Purpose: To make students learn the lesson thoroughly.
Game: You choose a topic (California, Abraham Lincoln, etc.) that the students may be studying that week. Have each student write two truths and a lie about that topic. One at a time the students come up to the front, tell their truths/lies and the other students or teams get three tries to figure out which comments were true and which were not.
Instead of holding your students with an iron grip, allow them to be themselves until (and unless) their behavior distracts you or others in the class. When you notice unproductive behavior, nip it in the bud. Otherwise, you send a clear message to the students that it’s OK for them to talk while you are talking, etc. Use classroom management techniques before you become irritated, impatient or upset. We are much more powerful when we are centered, when we like out students, and when we view our students with fondness rather than impatience. Allow students to save face. When we put students down in front of others, the entire class of students will turn against us. Do all you can to feel good about yourself and others on a daily basis. Your attitude will come across to your students, so it is important to be in good mental and physical shape. If, by chance, you feel that you have spoken sharply in an attempt to manager your students, own up to it. “Wow, that sounded harsh. Forgive me!” Remind yourself: “If teaching were easy, everyone would be doing it.” Teaching in front of a classroom full of students can be challenging, but on the other hand, very rewarding!
Purpose: Practice numbers in English.
Game: There are two players and they agree that the one who says a number-21, for example- wins. They take turns saying one or two numbers. They can’t say more then two numbers, which be in sequence. EXAMPLE: Player 1: 1 2 Player 2: 3 1: 4 2: 5 6 1:7 2:8 1: 9 2: 10 11 1: 12 2:13 14 1: 15 16 2: 17 18 1: 19 20 2: 21. Player 2 wins.
Anagrams are a terrific tool for stimulating students to think critically. Write the four phrases below on a board or chart. The letters in each phrase can be rearranged to spell a word. The words all have something in common. Challenge students to figure out the four words and what the words have in common.
Adapt the activity for younger students:
To make the activity easier, tell students what the words have in common or arrange students in pairs to solve the anagram puzzles.
CHEATER
EARN
TIP
CAN
ACT
UNTO
IRAN
CANT
EVER
Answers: teacher, painter, accountant, and veterinarian are all jobs
Purpose: To practice numbers in English
Game: In this game the class counts aloud, each player saying one number in turn but every time students come to a seven, they must say “buzz” instead of the number. THey say it for all numbers containing a seven-7, 17, 2,7, 71, 72, etc. The counting goes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, buzz, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, buzz, 15, 16, buzz, 18, 19, 20, buzz. Anyone who makes a mistake is out.