The Castle Game (modified from englipedia.net)
Victor Pope and Michiyo Yamaguchi
JHS— Listening, writing, some speaking
Shirahama Junior High School, Minamiboso
Grade Level: Grades 1-3, for both large and small classes
Materials: Chalkboard, Chalk, Erasers
Objective: Activity should provide students with a varied and captivating review of material, focusing on both listening and writing.
Summary:
First, break the class into about 4-6 teams. The rows they sit in are optimal for the activity. Each team should have roughly the same number of students. For very small classes, be sure to make at least 4 teams, otherwise the game may not be as fun.
Divide the board into segments equal to the amount of teams.
For each segment of the board, draw three rectangles on the top to signify castle “walls.” Then, draw a flag on the top of the middle wall.
Next, have one student from each team (usually the student in the first row of class) come to the chalkboard. Give them a question category, such as: Vocabulary, Sentence, Translate into Japanese/English, Number, Answer My Question, etc. The students will then write their response on the board. After they have finished writing they will sit down where they are standing at the board. The first person to sit down with the correct answer written wins the round. Have the winner say their answer to the class.
They now get to choose one wall from one team to “destroy” by erasing it. After two walls have been erased from one team, the last wall, with the flag on it, can be erased. Once the last wall is gone, the team takes the flag and puts it on the center wall of their castle. For the team whose castle has been destroyed, if they win a round, they don’t destroy another team’s wall. They rebuild their own.
This game is very versatile and can be used to review most topics. Make sure students don’t take too long thinking about which wall to erase. Also, allowing other team members to help verbally from their seats is a good way to get them to speak more English.