Plus, Minus, Double

Description

In groups or pairs, each get one set of cards. Groups divide cards into Plus cards, Minus cards, and Double cards (For a standard set of 9: 4 Plus, 4 Minus, 1 Double). Repeat with timer. Groups see where they put the last card called, and get (or lose) a point. If the card is their double card, their current points double. 

Notes

  • Feel free to play around with the third card and what its effect is!
  • After a few rounds they can shuffle the cards.

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Block Build

Also known as:

  • Tetris

Description

Draw a 10 block wide by any height square. Pick a random group to answer the question. Show the first card (or ask the question). The group answers with the corresponding sentence/answer. One member from the group picks a random piece out of a box/bag, and places it on the game board. The pieces can’t be suspended in the middle of the board (must follow gravity like Tetris). The group that hits the top line is eliminated, or the game resets. 

Notes

  • If groups are eliminated, it would be best as a warmup game with a small game board.
  • I made this for G5 Unit 8, or any unit where there is no question. For Unit 8, I would pull a random building card, and the group would have to use it’s English phrase, and it’s matching activity (*pulls library* – “We have a library,” “You can enjoy reading”)
  • This should also work with simple question/answer, or anything really.
  • There is probably a way to make this into an input/output game.
  • The file should be printed on A3 so the pieces are large enough.

Preposition Hunt

Description

Students are divided into groups. Groups are shown the screen. ALT/HRT asks the class the question and groups have talking time to think where the item could be. Groups then volunteer. HRT chooses a group, who stands up. The class asks the group the question which the group then answers. ALT/HRT clicks on the square relating to the answer the groups gave. If the group correctly guessed where the item is, they get 1 point. If they did not guess the correct space, another group has a chance to guess. Continue until either the item is found or the class could not find the item. 

Roulette Game

Description

The students make groups and get one set of small flashcards. Each group has the same number of ohajiki (or erasers etc.). Students can put their ohajiki on any of the cards. More than one student can put their ohajiki on the same card if they like.

The teacher sets a timer and calls random vocabulary until time runs out. The students repeat. Each group gets one point for each ohajiki they have on the card that was last called.

Notes

In later rounds, the groups start with a certain number of points and lose one point for each ohajiki on the card that is called last.

Roles

Teachers: Demonstration, praise students for good communication. Call the target English until the timer goes off.

Students: Place their ohajiki, repeat the teachers, see how many points they win.

My Original Town – Blank Map

Also known as:

  • Where is the library?

Description

Final goal activity for G5 U6, “Where is the library?” 

Notes

I’ve seen some high quality blank maps created by ALTs out in the wild but none that have been shared. This is my attempt to make a simple map that students can easily add their flair to. Students need to have this image uploaded to their tablets to use on their CollaboNote. They can use ‘irastoya’ or google search images to add buildings. 

50/50 Move

Description

Split the classroom (not STS but actual room) into two sections: A and B. You can place signs on each side of the class if you want to for clarity or you can just say it. Split the flashcards on the board into groups A and B. 

STS have a short amount of time to decide what section they want to be in. STS stand up and move to the side they decided on. Once STS have decided, ALT/JTE sets a timer and calls the target English. STS repeat. When the timer sounds, STS standing in the section of the last called flashcard get 1 point! Give STS a chance to change groups if they want to between each round. 

Notes

I played this with my JHS class and found they didn’t change groups between rounds. So to make it more interesting I kept secret what group of flashcards was A and what one was B. I also did round 1 as plus 1 point and round 2 as -1 point. The final round I made a ridiculous number like -100 points and +100 points, and found this got a good reaction out of the STS

Quick Sequence Game

Description

A timer is set, and the teacher picks a card from the first set, and says the appropriate target English. The students repeat, then a card from the second set is picked, with the teacher saying the target English and the students repeating again. If the two cards match (that is, they form a correct sentence like [Vietnam] is in [Asia]), the class gets one point and a card from the first set is picked again. This continues until time runs out.

Notes

  • The game (when the rules specifically as defined above) only works for units with more than one set of vocabularies.
  • The vocabulary sets need to generally make objective rather than subjective statements, for example countries and continents, animals and habitats, and so on.
  • Subjective statements could be used but vocabulary from both sets would need to be preemptively ‘connected’ by the teacher on the board, for example ‘she is [Hanako], she can [run].’

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Unlucky Elimination

Description

STS are arranged into groups. Write each groups number on the blackboard and assign a flashcard to each group. On the blackboard next to the group numbers, shuffle and place separate number cards 1~9 face down (if doing 9 groups. Adjust the maximum number to the amount of groups you are playing with. E.g if there are 5 groups, do 1~5). 

ALT/JTE sets a timer and calls the target English. When the timer sounds, the last called flashcard indicates a group. This group can choose a number between 1~9. Once they have chosen the number, reveal the face down cards next to the group numbers on the blackboard. The group that has the number that was chosen is eliminated. Continue until one group remains!

Notes

  • When I played this, to make the game go faster I decreased the number range the students could choose from.
  • I had also 2 of each number so in some rounds, 2 groups were eliminated and in other rounds, no groups were eliminated.
  • If your class has less groups than flashcards you could also assign the JTE and yourself groups (if you want to practice all your vocab).

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Maths Line

Description

Each flashcard is assigned a random multiplier, for example ‘x2’, ‘+10’, ‘/3’, ‘-20’. A ‘high score’ is written on the board, which is the number to beat (this can be an arbitrary number, the previous class’s score, etc). Students repeat the teacher until the timer goes off, and whichever multiplier that is under the card that’s called last becomes the first part of the ‘maths line’ sum. This continues until there are no more rounds. The result of the sum is written down, and if it beats the ‘high score’, the class wins.

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Quick Crossfire

Description

Place the flashcards in an square grid (i.e. 2×2, 3×3, etc). Students repeat the teacher until the timer goes off, and whichever card is called last becomes the keyword. The dice is rolled. If it rolls a 1, the vertical line of cards the keyword card is on are turned to be face down. If it is a 2, the horizontal line is turned around. 3 is left diagonal, 4 is right diagonal, 5 is both horizontal and vertical and 6 is both diagonal directions, all centred from whichever card is the keyword. If a card is already face down when it is selected by the dice, it is turned back to face up.

Notes

If you don’t have enough magnets to turn the cards face down on the board, you can just remove them and put them back up as necessary.

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