05 Attractive Games to Teach Literature.

Most of the time teachers do not use games in the literature class. Try this wonderful games which do not require much resources to initiate with. Teacher can use his/her creativity to enhance, adapt or transform these games according to the level, number and age group of students. Let your creativity fly, you will come up with the best out of them. 

01. Definition Dive

Definition dive is a fine way to teach vocabulary related to the text children study. It can be done with or without many resources. The game can be done in groups, pairs or individually. Pair or group work would be great. In this way, students will internalize the vocabulary and their usage. 

First, pick up the intended vocabulary to teach from the poem, short story or the text. If you can, you can utilize board stripes or cards to write the words. Teacher can provide the following worksheet or put an enlarged version on the board for students to copy down. Students may or may not be allowed to use a dictionary according to their level. 

Teacher can write the word on the board and ask students to begin. Now, starts the buzzer round. (if possible teacher can arrange a buzzer in the class or ask students to raise their hands after completing the task.) The first group or student who finishes will score marks. After all the words completed, the group/ student scored highest marks will be the winner.

02. Heroes and Heroines

Through this dart game teacher can revise the knowledge of characterization on a novel, drama or a short story. Students have to describe the character according to the role in the text. For example: if it is about character of hero, student has to describe how he becomes the hero and what are his key characteristics in the story or play.

Teacher has to make a dart board and buy or make a dart. If it is hard to be done, teacher can draw the dart board on the white board and make a simple dart using a pencil, suction cup and some super glue. It is possible to use a toy gun with a suction cup bullet. There are more tactics, let your creativity flow.

Elect students randomly, ask the student to hit the dart on the board. According to the target he/she gets, he/she has to describe the character. Heroes and Heroines get higher marks and supporting characters get less marks. Make students aware about the rules and the way they get marks. Adapt rules according to level of students. Your students will surly enjoy this.

03. Answer Shoot

This game can be used as a warmer or rapid-fire question types. This will be challenging and enjoyable for students and it will break ice on your students’ lazy minds and bodies. Teacher will need a ball and a basketball ring for this. It is not necessary to be a perfect one, I have created one with an empty chocolate bar container and a simple plastic ball. 

Teacher can pre-set a questionnaire consists of short answer elicit type questions. That means the answers should be one word or a phrase. This can be done as a time elapsed game. Set the time according to the level of students. 

Take a group to the front of the class; teacher can begin questioning with the timer, a student in the group has to answer the question correctly and shoot the ball into the ring. Correct answer+ shooting double the score. Change rules according to your preferences. Students will be actively participating in this as it involves their mind and body.

 

04. Jeopardy

Jeopardy is legendary, as it can be used for teaching any subject. Teacher can prepare a PowerPoint jeopardy with minimum effort. Here you can test vocabulary, techniques related to poetry, about incidents, characters… and much more. 

If you have no idea of making a PowerPoint jeopardy, do it as follows: 

a. Open PowerPoint and make the link page (picture 01)

b. Add questions in separate slides: if you want you can add answers too.

c. Select question number and go to Menu>format>actions>hyperlink to>slide number (picture 02)

If you do not have time for these things, visit Factile.com , they will automatically generate an amazing  jeopardy for you for free. 

Now you have the Jeopardy, take students randomly to click/touch on question number, and answer the question, if he/she succeeds, he/she can try for more questions. Award scores and the one who take highest marks will be the winner. (This is more like the TV program ‘Who want to be a Millionaire’) Set enough questions according to the number of students

05. Memory play

Students find it hard to memorize quotations and incidents, (personally I know how hard it is) let’s help them in an interesting way. Provide students quotations on plays. Ask them to memorize them at home. in the class at random teacher can get them. Provide marks for proper articulation, dramatization and memory. Students will compel themselves to by heart the lines which will be helpful for them in exams. To make it more interesting, teacher can ask students to act out while repeating the quotes. (Which will be very effective to remember dialogues in dramas) 

 

Check out this post on some interesting games on teaching literature.

I’m sure you have much more interesting activities to involve students in literature, please share them with the readers of this blog. Comment your wonderful tact-tics below. Share if you find this useful to others.