Time: 10 minutes

The Money Game

Description

Give each student three random cards. It would be great if they get at least one reverse card. Students stand up and find a partner and practice the grammar structure. They then play “rock, paper, scissors.”

Without showing the cards, the winner picks one from the loser’s hand. There are three scenarios:

  • If the winner picks a money card (100 or 200), the round ends.
  • If the winner picks a reverse card, the loser gets a turn.
  • If both the winner and loser pick two consecutive reverse cards, the round ends.

If a student runs out of cards, they ask the teachers for two more cards. The student with the most money wins the game.

Notes

It would be great if each student gets at least one reverse card.

Crossfire 2:0

Also known as:

  • Crossfire

Description

Students are in groups and the goal is for the entire group to be seated. They do not need to move their desks, just keep the class as is. We then follow the regular crossfire procedure: everyone stands up and the ALT asks a question. Then we break from tradition. Set the timer to 10/20 seconds. Each group then peer checks an answer between them. When the time is up, students can volunteer to answer. The JTE then chooses one student. The student answers then rolls the dice. Depending on what they roll, select students sit down. The first group to have everyone sitting down wins…until someone rolls a one and everyone has to stand up again!

Notes

Crossfire is often used at JHS as a review game. While students may be answering questions they have previously studied, they’re put on the spot to answer the question with no review time. It’s not a review game. It’s very high pressure, high stress and has a huge amount of downtime for other students. Students can easily pass the entire game doing absolutely nothing. I was asked to play this game at a JHS and couldn’t bring myself to do it, despite the insistence. I went to Paul for advice and this was the result. It’s not a perfect game, I don’t think it really has a place in our classes but it’s a huge step up from crossfire in the current form and it worked well. 

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.

Element Game

Description

Firstly, explain the strengths and weaknesses of each element. Water beats fire, fire beats earth, earth beats water. Air beats water, fire and earth. Pollution beats air, but water, fire and earth can all beat pollution.

Give each student three random element cards. The students stand up and find a partner, then practice the target English. The students then both pick one element card from their hand. Instead of saying “rock, paper, scissors,“ they count down “3..2..1.. Show!” Whoever has the winning card takes their partner’s card.

In case of a tie, both students place their cards somewhere (like on a desk or chair) and continue to the next round until there’s a winner. The winner collects all the cards.

If a student runs out of cards, they ask the teachers for two more cards. The student with the most cards at the end wins the game.

Notes

  • Make sure they count down “3…2…1…Show!” or any other chant you would like in English. If not, there is a chance for students to just say “せーの” if the English is not emphasized.
  • Print enough cards so you will have spares for the losing students.

Similar Games

Lucky Star Game

Description

Students make groups or pairs. Each group/pair is given the two sets of cards. After shuffling both sets of cards, the students play rock, paper, scissors. A Lucky Star card is picked to indicate the number of stars needed to win the round. The winner picks a card first then the other students choose a card going in clockwise order. In the same order, the students read their cards using the target English without revealing their cards. Once they’ve all finished, they reveal their cards and the card with the matching number of stars is the winner.

Alternatively, you could choose to pick the Lucky Star card after all students have revealed their cards, so it keeps the winner a mystery till the end of the round.

Notes

The Lucky Star Game Cards powerpoint can be edited to make your game cards. Then export it as a pdf to print.

Ichi

Also known as:

  • Uno

Description

The attached file is for one set. Game is played the same as Uno, but using whatever grammar form you want to practice. Students/ALT can choose if they want to have +2 cards stack rule, or any other variations they know. The cards are blank and can be printed out, written on, them laminated and cut. 

