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Grammar: Future tense

Example: I am going to go to the toilet.

Parts of Learning: Speaking & Listening

Time: 35~50 min (full class)

Memory Challenge

Submitted by: Raegina Taylor    Borrowed or inspired from: Drama games from my high school days     Date added to site: 08-22-07     Edited by: Tatyana Safronova

 


Brief Outline:  This activity has two parts: 1.) Students aim to remember a series of sentences, 2.) Students use the grammar and a constructed picture to describe a holiday scene to their class.


Materials Needed:

  • A3 size paper – 1 piece per group

 

Teaching Suggestions:

  • None


Detailed Explanation:

  1. Remembering Rounds:
    • Split the class into groups of about 10 students. Students sit or stand in a circle, depending on the layout of the classroom.
    • The aim of this game is for students to listen to others, memorise what they will eat/ do/ see at a picnic, and recite it accurately.
    • ALT starts with, “On Saturday, I am going to a picnic.”
    • JTE is next and says, “On Saturday, I am going to a picnic. I am going to eat ramen.”
    • The game continues until everyone in the group takes one turn or until someone makes a mistake.
  2. Group Memory:
    • Students work in groups of 4-5. Each group is given a blank piece of paper.
    • Give students 5 minutes to draw as many pictures as they can about what they would do on a holiday. No notes – only pictures!
    • After the time limit, each group presents their scene of pictures, describing each one using the grammar they were just practicing. For each picture and correct sentence, their team receives a point.

 

Variations and Options:

  • To make it a faster game, have small teams of 4-5 for the first part of the game and have a time limit to see how many rounds each group can remember. Have the students recite all the sentences to the class for a chance to receive bonus points.
  • To avoid one student doing all the drawing and talking, have a time limit for each student to draw. When it comes to presenting, the student who drew the picture must describe it, or for a laugh, another student must describe it.
  • Groups swap pictures and for each picture they can describe from another group, they receive points.

 

Tips or Cautions:

  • Bigger group sizes in the 'remembering rounds' is not suggested. Students tend to be distracted easily.