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.

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