Five tips with a KISS!

For those of you who are visiting Bob’s Frog through my freinds at Super Simple Learning. I welcome you with a KISS. By that I mean Keep It Super Simple! Which is Number ONE on my five tips for using games and teaching in the classroom.

1. KISS- Keep It Super Simple!
2. Demonstrate rather than explain.
3. Underplay competition. Emphasize Fun!
4. All classes are different. “Workshop” a game before giving up.
5. Leave them wanting more! Keep games around 5 -10 minutes for younger students.

“How are you?” Gesture Junken

Here is a fun game to do after you have done “If You’re Happy” song from Super Simple Songs  One. Have your students stand up. Review four emotions using flashcards and gestures (best limit four emotions for this game). Shuffle the flashcards and explain to your students that you will “randomly” choose one or the emotion flashcards (don’t show them the flash card yet). Ask the students “How are you?”. The students must choose one emotion and using gestures and answer “I’m happy”,  “I’m sad”,  etc.  Now dramatically reveal the flash card you previously chosen. The students that chose the same emotion as your flash card,  are out and must sit down.  Shuffle the flashcards again and repeat until only a few students remain. Give these students a sticker or just applause is fine. You can repeat this game several times with the same or different emotion flashcards. Remember, you shuffle ALL the flashcards each time so it is possible that the same emotion comes up twice or more. This makes this game exciting!

Telepathy

I am always looking for a fun way to teach new vocabulary. Next time you are teaching new vocabulary try using “telepathy”. Yes, telepathy!  Here is what you do. After introducing the new vocabulary a few times using flashcards, announce to the class you will use telepathy  to “send” the word to someone. Hold a flashcard  to your forehead (facing you so students can’t see the card) and pretend to “send” the vocabulary using telepathy. Tell the students to raise their hands if they “caught” the word. Choose a student and ask what word they “caught”. If they are correct, act amazed. If incorrect, say ” Sorry. It’s not (insert incorrect word)” and choose another student. Repeat untill someone says the correct word you “sent” by telepathy.You can give a sticker to the person who “caught” the word. Do this a few more times with other flashcards. This activity gets the students to think and repeat the new vocabulary in a fun and slightly strange way. Remember, pretend you are really using telepathy and ham it up!

Misson Excitement!

Level 1:  Drill some flashcards. Make sure all your students can say the vocabulary.

Level 2:  Pass Relay Game: Students pass the flashcards to each other. Each student must say the flashcard before passing to the next student. The last person passes the flashcards to the teacher.

Level 3:  Have the students play the Pass Relay Game again. This time use a timer to see how long it takes. Then set the timer and do it again. Students try to beat their own time. The students can also compete with the times of other classes. This really motivates them!

Level 4:  Props and music can really bring the excitement level up. I use the “Mission Impossible” theme and a toy bomb. But any “genki” music is good. Be creative!

Notes:  Toys that make loud noises etc. may scare small children and should be avoided. Don’t use big or difficult to handle flashcards.

Kabuto-Mushi Race

Call it “Kabuto-Mushi Race” or “Beetle Race” its up to you. I think “Kabuto-Mushi Race ” sounds funnier. Here’s how to play. Set up: Prepare 2-3 Kabuto-mushi cards, laminate and attach magnets. Draw on the blackboard 5-6 rows by 4 columns of random numbers 1-6. You will also need a foam die and some music. How to play: Two or three teams are formed. Students pass the foam die around while music is playing. When music stops, the student holding the die must answer a question, identify a flashcard etc. Then the student rolls the die. If they roll a number on the next level, they can move up. A Kabuto -mushi can not move up if another Kabuto-mushi is on that space. Play continues until one team makes it to the top.

Read My Lips

Try this activity towards the end of the class or when you need your students to quiet down a bit. Tell your students to “read my lips” or “what am I saying”. Using vocabulary words, letters, numbers or short phrases, without speaking pronounce the words correctly but in a slightly exaggerated way. Students try to guess what your are saying. Give a point or sticker to students who guess correctly.