ES Main Activity

Anneliese
Rumminger
Appropriate for grades 34; could be adjusted for 12
Length of activity: 1020
minutes for a class of 30 (depends on class size)
Objectives: cement
vocabulary; conversationally use and interact in English
source: 4th grade teachers at Kanai ES
Materials needed
small vocabulary cards (approximately 2 x 3 in.) (enough for each student to choose one or
two)
paper envelopes of roughly the same size as the cards, with a small window cut in the
middle to show a glimpse of the card that will be put inside (makeshift envelopes of
folded paper are fine) (one for each student)

Previous instruction needed

Students should have already demonstrated a reasonable grasp of the vocabulary earlier in
the lesson (such as through review of the vocabulary in karuta games or other
vocabulary-cementing activities).
Students will need to learn or use the question Whats this? and the answer Its ____.
How to play
Distribute envelopes and cards to students. Instruct students to choose a card (or two), not
showing it to their classmates, and put it inside the envelope.
Students should then walk around the classroom and form pairs to use the dialogue.
(example below)
A: Hello!
B: Hello!
A: (shows envelope) Whats this?
B: Its a carrot.
A: Yes!
B: (shows envelope) Whats this?
A: Its an onion.
B: No, sorry. Its garlic!
both: Bye!
Repeat with different partners for as long as seems appropriate for the class size (larger
classes can take longer). Students may choose to make guessing more difficult by showing
an obscure part of the card in the window of the envelope.
If the students seem to enjoy the activity or if time needs to be filled, have students switch
out their cards and repeat the activity.
Teachers role

Both the ALT and the Japanese teacher should walk around the class during this activity and
give prompts to assist students who have difficulty with the dialogue. Teacher participation
in the activity, with teachers also having cards and envelopes, is a good way to do this.