The rapid recent spread of smartphones and tablets means apps now dominate the casual games market. They are cheap to buy (or free!), simple to play and often feature short but challenging levels. The fact that they run on mobile devices means they are perfect for 'gaming on the go' and are literally at your fingertips. They are also very popular with kids so here is a lesson based on mobile games that I have used again and again with my classes.
Game(s): Cut the Rope + various currently popular game apps
Platform: iPad; Android; Google Chrome web app also available
Suitable for: young learners and teens
Preparation: research the current most popular games for smartphones and tablets.
Necessary Materials: ‘What’s that app?’ Powerpoint slides; Om Nom Stories original episode (YouTube)
Platform: iPad; Android; Google Chrome web app also available
Suitable for: young learners and teens
Preparation: research the current most popular games for smartphones and tablets.
Necessary Materials: ‘What’s that app?’ Powerpoint slides; Om Nom Stories original episode (YouTube)
Lesson Outline
Ask students if they like to play mobile games (they will most likely say ‘yes!’) and which games are their favourites, helping out with any vocabulary they need to know.
Show the first Powerpoint slide and ask them to name the games (between the class, they will probably know all of them). Elicit how they are played (teach words like swipe, tap, tilt, etc. as necessary). Explain that the students will play a memory game in which one of the game logos will disappear. They then have to identify which one is missing (this acts as a nice warmer).
Show the first Powerpoint slide and ask them to name the games (between the class, they will probably know all of them). Elicit how they are played (teach words like swipe, tap, tilt, etc. as necessary). Explain that the students will play a memory game in which one of the game logos will disappear. They then have to identify which one is missing (this acts as a nice warmer).
Focus on the ‘Cut the Rope’ logo and ask them to tell you about that game. Ask the students what Om Nom would do if he came to the real world and what dangers he might face. Next, tell the students you are going to show them a video of Om Nom is somebody’s house. Ask them to watch and compare what they see with their ideas from the pre-viewing discussion.
Next, play the video again and ask the students to pay careful attention to the details as they will answer observation-style questions when the clip has finished. Here are a few examples of questions I ask my students:
b) A washing machine
c) A television
d) A frying pan
Put the students into small groups and play the video one more time. Instruct the groups to write three more observation questions to ask the rest of the class. The students then work in small groups to write questions and then watch the video one more time before asking each other. Circulate and help them with language points as necessary.
Once ready, the groups ask each other their quiz questions (this could be done as a mini game if you wish). Go over any common errors with question forms on the board.
For the next stage of the lesson, ask the groups to note down on paper the events they remember from the video. As the groups share the events with the class, write them on the board in the same order in which the groups say them. Then ask the groups to put the events listed on the board into the right order (you may play the video once again for them to check their answers).
The final stage in class is to ask the students to prepare a narration of the events in the video either as a commentary or from the point of view of the main character. For this activity, give each group some time to prepare notes and then have them act out their narration for the class. Alternatively, they could narrate the video as it is playing.
Wrap up by going over language errors that occurred during the narration activity or discussing why mobile games are increasingly popular.
- At the start of the clip, a girl was playing Cut The Rope on her iPad. How many stars did she have on that level?
- What colour was the girl’s iPad?
- What was the first thing Om Nom tried to eat?
- Which of the following items was NOT in the video?
b) A washing machine
c) A television
d) A frying pan
- Name five food items from the video.
Put the students into small groups and play the video one more time. Instruct the groups to write three more observation questions to ask the rest of the class. The students then work in small groups to write questions and then watch the video one more time before asking each other. Circulate and help them with language points as necessary.
Once ready, the groups ask each other their quiz questions (this could be done as a mini game if you wish). Go over any common errors with question forms on the board.
For the next stage of the lesson, ask the groups to note down on paper the events they remember from the video. As the groups share the events with the class, write them on the board in the same order in which the groups say them. Then ask the groups to put the events listed on the board into the right order (you may play the video once again for them to check their answers).
The final stage in class is to ask the students to prepare a narration of the events in the video either as a commentary or from the point of view of the main character. For this activity, give each group some time to prepare notes and then have them act out their narration for the class. Alternatively, they could narrate the video as it is playing.
Wrap up by going over language errors that occurred during the narration activity or discussing why mobile games are increasingly popular.
Online extension
Use the students’ questions to make an online quiz to be put on the class website (see this link for an example from my 5th Graders). If possible, it would be a good idea to record their voice narrations and add them to the class blog together with the video clip as well.
NOTE: This is an adaptation of a post I originally wrote for my teaching blog Reflections of a Teacher and Learner
LINK: http://www.davedodgson.com/2012/05/cut-app.html
LINK: http://www.davedodgson.com/2012/05/cut-app.html