Circumlocution is a learned skill. In my classroom I try to model the skill for the students and to build toward them using it for themselves. The first two games offer the students examples of how to circumlocute. In the final game, one student is actively circumlocuting while the others guess the answer. You can play all three with the same theme or play the first games early in the year and build toward the third later in the year.

Circumlocution Bingo: Play bingo, but the teacher calls out a definition and the students identify the term. Students will hear the teacher explain the term without using it, defining the word in simple French.

Jeopardy: A Jeopardy game traditionally uses circumlocution in the hint and the player chooses the term. I used the same terms from circumlocution bingo. While during Bingo the whole class is playing and students may call out the answers, helping their peers, Jeopardy puts one member of a team on the spot to answer the question, increasing the difficulty.

Circumlocution: Played in teams. Put a list of 5-8 words on a slide or write on the board. In the teams, choose a scribe, a describer and the rest of the group guesses. Only the describer is allowed to look at the list and they use circumlocution, and gestures if necessary, to get the group to guess the list of words. The scribe can guess and also writes down all the words. The first team to finish the whole list, wins that round. Rotate roles and play again.