Game in Japanese

"How are you?" Monster Game

Target Grade:1-4
Target English: "How are you?" + adjectives




This is a variation of the traditional "What time is it, Mr Wolf?" game. This time it's used for practising "How are you?" and introducing adjectives. It's also one of my favourite games at the moment! So have a run through the song, then once the kids have got a grasp of the words, let's try the game....



1. The kids all line up at one end side of the gym.

2. Explain that this side of the gym is the "safe" side. But the kids really want to get across to the other side, where there is a sweet shop which today has a half price special offer ( this gets the kids very excited!).

3. But, in between the kids and the sweet shop is a monster! At first the teacher is the monster. Ask the kids to guess what your favourite food is. They'll shout out some foods ( nice practice!), then you say that your favourite food is human! ( Even bigger reaction from the kids!)

4. Tell them that they can only cross to the sweet shop if the monster is in a good mood and isn't hungry. Ask them how they can check on the mood of the monster. After a moment a few kids will say "Ask him/her "How are you?""

5. All together the kids ask the monster "How are you?"

6. Do a few "I'm sorry?"s to get the kids to shout in big loud voices ( so that all the kids join in, not just the super genki ones!)

7. The monster says an answer, e.g. "I'm OK".

8. The kids repeat the answer ( important practice!) and move forward one step ( no jumping allowed!).

9. Repeat from 5.



10. But if the answer is "I'm hungry!!", the kids have to run back to their safe wall! Any kid who is tagged on the way back becomes a monster for the next round!

11. Play again!


This game works a treat and is one of those magic games that the kids play long after the lesson has finished.

The adjective parts come in from the second round. This time you ask the kids if they want a big monster ( mime a big monster) or a small monster ( mime a small monster). The kids have to shout out which they would like. As you are introducing the vocab in context it's a very effective way of teaching. For the second round ask if they'd like a fast monster ( again mime being fast) or a slow monster ( do a "slow motion" mime), and finally for the final round ask them if they'd like a cute monster or a scary monster!! This is a great lead into the adjectives theme for a future lesson.

In the second round there is more than one monster, so I usually get the kids to answer in turn ( just make sure they don't let anyone reach the sweet shop!).

I've also tried this game with parents and they also love it, but this time instead of racing to get the half price sweet shop I tell them they are trying to get to a free bar!!



@


Sign up to get my top tips, games & hints via email!


Copyright (C) 1999/2023 by Richard Graham www.GenkiEnglish.com
Main Menu -|- Buy the Set -|- Contact Me