Digital Play

By kylemawer 　http://www.digitalplay.info/blog/2010/09/07/the-impossible-quiz-book/

A fun channel 4 commissioned quiz game that has a lot to do with play on words than word play.  Its surprising how low a level you can do this with as the quiz tests their passive knowledge of the language.  However, the language is a high level and if you don’t think fart, poo and wee jokes are appropriate for your learners then I would stay clear of this.

Level: Intermediate

Location: Connected classroom

Skills focus: Speaking

Game: The impossible quiz book

This game is a little quirky in its thought process but learners seem to adapt to its train of thought quite quickly.  Don’t try to explain it but let your learners learn how it works/ thinks.

Preparation

Ddownload a copy of The Impossible Quiz Book Hints and either make one copy for you to use in a connected classroom.  Alternatively allow learners to access the online version of the Impossible Quiz Book.

Play

Connected classroom

1. Put learners into groups of two or three.
2. Tell learners you will show them a question for a minute.  In pairs they tell their partner/ group which they think is the right answer and why.
3. Class votes on the correct answer, you click on it.  If learners vote the wrong answer then read them the clue for them to discuss.
4. If they don’t get the clue then tell them the answer and ask for someone to volunteer to explain why it’s the right answer.

Computer room

Learners work in pairs to do the quiz.  They can use the online hints to help them.  When you stop the activity find out which pair got the furthest through the quiz.  Remember that they may have got far through it but had to start again so don’t trust your eyes at the end of the activity but do trust your learners to tell you.

Post Play Activity

Get your learners to write their own quirky quiz.  Encourage learners to be as humorous and inventive with the language as they like.

Here’s a video of the game being completed (I found it a bit helpful sometimes to show some learners the correct answer – you can pause it and rewind it to explain it).