Matching+Games+for+Small+and+Large+Classes

media type="youtube" key="mV66YmeQQxA" height="344" width="425" align="left" Remember the two guidelines for success with practice activities:

Always check to be sure that students understand what you want to them to do (the rules of the activity) And, be sure they understand the language they need to succeed in the activity.

Especially with younger children, it's always a good idea to quickly review language before beginning an activity. This short video demonstrates one way to use Teacher Cards to review a //Yes/No// question and answer pattern.

This upside down card technique is taken from Ritsuko Nakata's MAT (Model Action Talk) Method. If you are interested in learning more about MAT, you can visit her IIEEC website.

**Concentration** is a basic memory game that works well for small classes, or for small groups within large classes. To play, use a double set of picture (or word) cards for each group. Place the cards face down in random order on a table. Students take turns turning over two cards, looking for a match. As students turn over the cards, they make a sentence (for example, //He is dancing. They are studying English.//). If the cards are identical, students keep them. If they don't match, the cards are turned back over and play continues. Whether students find a match or not, they only get one turn each time. This ensures that all students have a chance to play, and to speak.

The Concentration game shown in this screenshot is from the CD ROM that comes with the Let's Go 2 Student Book. All levels of Let's Go have CD ROMs in the Student Books. There are four games or activities for each unit. Many of the games are also available on the OUP Let's Go Homepage.

** Find Your Partner ** is a matching game that works well for larger classes. Use multiple sets of picture or word cards, so that all students have cards and every card has at least one match. Give one card to each student. Students look at their vocabulary item, but should not show their cards to anyone else. Have the students walk around and look for another student holding the same card. To find their partners, students ask appropriate questions related to the items on their cards. For example: Student 1 (holding a //swim// card): //Can you swim?// Student 2: (holding a //run// card): //No, I can't.// Since the cards don't match, the students look for new partners and try again. Student 1: //Can you swim?// Student 2 (holding a //swim// card): //Yes, I can!// When students have their partners, they can come up to the teacher to share the information--//We can swim!//

In Concentration, students practice sentences as they look for a match. In Find Your Partner, students practice the same question many times as they look for one answer. In Find Someone Who, students look for one answer to each question. Although they practice different types of language (sentences, questions or answers), these are all matching games.

** Find Someone Who** works well for very large classes, especially with older children. This example is a reproducible activity to go with the Let's Learn lesson in Let's Go 4, Unit 8, to practice talking about things students like to do. Each Teacher's Book has two reproducible activity pages for each unit. You can also download the activities from the Lets Go homepage. You'll have to join the OUP Kid's Club (Japan) or the OUP Teacher's Club (everywhere else) to get access, but membership is free.


 * How to use this activity** (from Let's Go Teacher's Book 4)


 * Summary:** Students interview classmates to ask whether they like to do various activities and ask them to sign their names. This activity reinforces //Do you like to ... ?// questions.

1. Give one page to each student. Review the vocabulary and question and answer pattern. 2. Model the activity as students watch. a. Walk up to Student 1 and ask //Do you like to (go swimming)?// Student 1 answers //Yes, I do// or //No, I don't.// Circle //Yes// or //No// on your sheet depending on Student 1's answer. b. Then ask Student 1 to write his or her name on your sheet. Show students how to do this by using the following dialogue: T: //Please write your name.// S1: [writes name, hands page back] //Here you are.// T: //Thank you.// S1: //You're welcome.//
 * Steps:**

3. Once students understand the activity, have them stand and interview their classmates. If possible, have them fill each box with a different name. As students work, circulate and help.

1. Prepare small tickets and have students write their names on them. When they finish, draw a name at random and ask other students to report about the person whose name is on the ticket. For example, T: //Tell me about Ken.// S1: //Ken likes to collect baseball cards.// S2: //He doesn't like to watch sports on TV.//
 * Variations:**

2. Use the tickets described above to play Bingo. Announce a student's name. If students have interviewed that student, they draw an "X" over the box with the student's name. When a student covers three squares in a row, he/she calls //Bingo!// Then, have the student report to the class (for example, //Liz likes to surf the Internet. Mark doesn't like to play badminton. Sarah likes to write e-mail.//).


 * Note: These activity instructions are taken from Let's Go Teacher's Books. **