Using a simple target language and any
vocabulary selection, this activity is learner-centred. Once the
learners understand the game, they run it themselves. This is
teacher-free teaching, and the learners love it!
1.
Make a cardboard box with a circle cut out of the top. Helps if the
top of the box is a lid. The hole must be big enough for the card size
to move in and out of (A4 or B4, depending on your preferences or
actual resources). You also need a big cloth about tablecloth size for
the purposes of mystery. You will also need blackboard magnets for the
cards, or somewhere to hang the cards once they have been removed from
the box.
2. Decide if the target language relates to either
singular or plural (if relevant) before you start. Teaching the
learners to ask 'What's this?' when there are 2 bananas is INCORRECT!
3.
Make cards for the vocabulary you wish to teach: fruit, animals,
letters, phonics, furniture, numbers, body parts, etc, etc. Limit
cards to 9 for both memory ability and time in the class.
4. Drill the target question: 'What's this/What are these?'
5.
As the learners watch, place each card into the box as they say what
card it is. The game can be adjusted if they are not confident. See:
To Simplify.
6. Select the first volunteer - using 'Enie Menie
Minie Mo, catch a learner by the toe, if they know the answer they can
go, Enie Menie Minie Mo' is perfectly acceptable.
7. The
volunteer picks a card out of the box in secret, with the teacher (i.e.
YOU) holding the big cloth up to shield the prying eyes of the seated
learners.
8. The volunteer stands in front of the class (the box
with remaining cards inside can be placed on a chair) and asks, 'What's
this?' (Or relevant target question.)
9. The rest of the class
puts up their hands to attempt a guess. To prevent boys and girls only
picking their friends, I tell them to pick someone of the opposite sex,
or someone who has not yet volunteered today. Or I pick one.
10.
The learner who guesses may say, 'A banana'. The volunteer either
responds with 'yes' or 'no', or 'Yes, it is' etc. If no, the game
continues. If yes, that guesser receives the card, and places it on
the board. They become the new volunteer. This can be done using
supporting English such as 'Please give the card to her/Miki/the next
volunteer', and, 'Put the card on the blackboard.'
To simplify:
Place duplicate cards on the blackboard so the learners are able to see
which card has and has not been guessed already.
To intensify:
Place a variety of cards on the box, such as both singular and plural,
so the target questions can both be used to indicate what kind of item
has been secretly picked from the box.
Also, the blackboard can
be divided up into various sections defining what can be placed there.
One side for singulars/numbers/animals, the other for
plurals/letters/fruit etc etc etc.
As this activity is based on
the law of chance, sometimes the game may end rather suddenly due to
lucky guesses, or extend over 30 mins.
Used in basic and
elementary English, perhaps upto Grade 2 in Junior High..
Can be re-done in the same class if it finishes soon. Speaking and
listening are the focus, but reading can easily be involved too.
I hope yous all have fun!
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