HOT POTATO GAME

 

Useable for reviewing about any grammar at any level, although first years seem to have the most affinity for it. Have students pass around an unbreakable object while you play any music you deem appropriate. (Avril Lavigne seems to be popular at my schools.) A soft ball or plush toy is good, but be careful: if it’s something too fascinating for students they will tend to hold onto it rather than passing it along, which defeats the game’s purpose. When you pause the music, the student who has the object has to answer a question from a list you’ve prepared. Examples for first term, first year grammar:

 

1.         How’s the weather?

2.        How are you?

3.        What’s the date today?

4.        What day is it today?

5.        What time is it now?

6.        Are you from Tokyo?

7.        Are you from Kitakyushu?

8.        Is this your book?

9.        Where are you from?

10.       Are you Ken?

 

There’s no real “object” to the game, aside from not getting caught with the “hot potato”[1], but students seem to enjoy it. It makes a good warm-up activity, even at lower level schools.