Notes

  • Most students know the game, and its fairly easy for the group to teach anyone who doesn’t. Wouldn’t hurt to demonstrate though, of course.
  • I had the verbs buy, eat, visit, and see. The students could put down cards of the same verb as well as the number and color. I thought those 4 were fairly versatile, but you can do any. Another option is doing all different verbs and they don’t stack.
  • The attached file is for one set. They are pretty small in order to save on materials, as you’ll have to make multiple sets (I did 6)
  • I recommend using this after they have already studied the grammar, but depending on how difficult it could possibly work the same class. I did this with “I want to go OO” and encouraged them to use Japanese foods, places, etc to reduce the difficulty.
  • Card background made by Paul 😀

Protect the Cheese

Description

Follow the instructions on the 2nd slide to choose the target word for the game. Zooming the slide out makes it easier to adjust.

Students guess one of the letters for the hidden word. If the guess is correct, click the corresponding circle to reveal the letter. If the guess is incorrect, note it on the blackboard and then click on a piece of cheese to play the animation. If all letters are correctly guessed and the class can read out the word, click the ‘W’ button to play the winner screen. If they lose all their pieces of cheese before figuring out the word, reveal the answer and click the ‘L’ button to play the losing screen. 

The game can be run any way the teacher sees fit. However, to avoid students not engaging, or having only a handful of students volunteering, here is a potential way to run the activity.

1. Arrange class into groups. Give each group a mini card of the target vocab for the unit. Place large flashcards of the same target words on the blackboard.

2. Start a timer and have students repeat each of the vocab. When the timer ends, the group with the mini card for the last called vocab can peer check and choose a letter to guess.

3. Repeat until the class figure out the hidden word or lose all their cheese. 

Students can’t call out the answer until all letters have been revealed. The team that guesses the final hidden letter can then attempt to read out the answer.

Notes

  • You can use any length word you want. Just copy/paste the circles to add more letters.
  • If students guess a letter that appears more than once in the word (eg. dOctOr), I usually only reveal one of them each turn.

Lava Game

Description

You can make whatever rules you need. 

I was thinking of a target English repeat activity where everyone is looking at the relevant English on the board, then as a class they can answer a related question. If they get it right they go to round two, before which they have to do more repeating. Same for round three and beyond. 

Notes

When I made this game, I made it with JHS in mind. There is often very little chance to introduce the new English or review previously studied material before an activity. I imagined this would be a good way to encourage repeat of target English while simultaneously having an English activity – something to balance the ALT’s goals and the JTE’s goals.

I thought we could put the flashcards – whatever target English – on the board. Set a timer and have the students repeat: sentences, words. Whatever you need. 

When the timer beeps, they can play the first round of the Lava Game and work together as a class to answer the question. They can do another round of repeat, then they can try round two of the Lava Game. Another round of repeat, then try round three of the Lava Game – as many rounds as you need.  

It’s easy enough to edit but not suitable for group play, really. There is a right/wrong answer only. If you get it wrong, you explode and the game is over. 

Monster Game

Description

Divide the class into groups and assign each group a flashcard on the blackboard. You can either draw or prepare the monsters (I found pictures on Irasutoya and printed + laminated them because you need multiple monsters). 

Place or draw the first monster on the board. Assign the monster health points (I recommend keeping it under or just above 10 so more groups have a chance to win points) and secret points (I used number flashcards and put it face down on the blackboard. The teacher sets a timer and calls the target English. Students repeat the teacher.

When the timer sounds, the last called flashcard indicates the group that gets to attack the monster. Either the teacher or a student volunteer from the group rolls a die. Subtract the number from the monster’s health points. If the monster’s health reaches 0, the monster is defeated. The secret points are revealed and awarded to the group that defeated the monster. The next monster is brought out.

The game continues as such until either all monsters have been defeated or time has run out. Group with the most points at the end of the game is the winning group!

Similar Games

Bad Day Game

Description

Each student starts with five lives. They get a worksheet and choose a vocab. The teacher says the word and students repeat until the lighting strikes. If the lighting strikes on the same card that they have chosen they lose one life. Repeat until all vocabs are finished and check who survived the day. 

Notes

  • This game is a great match for daily routine. 
  • It could be used as a warm up or review game.