(~ __ L-,-e_v_el__ ~)Intermediate or

upper-intermediate Comments( Type ) .'----~---~ This game provides a lot of input and intensive practice with a wide range of verbs in the simple past

and habitual past with used to. Because the subject of childhood and teenage memories is so close toeveryone's heart, the game promotes a lot of conversation and better student rapP'?rt.As such, itshould be reserved for the more communicative end of the lesson and used for fluency building.

CLanguagefocusUsed to

Board game

c_. TOPiC.--,-~)Growing-up memories

UNIT 2 Past

Sweet memories) Vocabulary

Verbs.:grow up, fall down, break, fight with, fail, go on a trip, have a dateNouns:.childhood memory, toy, tree house, pet, (school) subject, complaints, idol, hero, date, curfew,school dance

(,- __ In_t_er_a_ct_i_on_~) Language output...............................................................................................................................................................................................

Groups of two to six

C T_i-m_e=~~_"J~20-30 minutes

Board and dice (one pergroup), counters (one per

student)

J

Procedures1 Preparequestions related to childhood and teenage experJences.Askone at a time, elicit answers from

the dass, and continue the conversation from there, as shown in Language output. Draw students'attention to the meaning and use of used to, and contrast it with the simple past if necessary.

2 Divide the class into groups and hand out the material.

3 Playing the game:

• Players place their counters at the starting paint (symbol of birth: the stork) on the board.• They take turns casting the dice and moving along the board accordingly.• Whenever a player lands on a square with a question in it, someone in the group asks him

or her that question, and the player answers. The group should then explore the topic withfurther questions, answers, comments, etc. Encourage the appropriate use of the simple pastand used to.

• Whenever a player lands on one of the squares containing happy or unhappy events of life, heor she must follow the instructions in them.

• The first player to get to (but not beyond) the finishing point (symbol of graduation: themortarboard) wins the game.

Variations1 If you are teaching teenagers, change the questions so as to suit their young age.

2 If you want to let your students decide what to talk about and formulate the questions themselves,.replace the questions on the board with prompts, e.g. GROW UP, SCHOOL, TOYS, GAMES,DATING, MOTHER, BROTHERS & SISTERS, etc.

Note on class size

If students are playing in pairs or groups of three, use coins instead of dice. That way they will moveeither one square (heads) or two squares (tails), and have more opportunities to talk.

Where did yougrow up? What

was it like there?

What kind ofplace did youuse to live in?

You fall downand break your arm.

Move back·2 squares.

5What isyourfavouritechildhoodmemory?

26\-----2-5 '---7244"1-------::-2:"13-----2--,2L----2::":1r----:---2Ol

What did you use What complaintsto love dOing? did your motherWhat did you use to havehate dOing? about you?

How often didyou use to spend

the night atfriends'?

What did youuse to do atweekends?

Who used tobe your idol

or hero?

You fail yourmaths test.Missa turn.

27

28You go on yourfirst trip withyour friends.Play again.

Who was Y0l}rJirstdate?

How did it go?

Did you use tohave a curfew?

29

4 31You don't havea date for theschool dance.Missa turn.

16

3637What used to

be yourbiggest dream?

35 17Did you use to bea good student?

What was~your favourite

subject?

What used tobe your biggest

problem?

What used tobe your favburite

place to bealone in?

You learn to ridea'bicycle. Move

forward 2 squares.

15

Who used to beyour favouriterelative? Why?~- -..._--

7/101----_-;----;;,

/~ I 11 121------1

'"13

Did you. use Who did you useto have a pet?

to fight with?What? If not,Who did you

did you want use to play with?one?

What used tobe your

favourite toy?

81------;:9

Your father buildsyou a tree house.

Play again.

What did youuse to do in yourschool holidays?

14

18

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