Introduction

This game was taken from the PlayingCLIL Handbook by Müller et al. (2015: 13).

The idea for this game is for the students to think of three words that are linked to each other or have a common theme. The group stands in a circle. One person starts by going into the middle, acting something out (it could be an object, an action, whatever), and saying what they are, for example: "I'm a tree". A second person joins the other in the middle, acts something out that created a scene with the first one, and says what they are, for ex: "I'm a treehouse". A third person joins them and acts out a third related word, "I'm a ladder". The third person stays in the middle, continues to act out their object while the other two step out. Then the next threesome begins. The group can either come up with their own words freely or the teacher can give them a specific topic.

Target group and Time

I think this can work with any age group, however I would say grade 5 and up can understand the concept of word associations. The game can be modified for different levels by selecting harder or easier topics. The ideal time is 5 - 10 minutes.

Learning objectives

To associate words together, learn and internalize vocabulary.

This game is also about working together and building on the ideas of others. The students have to use each other's improvised ideas in order to create a scene.

Instructions to set up the activity

I found it helped to introduce the idea of word associations first.

Introduction to word associations:

Let's talk about word associations. Often times, when we hear a word, we think of something that goes with it. For example, what is the first word that comes to mind when I say "coffee" (kids say out words) what about "blue" (continue to say first word that comes to mind), "summer" (or use anything you like).

Explaining the game:

Now we're going to use word associations to create a scene together. One person starts in the middle of the circle, acts something out, and says what they are. Then someone else thinks of something that would go together in a scene and joins them in the middle to act it out. Then a third person joins them to act out something else that goes with the first two. (Depending on their level, either the third person stays and continues to act or they all leave and a new scene starts - easier version).

Questions to help students think of associations: "What goes with X?" "Would you find X and Y together?" "How would they interact?"

Letting it run

Depending on how outgoing the students are and what their level is, you could either give them complete freedom to choose whatever they want, or give specific topics such as "at the beach", "school", "summer", etc. I found it was easier for them when I gave them a topic.

This would be a great way to work on vocabulary from a specific topic already covered in class.

At the end of the game, we all created one last scene together which was a lot of fun.