The basic questions (‘Walk the plank’) game.

 

The basic questions (‘Walk the plank’) game. (An anagram is a word with the letters jumbled up.)     irfe = fire. In this case
Subject:	Ideal for vocabulary or structures. (Finding the vocabulary can lead on to a discussion about the structure)
Richard’s comments:	For an effective learning experience, you really need to keep to vocabulary the students have seen. I have adapted the game’s name for those who think ‘hangman’ is in bad taste.
Group size:	This game is suitable for any class size.
Team teaching game?	One supervisor should be sufficient.
Materials:	Basic questions cards. Plank and pirate. Some method of recording the letters used and remaining.
Game set up:	Divide your student’s into suitable teams of equal ability. Put your game on the board.
Playing rules:	Standard hangman rules but with the difference that the correct letters are used for words in the sentence. The teacher chooses a basic question, while the students try to guess the words from the question by suggesting letters. However, every wrong guess brings them one step closer to the fall. (For each incorrect guess, move your pirate closer to the water.) Simply place the letters for the question onto the board as they are correctly called. The students may guess and answer the question instead to choosing a letter. If the pirate falls into the water the other team wins a point. Don’t forget to keep a track of the letters used.
Variations:	Obviously, the risk can be changed to suit. How about cartoon high dive into water/natto/something yucky? Balloons popping and then falling into something yucky?

The ‘all or nothing’ matching game.

 

The ‘all or nothing’ matching game.
Subject	Vocabulary.
Richard’s comments.	Usually with the traditional memory game a ‘found’ card is won and that is that for the card. Turning cards down after a mistake is made allows good repetition of the vocabulary.
Group size:	Suitable for classes of 1-8
Team teaching game?	Can be played with one teacher.
Materials	Vocabulary cards. Either two sets or matching pairs. Prompt cards.
Game set up.	Review the vocabulary at the desk. Sit the students in a semi-circle. 1 Go through the vocabulary as you place the cards down on the floor. It is sometimes necessary for the students to see where the vocabulary goes down to get them into the game quickly. Optionally ask the children to look at the cards and try to remember them. (Give them 10-15 seconds) Turn the cards face down. 2 Lay the cards face down without showing the students for a harder challenge.
Playing rules.	Play in turn or in pairs. Shuffle the prompt cards and show one to the students. Make the appropriate structure. Choose and turn up a matching card. If the card matches award a point and leave the pair face up. Remove the prompt card and repeat. Continue until a mistake is made. When a mistake is made turn all the cards face down once more. The next pair now takes over. Replace the prompt cards and shuffle once more. Repeat. Continue until the cards are identified. At the end of the round when all the cards are identified you can add new vocabulary or just shuffle the cards and repeat the process.
Variations.	Will work for matching structures too.
Richard’s comments.	Usually with the traditional memory game a ‘found’ card is won and that is that for the card. Turning cards down after a mistake is made allows good repetition of vocabulary.

 

The right left center lucky dip game.

 

The right left center lucky dip game.
Subject	Basic questions.
Richard’s comments.			Really simple. Check out the phonics version too
Group size:			Suitable for classes of 1-10.
Team teaching game?			Can be played with one teacher.
Materials		Playing cards. High low dice. Basic questions.
Game set up.		Simply shuffle and place the cards in three piles.
Playing rules.				Ask and answer a question each. Choose a card from the left/center or middle. Throw the high low dice to determine the winner.
Variations.				Try with phonics cards. Use an A-Z dice. The winner being closest to either A/Z determined by the dice.

The circle lucky dip game.

 

The circle lucky dip game.
Subject	Basic questions.
Richard’s comments.			Really simple.
Group size:			Suitable for classes of 1-10.
Team teaching game?			Can be played with one teacher.
Materials		Playing cards. Basic questions.
Game set up.		Place cards in a circle. Face down.
Playing rules.				Simply answer a question, take a card, and place in the center. Repeat. If the card is a number card. Safe! If the card is a picture, you lose. Take the cards from the center. They are yours. Fewest/most cards at the end wins.
Variations.				Should be fine for any vocabulary or structures. Consider High and low rather than numbers. Would it work with phonics rather than playing cards. (I’m thinking two sets of phonics cards with plain backs. Four sets of vowels which become the danger cards.)