"4 CORNERS" is an fun and adaptable game that uses holiday vocabulary and has students practicing counting syllables. This game works best with a large group of students. To play, you will need:
Show the students the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 written on Post-it notes. Practice the numbers and have the students watch you post a number in each corner of the room. Ask students to point to the correct corner when you ask "Where is one? Where is two? Where is three? Where is four?" Tell students to stand up and go to any number they like. Students should spread out so there are some students in each corner. Put the slips of paper with vocabulary words in a cup and randomly choose one. Have the class clap and count the syllables in the word. If the word has 3 syllables, all of the students standing in corner 3 must sit down. The remaining students should move around and choose new corners. Continue choosing vocabulary words, counting the syllables, and eliminating students until there is one winner standing.
This game works well for the very lowest English learners as well as higher levels and mixed groups. It can be adapted for any holiday. For example, for Christmas, use vocabulary such as: December, cold, holiday, winter, gift, twenty-fifth, Christmas tree, stocking, red, green, candle, lights, Merry Christmas, January, celebration, family, happy, food, children, Christmas Eve, snow, etc. For Thanksgiving, use vocabulary such as: Thanksgiving, America, Indian, Pilgrim, turkey, pumpkin pie, November, Thursday, Black Friday, holiday, family, food, etc. For Halloween, use vocabulary such as: October, pumpkin, trick-or-treat, candy, Jack-o-Lantern, costume, children, orange, black, night, holiday, etc.
What do you do to celebrate the holidays with your students?
- 4 Post-it notes labeled with numbers 1-4
- 15-20 holiday vocabulary words between 1 and 4 syllables long written on small slips of paper
- Google images or a prepared slideshow with photos of the vocabulary (optional)
- A room with four corners (or four separate gathering areas)
Show the students the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 written on Post-it notes. Practice the numbers and have the students watch you post a number in each corner of the room. Ask students to point to the correct corner when you ask "Where is one? Where is two? Where is three? Where is four?" Tell students to stand up and go to any number they like. Students should spread out so there are some students in each corner. Put the slips of paper with vocabulary words in a cup and randomly choose one. Have the class clap and count the syllables in the word. If the word has 3 syllables, all of the students standing in corner 3 must sit down. The remaining students should move around and choose new corners. Continue choosing vocabulary words, counting the syllables, and eliminating students until there is one winner standing.
This game works well for the very lowest English learners as well as higher levels and mixed groups. It can be adapted for any holiday. For example, for Christmas, use vocabulary such as: December, cold, holiday, winter, gift, twenty-fifth, Christmas tree, stocking, red, green, candle, lights, Merry Christmas, January, celebration, family, happy, food, children, Christmas Eve, snow, etc. For Thanksgiving, use vocabulary such as: Thanksgiving, America, Indian, Pilgrim, turkey, pumpkin pie, November, Thursday, Black Friday, holiday, family, food, etc. For Halloween, use vocabulary such as: October, pumpkin, trick-or-treat, candy, Jack-o-Lantern, costume, children, orange, black, night, holiday, etc.
What do you do to celebrate the holidays with your students?