New year, new ideas… also for those teaching young learners. Let us share a couple of inspirations for some activities for children.
The first exercise I would like to introduce you is an activity that gives children a lot of fun during playing the game. What is more, thanks to it they may practice naming flashcards/reading word cards at the same time, so you can safely use it during the revision lesson.
To carry it out, we only need flashcards or word cards.
THE DUEL GAME
- We divide the children into two teams facing each other in 2 lines.
- We choose one student from each group and they stand in the centre, back to back (with some distance between them, of course ).
- Children get a flashcard/word card that they do not show to anyone.
- At our mark, the students in the centre have to turn around quickly and name/read the card of the other student.
- Then the next pair has a chance to “duel”.
It’s worth coming up with some funny sounds that will let the kids know when they are to turn around!
SILENT COMMANDS
Now let me present you a few ideas on how to work with the Silent Commands. What are they? Laminated slips of paper with simple sentences which are easy for young students to read. This is a great way to practice this skill among children.
Here are 5 ideas on how to use them!
Silent Tower – The little ones love building cup towers, but the older ones will have fun as well. Especially if you use cups that are narrow and more wobbly. Put the Silent Commands cards face down on the carpet. One student, a pair or a group of students picks one card, reads it, acts it out and builds the first level of the tower. Older students can build quite impressive skyscrapers!
Silent Dice – Students need to have a list of commands for example in their books. Preferably a list of 6 commands. Each student gets a dice. He or she rolls the dice and acts out the corresponding command. So three dots means the third command. It’s demanding individual work, but I found children really stay focused on the task. Probably thanks to the dice.
Colour Variations – write 3 or 4 silent commands on the board. Use a different colour for each command. Call out a colour, for example: „Red”. Students need to perform the red command. Later change one or two words in the written commands and start round two.
We hope you are inspired and will try and test those games and activities with the youngest!
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