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In this issue of Activity Banks, I'd like to share some activities using Longman Children's Picture Dictionary. I'm using Topic 11 as an example but you can adapt it to any other topic, and can use it all around the year! One is Crazy Eights and the other is to maximize the use of Songs and Chants. Crazy Eights requires children's oral production, so children will enjoy this after having listening activities, such as "Listening Bingo Game", "Swat Game", "Point to the Pictures" or "Show Me" activities.

Crazy Eights

Materials: 4 sets of flashcards (from Teacher's Resource Book)
Student Age: 6 to 12
Skill: Oral production of target vocabulary
Time: 10 to 15 min.

Preparation:
Photocopy 4 sets of flashcards [PDF] of the topic.
Color the unit number and the oval-shaped space with different colors. (see the photo below)
Cut the cards out, and mix the four sets and shuffle well.

LCPD_Topic11_Photocopiable_Flashcards.pdf

In Class:

1. Have children sit in a circle. Give each child five or six cards. Children have all the cards in their hands. Leave the rest in the center of the circle, piled and face down. Turn the card on the top of the pile and place it next to the pile face up.
2. Decide who plays first. The first player looks at his/her cards and finds the same color card or the same picture card.
    e.g. If the card in the center is "jam" and the color code is blue, the player can throw in any "jam" card, or any other card which color-coded with blue. The player has to name the word when throwing the card in.
3. If the player doesn't have any appropriate cards, he/she takes one card from the pile saying, "I don't have anything."
4. The next player continues the same way until one player throw all of his/her cards in.

Variation 1:
For children who can read, use two sets of flashcards and two sets of word cards. You might want to have children make the word cards during class hours as part of their writing practice.

Variation 2:
Use four sets of cards to play Concentration or Go Fish.

Songs and Chants for Vocabulary Input and Listening Exercise

Songs and chants are fun, and they create a great atmosphere for learning English. They are good for listening exercise, vocabulary and structure input as well as practicing pronunciation, rhythm and intonation. Here are some ideas to utilize songs and chants in class.

LCPD_Topic11_Breakfast_Song.mp3

Listen for the words children know
Give hints and play the song. (e.g. You will hear food for breakfast and things in the kitchen.) Play the song. Children say the words they heard.

Pick up the flashcard
Give flashcards of Topic 11 to children, one card to each child (or pair/group). When they hear the word they have, they have to pick up the flashcards. For older students, you might want to give word cards instead of flashcards.

Tapping/Clapping hands
Children use their pens (NOT pencils) or fingers and tap the table as they listen to the song. Clapping hands is also a simple and good listening exercise.

Drawing
Children draw a picture of their breakfast scene as they listen.

Coloring
Children color the flashcards while listening.

Point to the picture
Children open their picture dictionaries and point to each word as they hear.

Place cards in order
Children place flashcards in the order of the lyrics and then point to or touch the cards as they listen.

Fill in the blanks
Children write the missing words. Click for the worksheet as an example.

Yuco_Kikuchi_LCPD_Topic11 Worksheet.pdf

Before playing the CD, tell children what the song is about. And please remember, children DO focus and listen better if they are given task.

I hope you enjoy these activities!

Yuco Kikuchi

Assisted and collaborated in a distance education program in Chiba and Florida. Currently giving on-site and on-line workshops. Opened lab-schools for teacher development opportunities. Columnist for a magazine for children's teachers. Volunteering at after school English program in an elementary school in Chiba City.