Job Discussion Forums

[nawlinsgurl]

I'm teaching elem.age kids everyday for 20 mins at a time. Grades 1-3. Grade 1 is easy and by the book. Grade 2 and 3 are a little more difficult. I've already done charades, race and write, and hangman a million times. I only have about 20 mins for each class, and maybe 15 after they get settled in and turn in homework. I really want some new, easy, cheap to do, and fun games to keep them interested. Any ideas, websites, etc??
Thanks a bunch in advance!!!!

[JimDunlop2]

You will quickly run out of materials unless you have a plan and a curriculum.

20 minutes is about 25 minutes too short (IMO) and if there"s any way you could insist that they lengthen the classes, then I would seriously consider it.

The best "quick fix" IMO is www.genkienglish.com has plenty of stuff for shougakkou and a curriculum too.

Good luck.

[massivegeoff]

i use this game with grade 3s (i teach at the nihon jin gakko in bangkok)...it's a variant of a game that was originally designed for older more advanced students.

anyway...once you've initially covered a lexical set you can review like this: hand out small pieces of card (about an inch by an inch...take A4 card, fold it in three lengthways and then cut and tear). each card has some english written on the bottom. students draw a picture of that word. lay all the pictures down on the floor in a line and play the junken race (as in genkienglish?) - teams at both ends, a student from each starts down the line turning over the cards and saying the word, when they meet they junken and the loser drops out, with a new team member starting from the beginning.

the last time i used this the lexical set was classroom objects (pen, rubber, pencil case etc). there were three sets of 15 cards as i was with a whole class of 36. each kid got one picture, some two, to draw, then there were three sets of boys v girls - very noisy, lots of fun!

if you have a smaller class you could have only two sets and play a pelmanism.

if these instructions are a little confusing, i have more detailed instructions at www.conferencepaper.com (g.harman, minimal resources).

ganbate.

[TK4Lakers]

Try these websites. They have several ideas for games and activities.

www.mes-english.com

www.eslhq.com (will need a log-in for this, but its free).

[nawlinsgurl]

thanks everyone! sorry i have been away for a bit, but the info is greatly appreciated!