chasing an ice cream truckMedium
- Stepping in gumMedium
- Phone battery dyingHard
- Frozen video callHard
- Pretending to like a bad haircutHard
- Assembling flat-pack furnitureHard
- Pretending to workHard
- Forgetting someone's nameHard
- Replying all by mistakeHard
- Speaking on mute in a meetingHard
- Calling customer serviceHard
Group action charades
This set has 13 ideas. Start with "Conducting an orchestra", "Doing the wave", "Tug of war" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.
- Conducting an orchestraMedium
- Doing the waveMedium
- Tug of warMedium
- LimboMedium
- Conga lineMedium
- Posing for a group photoMedium
- Riding a roller coasterMedium
- Playing leapfrogMedium
- Marching bandMedium
- Building a human pyramidMedium
- Being a washing machineMedium
- Rowing a dragon boatMedium
- Crowd surfingHard
Medium action charades
This set has 75 ideas. Start with "Doing a cartwheel", "Doing a somersault", "Pretending to be a statue" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.
- Doing a cartwheelMedium
- Doing a somersaultMedium
- Pretending to be a statueMedium
- Eating corn on the cobMedium
- Opening a jarMedium
- Raking leavesMedium
- Mowing the lawnMedium
- VacuumingMedium
- Folding laundryMedium
- Ironing clothesMedium
- Changing a light bulbMedium
- Sawing woodMedium
- Cracking an eggMedium
- Chopping vegetablesMedium
- Making popcornMedium
- Slurping noodlesMedium
- Pushing a strollerMedium
- Rocking a babyMedium
- Burping a babyMedium
- JugglingMedium
- Pulling a rabbit out of a hatMedium
- Walking a tightropeMedium
- Riding a unicycleMedium
- BreakdancingMedium
- MoonwalkingMedium
- Doing the robotMedium
- Singing karaokeMedium
- Giving a speechMedium
- Rocking out at a concertMedium
- Walking the plankMedium
- Trick-or-treatingMedium
- Carving a pumpkinMedium
- Bobbing for applesMedium
- Going on a picnicMedium
- Pitching a tentMedium
- Roasting marshmallowsMedium
- Paddling a canoeMedium
- HikingMedium
- SunbathingMedium
- Putting on sunscreenMedium
- Going to the dentistMedium
- Getting a haircutMedium
- Riding an elevatorMedium
- Riding an escalatorMedium
- Packing a suitcaseMedium
- Hailing a taxiMedium
- Pushing a shopping cartMedium
- Milking a cowMedium
- Changing a diaperMedium
- Walking on iceMedium
- SleepwalkingMedium
- Peeling an onionMedium
- Blowing a dandelionMedium
- Catching a butterflyMedium
- Burning toastMedium
- Spilling coffeeMedium
- Waiting in lineMedium
- Missing the busMedium
- Hitting snoozeMedium
- Sleeping through an alarmMedium
- Running on a treadmillMedium
- MeditatingMedium
- Getting caught in the rainMedium
- TextingMedium
- Taking a selfieMedium
- Scrolling on a phoneMedium
- Doing a viral danceMedium
- Recording a videoMedium
- Proposing marriageMedium
- Getting marriedMedium
- Parallel parkingMedium
- Changing a flat tireMedium
- Stuck in trafficMedium
- Losing your keysMedium
- Going through airport securityMedium
Hard and grown-up action charades
This set has 16 ideas. Start with "Hanging a picture", "Shearing a sheep", "Telling ghost stories" — give each actor 90 seconds; it leans on long titles and "sounds like" clues, so give actors the longer timer and expect half the round to need a second pass.
- Hanging a pictureHard
- Shearing a sheepHard
- Telling ghost storiesHard
- Sitting in a waiting roomHard
- Scanning groceriesHard
- Ordering at a drive-throughHard
- Eating at a fancy restaurantHard
- Riding the subwayHard
- Searching for Wi-FiHard
- PhotobombingHard
- Running lateHard
- Walking on stiltsHard
- Doing taxesHard
- Riding a mechanical bullHard
- Waiting for a delivery all dayHard
- Paying the billsHard
Printable charades cards
64 cards from this list, eight to a page with cut lines and card backs for double-sided printing. Free PDF.
Questions
What are action charades?
Charades with verbs and everyday scenes instead of titles: swimming, juggling, changing a flat tire. You act the action itself, so no category signs are needed.
What are easy action words for charades?
Sleeping, swimming, brushing teeth, riding a bike, eating spaghetti, flying a kite. One motion each.
Are action charades good for ESL classes?
Yes. They practise verbs and the "-ing" form, and guessers have to say the full phrase ("She's washing a car").
What are funny action charades for adults?
Stepping on a toy in bare feet, walking into a glass door, a frozen video call, replying all by mistake.
Which actions work for a whole team?
Scenes like a conga line, a marching band or building a human pyramid. They are tagged for groups and collected in the group section.