Location: Connected Classroom

Topic: Halloween

Skills Focus: Speaking

Game: The Halloween game

Preparation

• Learners write the numbers 1 – 10 in their notebooks.
• Present the image above to the class.  It works better if you just present one but the activity still works if you go directly to the site and have both.
• Brainstorm vocabulary orally by asking “What’s this?” and pointing.  When you have elicited three or four put the learners in pairs and they write the vocabulary they can see next to the numbers.
• Input language as learners ask “How do you say . . . in English?”, or point and ask “What’s this?”

Play

• Ask learners if the pictures are the same or different.  (They are different.  It’s a spot the difference game).
• Elicit the differences orally.  Clicking on the lower image differences changes the picture.
• Encourage learners to use the vocabulary they wrote down and praise the use of more complex language structures.

Post activity

From memory learners write down/ take notes on the differences.  When they’ve finished they swap books.  Refresh the website page and learners correct/ mark the sentences in the book.

Answers

The sentences below can be used as a guideline as to the level of language needed to identify the the differences and help you the teacher see where the differences are.  Use your own discretion as to the level of language learners need to produce in order for you to click the differences on the lower picture.  For the more difficult ones (and towards the end) I accepted “Here!” as the learner pointed.

1. The yellow dog on the left isn’t happy/ smiling.
2. The blue dog’s collar is red (not yellow).
3. A square/ tile on the wall is yellow (not orange)
4. The candle has got lines.
5. The pumpkin is sad / scary (not happy/ friendly).
6. (part of) the curtain is green (not orange).
7. The table hasn’t got a leg.
8. The cat’s tail is yellow (not black),
9. The sofa hasn’t got a line (a line/ crease on the bottom right arm is missing).

Topic: Describing pictures

Language Focus: Prepositions of place

Time: 20 – 30 minutes

Game: Cold window

Opening screenshot to Cold Window

Preparation

Cut up some pieces of recycled paper into strips.  These will be used by your learners to write sentences on.

Playing

In a connected classroom, learners play in pairs or in small teams.  Put the game on the board and tell the learners that they have to look at the two different pictures.  If they can see a difference they have to write what it is down on the pieces of paper and come and give it to you.  You will only accept the sentence if it is grammatically correct and the game accepts it too.  Use code correction on any mistakes and hand the sentence back for the learners to try again.  If the sentence is grammatically correct and it’s a difference in the game (click on the difference) then sign the piece of paper.  When you declare the game over the winners are the ones with the most pieces of paper with your signature on.

e.g.

In the picture on the right there is a clock on the building and on the right there isn’t.

There are two windows on the side of the first building and only one on the building in the other picture.

Play plus

In between the spot the difference pictures you get short pieces of text that tell a story of the character in the pictures.  Give learners the chance to correct any of the mistakes for extra bonus points

e.g.

I had just moved into an old house.

where the rent was cheap.

a bit remote.

Post play

Learners tell the story of the character in the spot the difference pictures.