A fun, classic young learner's game is "Simon Says". In this classic game, one student tells the other students what to do by beginning: "Simon says ... touch your nose / count to five , etc.". If the student says "touch your nose" and the students perform the command they are out. Of course, this game takes a lot of attention on the part of the teacher.
Aim: Fun and vocabulary learning focusing on various movements and commands
Activity: Simon says
Level: Young Learner's lower level classes
Outline:
- Have students write four or five commands they have learned in class down in a notebook (i.e. touch your nose, clap your hands, count to five, etc.).
- Once the students have finished, explain the rules of Simon Says make sure they understand that the student must say "Simon says..." and that they are not to perform the action if the student doesn't say this. You may want to play a trial game giving the commands by yourself until the students have understood.
- Students should use the commands they have written down. Students are eliminated if they do not perform the correct action, or if the perform an action when the student hasn't says "Simon Says..."
- The student who wins the game should be the next to go. If more than two students are left after the five commands, you can give a few extra to eliminate others.
Take a look at this fun variation on "Simon Says" using a board game.
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