The Christmas Stocking Game. Deck the Halls: The Christmas Stocking Board Game – Free Printable PDF
The Christmas Stocking Game
The Christmas Stocking Game
Level: Intermediate +
Aims: a speaking activity with emphasis on oral fluency; this activity could also be used as a review class before a mid term test.
Materials: One copy of the game board and a coin for each group of 3-4 Ss; a large sock (preferably a Christmas stocking), a collection of different objects or a series of revision questions for an upcoming test. The game board looks better if it is enlarged and copied onto A3 size paper.
Warmer: Draw a picture of a Christmas stocking on the board. Ask Ss “What is this?” Explain the difference between a sock and a stocking. Tell the Ss about the English Christmas tradition of stockings (traditionally stockings are hung above the fireplace, and Father Christmas leaves gifts inside them; if you get left a piece of coal it means you were bad this year). Ask Ss if they have any similar kind of tradition where they come from.
Play the Game: Tell the students that in this class they are going to talk about different aspects of the Christmas Season. Divide the class into groups of three or four and give each group a board and a coin. Give them a copy of the instructions (above) and let them start. Monitor and help where necessary.
PROCEDURE
Play this game in groups of three or four.
Toss a coin. If you get HEADS, go forward one space. If you get TAILS go forward two spaces.
If you land on a square with a question, answer the question. Talk for at least 30 seconds.
If you land on a square with a stocking, do a special task the teacher gives you.
REMARKS
The Stocking Squares – Two options:
(1) If you are playing with a very small class (and maybe have only two games going at the same time), here’s a nice activity you can do using the stocking and a series of small, everyday objects (pen, calculator, mobile phone, cassette, piece of clothing etc.). Every time somebody lands on a stocking square, they must try to guess what is in the stocking (so you have to slip the object in the stocking without Ss seeing you!). Tell them to use language of speculation and sensations when they do this e.g. It might be… It could be… It must be… It feels (adj)… It feels like a (noun)…
(2) Prepare a series of revision questions on little pieces of paper (taken from your coursebook). Every time someone lands on a stocking square, they must answer a revision question correctly. Another variant on this would be to have the students make their own revision questions and put them all in the stocking.
Another possibility that is compatible with the two above is to have a little Christmas treat for each time someone answers a stocking question correctly. This involves the teacher buying a bag of sweets for the class though!
All downloads are in PDF format
Also check out these free resources on Christmas and New Year’s Eve
