Welcome back to Playful Pedagogy’s for day 8 of the 12 Games of Christmas! Happy New Year! Bonne Année!
Today’s game is Apples to Apples—a comparison card game that sparks language, reasoning, laughter, and some wonderfully passionate discussions. A great choice for today as I used to play this with my family for New Years!
Prefer to watch instead of read? Here’s a short video where I talk about how I use Apples to Apples in my classroom.
Apples to Apples is a comparison card game played with noun cards (red) and adjective cards (green). One player acts as the judge and draws an adjective card. All other players choose a noun from their hand that they think best matches the adjective (or doesn’t, just to be funny or ironic – which sometimes wins them the card)!.
The judge selects their favorite match, and the player who submitted that card keeps the adjective. The judge role rotates, and the game continues until a set number of cards is collected.
There is no single correct answer, which makes the game flexible, humorous, and highly dependent on interpretation, reasoning, and perspective.
HOW I USE APPLES TO APPLES IN THE CLASSROOM
In the classroom, I use Apples to Apples as a low-pressure way to get students using nouns and adjectives naturally, without needing to explicitly label them as grammar terms.
The real learning happens in the conversations that follow:
- Why did you choose that card?
- What makes this noun unforgettable / boring / exciting?
The game often includes blank cards, which allows me to customize vocabulary to match our current unit. I can add subject-specific nouns, target vocabulary, or student-generated words.
Students can also be encouraged to defend their choices, turning the game into a powerful tool for persuasive speaking, discussion skills, and respectful debate.
CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS ACROSS SUBJECTS
Literacy / Language Arts:
- Adjectives and descriptive language
- Oral justification and persuasive speaking
- Vocabulary development and discussion skills
Math:
- Explaining reasoning
- Defending choices and comparing ideas
Science:
- Describing animals, forces, or phenomena
- Comparing scientific concepts using precise language
Social Studies:
- Perspective-taking and multiple viewpoints
- Using topic-specific nouns tied to history, geography, or culture
SEL & Wellbeing:
- Respectful disagreement
- Listening to others’ perspectives
- Building confidence in expressing opinions
Creative Arts:
- Drawing prompts (“Draw an unforgettable future”)
- Combining random nouns and adjectives for creative expression
Apples to Apples is easy to adapt for different ages, group sizes, and learning goals. Teachers can:
- Simplify vocabulary for younger learners or language learners
- Play collaboratively instead of competitively
- Swap in curriculum-specific noun cards
- Adjust discussion expectations based on student ability
The game works just as well in small groups as it does whole-class, and it scales beautifully across grade levels. There are also several different versions available that could work in classrooms.
CONCLUSION
Apples to Apples reminds us that meaningful learning doesn’t require one correct answer—it requires thinking, language, and connection. Through playful comparison and conversation, students practice explaining their ideas and listening to others, all while having fun.
Have you played Apples to Apples with your learners? What are some of the ways you’ve used it in your classroom? Share your ideas in the comments below!
Thanks for joining me, and come back tomorrow for Day 9 of the 12 Games of Christmas. I hope you have a wonderful day full of play!