This game motivates students to speak and to recall vocabulary. Any type of thematic vocabulary can be used.
The Set -Up: Lay out abut 5 or 6 index cards or slips if paper. Choose three vocabulary themes (numbers, colors, family, professions, verbs, etc.). Choose one word and write it on half of the cards. Choose another word and write it on the rest of the cards. Do the same thing for the two remaining vocabulary themes. Each card should have three words. Make sure that no two cards have the same three words.
The Activity: Hand the cards out to students and have those students go to the front of the room. Tell the rest of the students (and write on the board) all of the words that are written on the cards. The teacher chooses one of the cards in advance and it is the class’s task to figure out who has the card by asking questions of each person who is holding a card. They need to keep track of the information that they learn and make a guess when they think that they figured out the right person.
Keep it Communicative: Write digits, draw lines in color, draw (print out) pictures, etc. for the cards so that students must use their own language to play the game rather than simply reading words. Use these for the students who are asking the questions as well.
There are many variation for this activity, including more advanced questions using various tenses (the card may say “to eat-preterit” and the question would be “did you eat?”). This can also be used several times in the same class, just switch the students and choose another card.
