Toolbox Tip 1

TEACHING TIP 1 — Boogle

by Christine Torres

PURPOSE: This activity can be used with teenage (high-school) intermediate level students. This activity allows students to practice their vocabulary and/or put into use possible new words. This activity is very student centered, so I can walk around the class and see how they are doing. I usually do this activity at the end of a lesson so that they can have a bit of fun with the English we have been studying.

TIME: 20 to 30 minutes, depending on size of the group.

MATERIALS NEEDED: Pens or pencils, paper, timer, white board or laptop using the BOOGLE application created especially for my class ( www.starsandstripesenglish.com/boogle )

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. If using the application, set up the laptop and the projector so the application can pick between 9 to 12 letters for you.
  2. If using a whiteboard/blackboard, give students the opportunity to choose between 9 to 12 letters and write them on the board.
  3. Hand out paper and pens or pencils
  4. Explain the rules to the students:
  5. They will have 5 minutes to come up with as many words possible with the letters chosen. WORDS HAVE TO EXIST.
  6. Tell them not to copy from each other because repeated word will not count.
  7. They can repeat letters more than once.
  8. Personal names do not count.
  9. Set the timer for 5 minutes and let students begin.
  10. After time is up allow students to read their lists to check that the words are correctly spelt, not repeated and exist.
  11. Student with most words wins the game.

EXTENSION:

Have students put their words (at least 5 of the words) into sentences to check that they understand the correct use of the words they have written.