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Child's Play


Basketball.


The interest in basketball is very high right now.

Buy a small hoop and ball that will not destroy your classrooms (or make a hoop out of a cardboard box and wire coat hangers. Better yet, have your students make the hoop and decorate it. It's a good way to teach following directions, etc.)

Use this for drill and repetition type games. I use it to practice for spelling tests and for flashcard drills.

Again, have the kids make the flashcards.

Here's how I play:

Divide into two teams.  Let them pick team names, something obscure, like oh, I don't know, perhaps the Chicago Bulls?

Tape three lines on the floor, each one further back -- one point line, two point line, three point line.

One student from each team stands on the one point line. For spelling, they each get a turn to spell the word. They get one shot from the one point line irregardless of the spelling. If they spell the word correctly, they get two points for spelling the word correctly AND they get another shot from their choice of lines.

For flash cards, divide them up into two teams. One student from each team stands before you.  Count to three and flip the card. The first student to identify it gets an extra shot from their choice of lines. If both students respond at the same time, they both get an extra shot.

These games are very popular in the institute where I teach in Korea, and my students are always coming up with variations. I use it with Elementary School - Adult. You'll be surprised how this makes people loosen up.