Dice of Fortune

The objective

To review chunks, phrases and vocabulary encountered in previous classes

The language

Suggestions: Let´s buy a vowel/I think we should buy a vowel

"Going to" for decisions: We´re going to buy a vowel.

Letters: (pronunciation)

Vocabulary: (review from previous classes)

The set-up

I´m not generally a fan of games in classrooms but if you like games and more importantly, your students like games, try this one. This game is basically "Wheel of Fortune"...with dice! All you need is a pair of dice and a nice long list of phrases that have come up in previous classes--with clues for each.

The low-down

Ask students if they´ve ever seen the game-show before. Ask them to describe the rules to the rest of the class briefly. Explain that you´re going to play but with dice instead of a wheel. Divide the class into three groups of a maximum of four students in each group. The point rules are as follows: each group rolls the dice and the number that comes up will determine the points they receive for each letter they correctly guess, 2 points to buy a vowel and 10 points to solve the puzzle (there´s no possibility to go "bankrupt"). Put the spaces the phrase contains on the board like you would with "Hangman" and the clue.

Now what?

Play several rounds of the game. After a few rounds, you can go into a "lightening round" where students are timed (2:00 minutes, for example) to take turns choosing letters (no points) and solve the puzzle as soon as possible to get ten points.

Time to teach

What makes this game a true "task-based" activity is that students have to work together to decide what letters they´ll choose, whether to buy a vowel, whether to attempt to solve the puzzle or not, etc. This "negotiation" language should be corrected if necessary so that they gradually begin using phrases naturally. This can also be reviewed after the game ("How do we share a decision?" "How do me make a spontaneous decision?" etc.). Other than this, I probably wouldn´t teach after the game but make sure to note down any phrases they had special difficulty with for future review.