Groups: Solo

Alphabet Game

Description

Link to page (online use only): https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qOgcM2583FydRhYvx8xZAAQgWt0j2y84iT_k2Cerof8/edit?usp=sharing

This link can be shared with students via whatever dispersal method, such sent through Teams or using a QR code. It should work on any Google browser. It also works if downloaded as a PowerPoint file.

It is good for use in situations where the teacher(s) is busy and the students need to do something in the meantime. It can also be played as a pair activity where the students take turns at attempting hard mode or practice who can do it the fastest, and so on. It would also be good to encourage out loud reading while they do the activity.

The game has three difficulties:

Easy – There is no fail and the correct letter must be chosen in order to proceed.

Medium – Again, no fail state but the letters shuffle each correct selection.

Hard – The alphabet is separated into groups A-G, H-M, O-U and V-Z with an incorrect choice resets back to the first letter in a group.

Notes

  • Currently only capital letters are supported with lower case in the works for 4th and 5th year to review.
  • Current shortcomings – no way to prevent swiping left or right and bypassing the button function. Might need to make it clear to the students if they discover this, not to swipe.

Level Up Game

Description

Rule 1: Walk to a classmate and do the target English.

Rule 2: If a classmate answers one of your circled answers,  you can move up a level.  

Rule 3: If you don’t have the answer circled, stay at level you are currently positioned.

Rule 4: When you reach the goal level, you collect one point and go back to the start.

Rule 5: The game continues until the teachers decided to stop the game.

Zombie Virus Game

Description

For this game, there are humans, zombies, and doctors. The teacher will choose select students to start off as zombies or doctors (how many depends on the size of your class). Small cards can be given to each student to let them know what they are.

When the game starts, students go around and play each other in rock, paper, scissors. The loser asks the question and the winner answers OR if your target language consists only of a statement, just have the winner say the statement.

Depending on what the student is (human, zombie, or doctor), they respond with different answers if they win rock, paper, scissors. Make sure students whisper their answers in the other student’s ear so they don’t reveal what they are to surrounding students. Zombies turn humans into zombies and doctors turn zombies back into humans, but only if they are the winner of rock, paper, scissors. If a human wins, nothing happens. At the end of the game, if more than half the class are humans, humans win! However, if more than half are zombies, zombies win!!

Notes

This game has never been played. If you do try it out, please leave a comment!

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KAHOOT!

Description

Students can play this individually, in pairs or in groups. So the first step is making the potential pairs or groups. The teachers provide students with multiple-choice questions, which are projected on a classroom screen. Each question has a limit of 95 characters, is displayed anywhere from 5 seconds to 2 minutes, and is restricted to four response options. Students answer these questions with their tablets and receive points for both response accuracy and promptness. After each question is answered, the correct answer will be displayed as well as a scoreboard of the highest point earners.

Kahoot!’s current service allows free access for all educators. Go to https://getkahoot.com and click on the tab that says “GET MY FREE ACCOUNT.”

Notes

To allow for maximum peer support, I suggest playing in groups. I have found the best way to play review activities is to first divide the groups. Then give each student a number in the group. After this has been established the first question is given.

The students then have time to discuss the answer. After the peer support time, I would call the number of the student who can answer the question from each group. This is how I would normally play review activities. I am not sure if it would work with Kahoot! or even be needed as points are based on both speed and accuracy, whereas other review games don’t usually consider the speed. Try both and leave a comment!!

Card Battle

Description

  • Students get pairs and a set of cards. Split the cards evenly between them, leaving one out (kept secret!). Students can see their own cards, but are secret from their pair.
  • The teacher gives values 1-9 to each card on the board. Higher cards win, except a 1 will beat a 9.
  • Janken. The winner asks the question, and loser answer with any of their cards. Loser then asks the question, and the winner answers with a card.
  • The card with the higher value wins, and that student gets 1 point.
  • Check points and switch pairs every few minutes.

Notes

  • With multiple sets of cards this could be done with a group, although I haven’t tried it.
  • You could do this with just the answer as well.
  • 1 beats 9 so the 9 card isn’t too strong. Feel free to experiment with different values and rules to make it more difficult/strategic. 
  • Inspired by the board game Stratego.

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Bomb Game

Also known as:

  • Up/Down Game
  • Timer Game

Description

Students each get a small flashcard with one of the target English vocabulary words on it. A timer is set for around 1-2 minutes. The teacher calls out vocabulary randomly and the students repeat them. If the vocabulary that the teacher calls matches the student’s card, they stand up.

If the student is already standing up, and the teacher calls their vocabulary again, they sit back down. Once the timer goes off, students who are sitting down win one point. Students then change their cards, and start the next round.

Notes

In later rounds, half the class could start standing up while the other half starts sitting down to make the results more unpredictable.

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Race Game

Description

The students put small cards randomly onto the spaces on the board. The teacher picks random vocabulary and the students move an ohajiki onto the matching small card. If they don’t have that card on their board, they can’t move for that turn. For every lap of the board they complete, they get 1 point.

Notes

  • Students can shuffle their cards after a certain period of time.
  • The game can be played solo, or in pairs to reduce the number of boards and cards needed. If the students are in pairs, they work together and share points.
  • If the target English is the question, the students first ask the question to the teacher, who gives their answer using one of the possible vocabulary words.

Shape Zone Ohajiki: Phonics

Also known as:

  • Ohajiki
  • Alarm Game

Description

-Each kid chooses any keyword on the worksheet and places their eraser on that keyword

-Timer starts and students repeat after JTE/ALT (A-a-a-apple for example is how we did it)

-Once the timer ends, the last said keyword right when the timer stopped gets two points; if kids chose a keyword that is in the same column, they get one point; if it is not on the exact keyword or not in the same column, zero points. Each shape on the top corresponds to each column.

Notes

Timer should be under one minute

Can do group points together or pair points as well

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Scattergories

Description

Students keep the sheet in their folders to take out whenever we play scattergories for a warm-up activity. The ALT chooses a letter and the students write the letter in the center of the grid. Students then have 5-10min to write a word for each catagory that starts with the chosen letter. I let them use their textbooks/dictionaries to help. For scoring points (if you want to), students share their answers and anyone with a unique answer gets 1 point.

Timer Game variation

Description

See rules for timer game / ohajiki time. The rules are the exact same but students to choose a colour instead of one of the vocab (in this case numbers). If the ordinal number called last is one of the ones in the row they chose then they get a point.

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