Despite all the technology available in the classrooms (iPads, data show equipment, computer labs, etc…) I still think that drawing, coloring and cutting out are fun. Also, the project below promotes collaboration/ cooperation among students. My Junior students were learning the affirmative, negative and interrogative forms of the verb THERE TO BE. After some significant practice and in order to wrap the lesson up, students were arranged in small groups (3 or 4 tops) and I assigned a different task for each member.
BOARD GAME
MATERIAL NEEDED: Brown paper, magazines, glue, markers, colored pencils and scissors.
FOCUS: Any Grammar Point or Vocabulary Practice.
Student A: Selects and cuts out pictures from the magazines.
Student B: Draws and colors a START/FINISH track on the brown paper.
Student C: Creates the tasks to be performed in the game.
(Assisted by the teacher/peers.)
Student D: Pastes the cut outs.
(In case the group has three students, student A selects, cuts out and pastes the pictures.)
Possible tasks to be performed when playing the game:
1) Fill in a blank:
(For instance, in one of the squares, you see the picture of a cat on the couch and you read: Is there a cat on the couch? Yes, ________. Or: ____________a cat on the couch? Yes, there is.)
2) Answer a question:
What is there in the picture?________________________.
Are there any cars in the picture?__________________________.
3) Ask a question:
__________________________? Yes, there is.
________________________? No, there aren´t.
4) Correct the mistake.
There is three children in the picture.
There is a dog in the picture?
The teacher has to make sure (and students should be told that) that during the entire time that they are performing their tasks, they should discuss every decision they make with their peers and collaborate with each other whenever necessary. After they finish making the game, they play it.
In the end, the teacher can have the board games laminated for future classes.
