Time: 15 minutes

A Group B Group

Description

Students are in pairs and each pair has a set of small flashcards. On the blackboard are an even amount of flashcards, divided into two groups: A and B. The students decide who will be student A and student B. The cards are shuffled and placed in between the students.

Students take turns opening the flashcards and saying the target English. If the card they opened matches their group (for example if student A opened a card from group A) then they get one point and the card is put off to the side. If the card they opened does not match their group (student A opens a card from group B) then that student doesn’t get a point and the card is put off to the side. This continues until all the cards have been opened. Students count how many points they have, then shuffle the cards for another round!

Make 20

Description

Students are each given a worksheet and write a number in each space (I did 1~15 in my lesson). 

Students then make pairs and exchange the target English. Students can choose if they write their friend’s answer down or not. If they choose to write it, they cannot erase it. Once both students have done the question and answer, students make a new pair and exchange the target English.  Again, students can choose to write down their friend’s number or not. 

The goal is to get exactly 20 items. So if their friend’s number will make them go over 20, they cannot write the number down. Once they get exactly 20 items, they score one point. They start from 0 and try to collect 20 again!

Snap

Description

Students are in pairs and each pair has a set of small flashcards (one set per student). For round 1, students begin with four of the same flashcards. The cards are shuffled and placed face down in front of each student (make sure that the students cards don’t get mixed with their partners cards). Set a timer for about 3 or so minutes. 

At the same time, students choose a card and turn is over. Both students say the target English for their cards. If they opened matching cards, they get one point and the cards are placed in the centre face up. If they are not matching, the cards are turned back face down. This continues until all cards have been matched. If students want, they can coordinate what cards to open to get the matching card. When all cards are opened, they divide the cards between themselves, shuffle them and add an extra card each (they should now have 5 cards each). This continues until the timer sounds. 

True or False

Description

Each student gets a worksheet and writes down their true answers for each option on the worksheet.

Students make a pair and janken. If you are only practicing the answer, the winner of janken says their answers first. If you are practicing both question and answer, the loser of janken asks the question and the winner answers.

The student giving the answer can either say their true answer or they can say a fake answer. Their partner then guess if they told the truth or lied by saying yes or no. If they guessed correctly, they get one point! If not, 0 points. Once both students have had a chance at answering and guessing, they make a new pair!

Notes

I played this for unit 3 of grade 6 for ‘I [schedule] at [time]’ so I made a worksheet where they wrote the true time they did each thing. From that they then could tell the truth or lie. But for simpler units (for example grade 3 unit 4 ‘do you like ~’) you might not need a worksheet.

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Secret Keyword Game

Description

Students are in groups and each pair has a set of small flashcards. They shuffle the cards and place them face down between themselves. Students janken to decide who plays first. 

Player one chooses a card, opens it and says the target English. They then get that card and put it near them. Player two then does the same. This continues until all the cards are gone. Once all groups have finished, the ALT/HRT reveals the secret keyword! All students with that card get one point! 

Students shuffle the cards and wait till the next round begins. ALT/HRT chooses a new keyword. 

Notes

I would recommend that between the rounds, have the pairs wait until all pairs have shuffled and placed their cards so pairs start at the same time. This will help prevent some pairs sitting there for a while waiting for other groups to finish. 

Lucky Combination Hunt

Description

Students are in groups and each group has two sets of flashcards (the two sets that make the target sentence). The groups shuffle the cards and place them face down in their group.

ALT/HRT sets a timer and calls the target English at random, creating random combinations of one card from each set. When the timer sounds, the last called combination is the lucky combination. Continue this until all combinations have been created (e.g. if you have 9 flashcards in both sets, make 9 combinations).

Once all combinations have been created, students then take turns in their groups to turn over the cards, trying to find the lucky combinations. When they find a matching combination, the group gets one point. If the two cards they opened do not match the combination on the blackboard, both cards are turned face down. 

Notes

I play this as an input/output hybrid game so when students are turning over the cards in their groups, have them challenge the target English as a group. I did this with the schedule unit for grade 4 and found it was quite effective and the groups were able to say the target English to a level that I was very happy about. 

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Tree Game (Output Variation)

Also known as:

  • Tree Game

Description

Students make pairs and receive one copy of the game sheet, one dice and 3 ohajiki of a different colour (e.g.. 3 red and 3 yellow). Students then place their ohajiki in each of the boxes marked A-F along the top. Only one ohajiki can be placed in each box and players can’t share a box. An eraser is then placed in the [START] box at the bottom of the tree. The ALT/JTE starts a timer for 3-5min.

Players janken and the winner rolls the dice. If the outcome is a 1, 2, or 3, the eraser is moved to the upper left box. If the outcome is a 4, 5 or 6, the eraser is moved to the upper right box. Both players then repeat the target English in the box. The next player then rolls the dice and the game continues until the eraser lands in one of the top lettered boxes. Whoever’s ohajiki is in the final box wins one point. The eraser is then reset at the [START] and players can rearrange their ohajiki. 

The game repeats until the timer ends. Players then compare points to determine the winner. Players can then rotate pairs for another round with a new partner. 

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Secret Alphabet Colouring

Description

Each student is given a small flashcard which is kept secret. For round one, give them one card of ‘E’, ‘T’, ‘A’, ‘I’, ‘J’, ‘H’, ‘P’, ‘Y’, or ‘Q’, and a worksheet (for round one the worksheet with ‘E’ in the top left space). Students colour in the square corresponding to the secret card they were given. 

Students make a pair and janken. The loser tells the winner their secret card. The winner colours in the square corresponding to the letter they were told. Students then make a new pair and the flow continues. As students colour in more letters, the shape of a specific letter should become apparent on the grid. This is the secret letter (Round 1 = ‘F’). 

Notes

For round 2, the flashcards that need to be handed out are ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘L’, ‘M’, ‘N’, ‘S’, ‘X’, ‘W’, ‘V’ and the worksheet is the one with ‘A’ in the top left corner. Secret letter = ‘S’

Janken Elimination

Description

Students are in pairs and each pair has one or two sets of small flashcards. They shuffle the cards and place them face down between themselves. On the blackboard, assign each of the big flashcards a point value.

Students janken. The winner gets to choose and turn over a card. The pair says the target English together. The winner of janken gets that card. This continues until there are no more cards face down. Students then count how many points they won!

Donut Prediction Game

Description

After reviewing all of the necessary vocabular and grammar, students make two donuts for two connected grammars, for example country and food or time and daily activities.

Students decide who starts, and that student tries to guess what cards they will turn over, for example: “I get up at 6”. Then they select and turn over a card from only one of the donuts. If that card matches their prediction, then they can get 1 point. If not, for example, they turn over the 7 o’clock card, they then use that card to make a new prediction: “I get up at 7”. Then they select and turn over a card from the other donut. If this card is a match, they can get 1 point, for a second chance at getting points. They can get 0, 1 or 2 points for each turn. Then play moves to the next student.

Notes

This game was originally shown to me by Aireen in a kenshu.

This should only be used when students can produce the language. The outcomes are limited, but not decided, so they will need to know the vocab and target grammar.

I sometimes use this as a single donut and a single vocab after playing the donut game. I did this with 3rd grade students with the vocab “what do you want? / I want a red heart”. We played it immediately after the normal donut game.

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