In this article I want to share one of the brightest ideas to hold review lessons,
contest between equal (I mean the level of the students) groups, classes or even students
from different schools or even Countries (which we tried when students from the USA came
to our School 1319 which is in Mar'ino)
The name of the game is “Trivial Pursuit”. The game itself is vivid, can contain a lot
of different questions and involve a lot of participants.
“Trivial Pursuit” consist of four parts, which are called games:
- “Fate game”
- “Free choice game”
- “Individual game”
- “Blitz game”
The equipment needed:
1. A round table (or a round board, which can be put on a table), having four colours
(e.g. red, yellow, green and blue), each segment should be divided into ten parts and have
digits 1, 2, 3, …, 10.
2. A board with four lines of magnets of the same four colours and having digits 1, 2, 3,
…, 10
3. Whirligig top.
And now I will try to explain the rules of the game.
As an example I will describe one of the games, which I usually have in the fifth Grade
between two groups as a credit lesson on the topic “Great Britain”.
Two teams are chosen – the number of members is any (6 and more)
The first game is – “Fate game”
The members of the teams turn the top which stops – for example at red 10
(before the game we decide –
“red” – background 10 knowledge questions
“yellow” – 10 testing questions
“green” – 10 questions on geography
“blue” – 10 questions on history)
Ten questions – because each segment is divided into ten, and there are ten magnets
in the board line.
When both teams have turned the top three times, the assistant should take away the
magnets from the board so that both the players and the organizers can see what questions
are left. In this game each team gets points.
The second game is called “Free Choice Game”
In this game each team sounds the questions they want to ask, e.g. they want
“History-1” and can say “History-1 or blue-1”
The dealer reads the questions the team answers it.
(You can choose the number of questions for this game, you can choose again 3
questions)
Each team gets points for correct answers
The third game is called “Individual game”
In this game a member of one team asks a member of the opposite team individually. For example John says “I want to ask Mary. Mary...? ”
Mary answers the question. The questions should be prepared beforehand, according to
the theme, and I think, the teacher's is needed here assistance.
Correct answer as well as good questions can bring “points to the teams”.
And the last game is “Blitz Game”.
The teacher asks ten or fifteen questions, one by one, first one team, then the other.
Each correct answer brings points to the teams.
Then, the jury counts the points and announces the winner.
If you want to make the game more vivid and show-like you can add songs, poems, different pictures on the screen.
If you are attentive enough to read this article and try to understand the essence of the game, I am sure, you will find it – as one more ways to make English learning more entertaining, motivating and very attractive.
Wish you success!