Tag: game

This is a WHAT?

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I have been meaning to post this activity for a while now – and finally got around to videotaping (does anybody even say videotaping anymore?!) this game so I could show you all. I thought it might get confusing trying to explain it, so a recording is probably better!

This game is called, “This is a WHAT?!”

The purpose is for the students to practice intonation and vocabulary. I also try to put in items where you have to use plurals and singulars. For example – THESE ARE keyS or This IS A pen 

 

  • Choose 3 – 4 items around the class (or even vocabulary that you have been practicing in class).
  • Start with item 1 and ask the class what it is.
  • Turn to the student next to you and follow the conversation below.

Teacher: This is a book

Student A: A WhhhAAAAAAttt?!

Teacher: A book

Student A to Student B: This is a book

Student B: A WhhhAAAAAAttt?!

Student A: A book

Student B to Student C: This is a book

and so on and so on…

I did this activity with the Grade 7 students in my extra English class. These students are with me because they need a little more support. It doesn’t have to be a small group though. I have done it with a full class before and it worked just fine.

Please keep in mind that not every student is going to be loud and enthusiastic about these sorts of activities… There will always be the shy ones who do not speak very loudly, and with much intonation…HOWEVER… I still consider it a step forward just by getting them to talk in front of a group of people while at the same time learning new words.

You might even catch a few of those shy students crack a smile.

 

 

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English Card Game – Kings (No, not the drinking game)

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We’ve all been at those parties… you know the kind… Everyone is standing around having a good time, and then someone produces a deck of cards and declares, “Let’s play Kings!” Kings was a drinking game with different rules for each card you turn over. I (being the incredibly responsible person that I am) NEVER took part in those silly shenanigans…

Now, many moons later, I have stumbled upon this drinking game again on the internet and thought that it might be fun to turn it into some sort of English Grammar/Speaking game. Apparently I am not alone in this – just search the web and you will see LOADS of other teachers who have though the exact same thing.

I know what you are thinking – and OBVIOUSLY I don’t tell the students –

Brianne: HEY CLASS! Guess what?

Class: What Brianne?

Brianne: I turned this really fun drinking game I used to watch people play into an English Grammar/Speaking game!

Class: Super!

Puh-leaze. Give me more credit than that. 

Without further ado, here are the rules  for the Kings which are fairly similar to my Jenga game. I didn’t explain rules like “waterfall” or “socks on hands” again because we already do them in Jenga. If the student can’t do the rule on the card, they need to do five jumping jacks.

Download

 

Here is how to set up the cards. (Had to replace the cup in the middle with something a little more child friendly.) Each student takes a turn picking up a card, and doing what it says on the rule sheet.

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Action Syllables

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Learning names. It is my nemesis. This year I have lots of Fannys,Emmys, Emmas… enough to make my head spin!

So – how do I remember all the names? I found a great resource with a lot of icebreakers and little games called ultimatecampresource.com 

My favourite is the Action Syllables – because there is the least amount of prep time for it.

  1. Get students to stand in a circle
  2. Each student figures out how many syllables are in their name (Example: Brianne – 2, Elias – 3)
  3. Come up with an action for each syllable. The action should be something they like to do. (Example: Bri – sleep, anne – play piano)
  4. After the 2nd person does his/her name, the whole group repeats, then does the first person’s name again. And so on until everyone’s done it.

I was trying to find a video to show how it is done – but there are many different variations on it. If you search for “Action Syllables name game” on youtube you can find it.

Now it is time for the first staff meeting of the year. FUN!

Good luck and may the names be with you.

 

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Sticky Note Lyrics Icebreaker Game

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Gotta love sticky notes. I have at least five packages sitting in my drawer – they are a wonderful invention.

 

This is a quick listening comprehension lyrics game. For the most part the students enjoy it too – depending on the song – today I played Bugs Bunny – Rabbit of Seville… not the most popular of choices.

How does it work? 

Find a verse or a line of lyrics from a well known song –  use a verse if the students are more advanced and maybe only one or two lines if they are beginners. Write one lyric per sticky note. 

 

Play the song for the students, and as a team they work out what order the lyrics go in. I usually have to play it a few times for them. It usually only takes 5 – 10 minutes.

 

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The not-so-injury-proof Lyric Grab Game

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Warning: This can get violent. (but man it is fun to watch…)

Find a song that everybody knows… or one that you know and they hate.. either is COMPLETELY fine. Choose 10-15 words from the song and write them (in large letters) on individual pieces of paper. Make sure the letters are dark enough so the little muffins can see them from far away. Tape the words up on the board, and clear the runway. What do I mean by that? Move the desks, so that there is a runway down the middle of the classroom. Oh yes. There is running in this game.

Separate the class into two teams. Play the song. When the two students at the front of the line hear a word, they run up to the board and grab it. Then the next two are up. The team with the most words at the end wins.

Why do I like this game? It’s fun for those kinesthetic learners (ADHD students as well), it has listening comprehension and it is team work. Just watch that nobody gets an elbow in the eye.

Level up this little game with a rap song. Super fun.

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