Higher or Lower

A super simple game I use in class is Higher or Lower. It takes no time to prepare, gets students really engaged in an activity and can be used to practice a wide range of skill sets.
To start with numbers. The is a myriad of numbers you can practice all. Prices, times, dates, weight, height, number of people at a place. The list is endless. If it has a number you can use it.
You can also use it to practice modals of deduction and some simple language chunks that will be useful both in life and when the students goes in for their dreaded Cambridge exam.
I tend to arm my students with the chunks of language they are going to need at the start of the game.

I think it could be....
I don't reckon it's more than....
I can't be sure but....
I'm guessing it's about.....
Well, it's obviously more than.....
You said Claudio was close so it must be around...
It's clearly between ..... and .... so my guess is....
Ok, so the number must be....

Then I draw a simple grid on the board. 2 columns and two rows.

In the title row I put the comparatives necessary for the activity. If I were doing the price of a car one side would read:

More expensive than....   and the other.              Cheaper than....


I'd put a picture of the car up (google images) and I'd get the students to start guessing. Asking each students in turn to provide me with a number.

I'm not sure how your students are with numbers and the different ways in which we use numbers in English but after just 5 classes which have included the height of a mountain, the price of a car, the time of my alarm on my phone, the age of a painting and the number of tourists to visit The Alcazar in Sevilla. I've seen 90% of my students being able to use "Big" numbers with almost consummate ease. It's a fun way of drilling numbers and it gives everyone in class a chance to practice.

Right then. That's it for today. Coming soon some fun musical ideas and post-it notes galore.

Til the next time.

Speaking Part 1. Phrasal Verb Battle Ships

Below I've posted a quick outline of one of my most popular ever games. While at first it seems quite complex and does contain an awful lot of detail. It can be used as a reference and I almost always get my students to whip it out in class as a quick filler.

It's just a new take on battle ships. The Hasbro classic board game and of course multi million dollar box office flop starring Rhianna.

The full worksheet can be found here https://sites.google.com/site/sirhofthebomb84/other-materials. It contains the game board, a definition of each phrasal verb, an example sentence and a space for students to put their own example.

The game itself is then pretty easy. Students can use the board in class and when they're at home revise the 36 phrasal verbs. I also tend to get them to come in and tell me any other meanings they've found for any of the phrasal verbs and also whether they're seperable or inseperable.

While I realise this is by no means the ultimate list of PV's it is a useful tool to learn them and it also adds the bonus of practicing some of the popular part one questions from the Cambridge.

I hope your students enjoy it as much as mine did.

Take it easy, and if you're in Spain, enjoy the long weekend. 

Rules:

1) Draw your ships on anywhere your Grid.

2) Say a sentence using a phrasal verb to select a question.

3) If you HIT a ship Answer the Question if you MISS all ships it’s your partner’s turn to guess.

4) Win by sinking all your partner’s ships. 

 

	Get	Set	Turn	Take	Check	Call
In
Out
Up
On
Off
Back

	Get	Set	Turn	Take	Check	Call
In	Where are you from?	What do you like about living here?	Where was the last place you went on holiday? Did you enjoy it?	Would you rather eat in or eat out? Why?	Do you have much contact with your cousins?	Can you remember your first English lessons? What were they like?
Out	Do you normally go out with family or friends?	What’s your surname? Can you spell it?	How did you get here today?	How important is the Internet to you?	What is your fondest childhood memory?	How do you like to spend your evenings?
Up	Do you like using public transport?	Do you want to do the same job as your parents?	Why are you studying English?	Where do you plan to go for your next holiday?	What’s the longest journey you’ve ever been on?	If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be? Why?
On	What don’t you like doing while you’re on holiday?	How much time do you spend on the internet?	Is it easy to meet new people where you live?	How long have you been studying English?	How often do you watch TV?	How expensive is it to go out in the evening where you live?
Off	What is the most popular sport in your country?	When was the last time you went to the cinema? What did you see?	What sports do you enjoy watching on TV?	Tell me about your favourite celebrity?	Do you think English is important for your future?	What did you do for your last birthday?
Back	Are you happier doing mental or physical work?	How do you find out what’s happening in the world?	What’s the difference between watching the news on TV and reading it in the newspaper?	Do you play any sports?	Which part of the day do you enjoy most? Why?	What do you do on an average weekend?