Introduction

This game is perfect for a group of six to ten people. It lasts from ten to 15 minutes. Pupils interact with each other, which helps them to move in class and learn vocabulary.

Target group and Time

The game can be played with kids from 5th to 7th grade. The game lasts for about 7-15 min, but can also be for a longer time.

Learning objectives

-practice new vocabulary, concentrated on one special topic

-learn to be creative without using language

-understanding gestures/ the pantomime

Instructions to set up the activity

In order to prepare for the actual game, the students all sit down in a circle. The teacher asks questions about the pupil's plans for the summer holidays, thereby collecting common vocabulary for the topic chosen for the game, in this case "Summer Holidays". Naturally, it is possible to focus the game on a different topic.

The discussion in the circle helps students to become involved, as the game will require afterwards. It is important that everyone in the group says something, even if this requires some students to leave their comfort zone.

After having shared the plans for the summer with the group, they are divided into pairs and a pantomime game is played. To play the game the teacher has prepared about 20 terms concerning the “summer-holidays” (or whatever topic the teacher chose). The terms are written on a piece of paper.

One pair will start and pick a piece of paper and will secretly read what is written on it. The pair will gesture or act out the term without making any noise. The pair that guesses correctly first has the next turn. This way the game continues, so that every pair can act out more terms until the terms are finished.

Letting it run

If there is more time left and the children have already acted out all the pantomime terms, the pupils themselves can propose terms to act out. The teacher can  write the words on a black board. Afterwords a pair secretly chooses one of the terms to act out and the rest of the group needs guess which one of the words on the blackboard is being presented. The first pair with the right guess will continue with acting out and so on.