Purpose: to improve word recognition

Info: This activity gets students not only thinking, but moving as well. It works very well as a warm up, perhaps when reviewing material from past lessons. Yet the activity works equally well elsewhere in the lesson.

Step One: The teacher arranges students into groups of four, then distributes a set of flashcards. The cards should be spread out on the table with the picture or word up.

Step Two: Student A says one of the vocabulary words from the flashcards, and the other students in the group must race to grab (or slap) the appropriate card.

Step Three: Place continues clockwise. Student B now says a word and the group races to grab the appropriate card. Continue around the table through all the cards.

Step Four: Students in each group count their cards. The student with the most cards is the winner.

Variation: When a student grabs a card, he must also provide a complete sentence. If he can't do so, then the card remains on the table. For example:

    Student A: bus stop
    Student C: <grabs the card> There is a bus stop near my house.
    Student C: ATM
    Student B: <grabs the card> I use an ATM every day.