Review with ‘World Cup Vs Pac-man Catch-up’

Final term tests are approaching fast for students in Japan, so now is a perfect time to review previous lessons.

I’m not going to take credit for the following game.  One of the fellow Interac’s in Kochi-Ken kindly shared this one with us at the last Shikoku meeting.  All I have done is used my Pac-man characters from Pac-man ping-pong and changed the name of the game to fit.

At first I didn’t realise how much of a hit this game would be.  My most rowdy of classes were completely engaged.  I can safely say this one was a complete success for me.

It went so well I thought I’d use it as a warm up in each of my elementary classes.   The response was even better.   I also think the students good behavior had a lot to do with the beautiful weather and the fact that I was alive and  genki to take on a new day.

Like any good game you use, the best time to stop is when they want it the most.  That way they will be more excited about playing it again.   This one is a solid tool in my box for future review sessions.

Here’s how to play.

Ingredients:

• 1 Mrs Pac-man (cut out, laminated, magnet stuck to the back)
• 1 Mr Pac-man (cut out, laminated, magnet stuck to the back)
• Chalk/Board Pen
• Flash cards
• A set of questions on the subject you want to practice
• 2 teams of students numbered from 1~10 in each team (for a class of 20)

Directions:

1. Draw a large circle in the centre of the board
2. draw small circles evenly around the big circle (these are stopping points for the characters)
3. Place Mr and Mrs Pacman on opposite sides of the circle (Horizontal)
4. Draw direction arrows around the outside of the circle to mark the direction Mr and Mrs Pacman move.
5. Ask any pair of numbers to stand up, e.g.  ” Number 5s stand up please.”
6. Ask those students a question.  The first student to ping-pong with the correct answer moves their Pac-man one space.
7. The object of the game is to catch the other teams Pac-Man to win.

I mix up the style of question asking and choice of students to stand, so as the students never feel they can doze off until it’s their turn.

When I wanted to ask some tough questions and bring the game to a close, I asked the teams to choose their strongest members.

Keep it fast and fun!

Variation:

Next class, I intend to use the hype of the world cup combined with this review game, however, using the mascot from this years world cup along with mascots from earlier years world cups.

You can find all mascots here

If you are looking for more world cup ideas, check out the ESL Imaginarium.  Most lessons and activities are media based, but there are some which you could use in any classroom. Enjoy!

If you can think of any other fun variations, please share.  I look forward to your comments.  Thanks ♥

Number + Colour(adjective) + Noun

I wanted to come up with a few activities to review numbers and food, but introduce colours at the same time.

This game is for beginners, 1st to 4th grade elementary.

I have made some cards which you can find in the title below for use in the following game. The cards are fully customisable

COLOUR + Food GAME CARDS

• Apple – Blue, Red, Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Black, White
• Tea – Blue, Red, Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Black, White
• Banana – Blue, Red, Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Black, White
• Pepper – Blue, Red, Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Black, White

First of all I made 3 copies of the cards 1 set each for 3 teams.  I laminated them then stuck magnets to the back of each card.

After all the necessary drilling of new vocabulary, I followed with a TPR (total physical response) card game.

The first activity I tried out was a listening and speaking race.

Directions:

1. Split the class into 3 teams and line them up in their teams at the back of the class with a good distance between the first student in each row and the board.
2. Stick all teams cards to the board.
3. give a coloured balloon to the student at the front of each team.  Have those students put the balloon between their knees.
4. Call out  “one + COLOUR + food” (working with higher numbers = making more cards)
5. The students with the balloons have to make their way to the board trying not to drop the balloon.  If a s drops it he/she has to go back to the starting line.
6. When they reach the board they have to collect the card you asked for then run with the card and balloon back to their team and pass both down the line with each student in turn saying what’s on the card until it reaches the student at the front of the line.
7. The quickest team with the correct card gains a point.  Put that card in an allocated points section for that team.
8. Return the slower teams cards  to the center of the board.

This game practices Listening and Speaking, with pretty much the entire class being engaged at the same time.

If you would like to use the the flash cards I used as apart of the lesson drill please click on the (4 Food Flash Cards) title below.

4 Food Flash Cards

The next activity is to put into practice what the students have just learned, but this time using items which are easy to get to around the class room.

Using the same teams, I numbered the students from 1~6 (or however many are in each team)

Number ones stand up.

I call out a  number+COLOUR+item   e.g  “2 yellow hats”

The first student to run and return with the goods, saying what he/she has, “2 yellow hats” gains a point for their team.  (I used Mario Kart characters on a race track to mark their points.  The team to reach the finish line first wins stickers)

Numbers Challenge – How Many Fingers?

This is a great game to practice numbers in any language.  I have used this one from 3rd grade elementary up to 2nd grade Junior high.  It’s another limited resource activity which works great as a warmer/filler or for a part of your practice within your lesson.

Ok so here are the rules:

Ingredients:

• 2 – 4 students (depending on the difficulty and numbers you want to practice)
• 1 or 2 hands per student (again depends on the numbers you want to practice)
• 1 small score sheet for each student.

Directions:

1. split the class into teams for 2~4 students
2. each student holds up 1 or 2 hands made into fists (1 hand each for lower levels)
3. In a team, all students together say, “3,2,1 – GO!” as if they are about to play ROCK SCISSORS PAPER.
4. At the same time all students in the team display their fingers of choice from 0~10 (or 0~5 for lower levels)
5. The first student to count and call out the correct number the fastest gains a point.
6. This game precedes until the allocated time you have set for the game is over.
7. Ask the students how many points they have, then reward the overall winners in the class.

My kids love this game.  Even the quiet kids really get into it.  I hope it works for you too.