This is a group-work game that requires listening and comprehension, but little to no output from the kids. You can give them a text to look at or not; it's up to you. It's so useful for reviewing any number of things, from math to a story to tenses. You can do it higher-prep or totally no-prep.
Today we're going to use it to review the characters from Jason and the Argonauts.
Major rules:
Groups must discuss.
You're going to count to seven after asking the question, and no group may make a move toward the 'goal' before you say go. They must discuss.
No student may be the 'runner' twice before everyone has gone once.
In order to be allowed to respond to the question, they must walk elegantly to the 'goal.' You can determine what elegant walking is. (it has for example, not never included a sort of head-banging crab scuttle.) This is mostly hilarious and entirely intended to prevent them from running. If they don't walk elegantly, they don't answer.
Divide the kids into four groups, one for each corner of the room. Put a designator - a chair, a desk, a bell, a large cow, whatever - at the center of the room, but so help you god make sure it's equidistance from the groups or you will NEVER hear the end of it.
Alternately designate four Xs - one for each group, making sure that all the Xs are the same distance from their respective groups.
I'm going to give a "quote" from the story - something I think a character would have said. I'll say, "Gee, I hope my sister doesn't chop me up." (!)
If you're doing this higher-prep, you've given the kids slips of paper with all the characters' names on them. If you're free-wheeling, then perhaps you brainstormed a list of characters at the beginning of the period, or you're letting them rely on their memory. Either way, right now the groups discuss.
Kids discuss. You count down from seven. When you get to zero, anyone who's ready is allowed to walk elegantly to whatever goal you set up. When they get there, you call that kid's name. When you say the kid's name, EVERYONE hushes and listens to that kid. If kid says Absyrtus, they get a point. If they're wrong, anyone else at the goal can answer. If no one else is at the goal, the round continues 'til someone gets Absyrtus. You can ask them for proof at this point - if they have the story, you can ask them to find a line that supports that this is Absyrtus.
Then you give the next "quote." These quotes might not be something that's ever said in the text, but something you can imagine a character saying based on what happens to them in the story.
Game is over when class ends, they get bored, or you decide it's over.
Again, order of game play:
Kids in groups
Goal in the center, or each group has its own goal
You give a quote (or question)
Groups discuss
You count down from seven (or a different number)
You get to zero and say go; anyone who's ready can walk elegantly to the goal. (if you've given them slips of paper, i suggest requiring they bring the correct slip of paper with them.)
When a kid gets to the goal, they can respond when you call their name. Everyone has to listen.
When a kid says the correct answer, everyone goes back to their group, and a new round starts.
You could use this to practice addition. You could use it to go over historical facts. You could use this to review just about anything you want (and I have).
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