Low-prep EAL: what’s the answer?

By Pete on June 24, 2024 • ( 0 )

End of term. Rocking the classic ELT games with genuine purpose.

Lesson time: 40 mins.

Context: Year 10. Three learners. Biology. We’ve been reviewing such topics as… cell structure, specialized cells, the circulatory system, the components of blood.

Game prep:

Me: Vocab drop. Let’s go, quickfire! Ready…. Blood!

Learner 1: platelet, red blood cell…

Learner 2: heart…

Learner: 3: haemoglobin

Me: good one! tell me something more about that…

Etc

Meanwhile, I list all the words mentioned. I divvy words up into three groups as they come up. Vocab ranges across topics.

Group 1:

Red blood cell

Mitochondria

Plasma

Axon

Sperm cell

Group 2:

Platelets

Root hair cell

Cell membrane

Etc.

Rules:

⁃ Give learners one group of words each (they keep their list a secret)

⁃ Each target word in the group is an answer

⁃ Learners must think of questions to ask their classmates. The only possible answer to each question should be one of their target words. Give them time to prep and perhaps write down their Qs.

Example question…

Target answer: cell wall

Bad question: what is a part of a plant cell?

Better question: what is the outer part of a plant cell called?

Even better question: what do you call the outer part of a plant cell that gives it its shape?

Etc

⁃ They ask their questions to classmates. If their classmates answer first time with the target word then the person who asked the Q gets a point.

Game:

Some learner questions were pretty good…

Which type of cell carries oxygenated blood around the body?

Which organelles in a cell produce energy?

Others weren’t tight enough…

*What helps plants photosynthesis?

Target answer: chloroplast

Learner attempts: Sunlight? Chlorophyll?

And this led to discussions to hone in, clarify understanding, tighten up on certain concepts, expand vocabulary re: parts of speech, etc

Verdict:

Standard ELT, but a great vehicle for low stakes concept checking and upgrading vocab. Fun too. Can be condensed to a 10-20 minute activity, but careful questioning and discussions make it likely to run on.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay