The Banana Tree Game

Language Focus: All skill

Usage Level: All Level

Notes:

This game will teach the children how to answer and respond on questions well. The competition makes it merrier, since they can also play the game in groups.

Materials:

1. List of questions in theme of learning

2. board to draw the tree

3. stopwatch

Method:

This is basically a scoring game, and can be used in various different ways. Here's one variation using the Ball and Music Game.

1. Put the kids in groups (6 is usually good as there are usually 6 rows of desks), but keep them seated at their desks.

2. Draw pictures of trees on the board, one tree for each group. Each tree has 9 "rungs" (add more or less depending on the amount of time you wish to play), and some bananas at the top. (see the picture above) This takes about 1 minute if you're quick!

3. Each team then has an animal which will climb the tree (e.g. Monkey, Koala, but also things like "cow" or "helicopter" are very amusing!). Explain that the aim of the game is to eat the bananas at the top!

4. During the game you play some music (something fast and dancey). When the music plays the kids pass a ball around (no throwing!!).

5. You stop the music.

6. You then ask the person holding the ball a question ("What's this? How are you? What's your name? etc.)

7. If the student gets it right then their team's animal climbs one rung up the tree!

8. Repeat from step 4 until one team reaches the top - and the bananas!

This is good for a review session, or even for practicing new vocab. 9 rungs lasts about 20 minutes. After the first few tries I then ask questions that are worth 2 "rungs", or even ask the kids if they want an easy question for 1 point or a tricky one for 2 points!!

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