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TEFL
with Nothing but a Full Deck
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Many of us often find
ourselves teaching under conditions that do not always make photocopying, overhead
projectors, VCRs, cassette recorders, lights, chalkboards, or even the basic four walls
possible. It may also be the case that many of us are just tired of all the paper waste
and chalk dust that go into our jobs. Necessity being the mother of invention, I have
developed a series of exercises for beginners, or for students that simply need practice
speaking, that allow your basic deck of playing cards to function as an all-in-one visual
aid. English Cards allows you the opportunity to experiment with your choice of
language teaching methodologies in an assortment of practical tasks while never having to
resort to translation. All that's needed to teach with English Cards is one
complete deck of playing cards for every four students (desperate teachers can manage on
one deck for an entire class), paper and pens/pencils. If the students are younger, or if
playing cards are not available, with paper and scissors, you can create as many decks of
playing cards as you need.
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Each Exercise is separated into Tasks and each
task is separated into three or more of the following: Preparation, Instructions,
Visualization, Vocabulary, and Review. Preparation, Instruction , and Vocabulary
sections are self-explanatory. The Visualization section provides a time to write
out the vocabulary so students can make connections between the sound of each word and its
spelling. This can also be a time to explain minor grammar points (in English). The Review
section is a time to measure what vocabulary/phrases the students have retained or
forgotten. One method of review is to start the sentence and allow the students to finish
it; ex., (from Exercise 2) January is____________ (in the winter). Another good review
method is to form questions/answers (Q/A) without the use of the cards; ex., (from
Exercise 3) Q. "What month is this?", A. "This month is April."
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EXERCISE 1: Cardinal numbers
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Instructions: Use the playing cards to
demonstrate the numbers, the Ace being 1, and the ten being both 10 and O (the Jack,
Queen, and King are not needed here). A restricted use of the Audiolingual Method followed
by the Silent Way functions well here. Take the time to drill the students until they have
a good grasp of 1-100, and 100-1,000.
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Preparation: Separate each deck of
playing cards according to suits (hearts, diamonds, spades, and clubs). Give each player
in a group of four a different suit of cards (ex., player one will have the Ace of hearts
to the 10 of hearts, player two will have the Ace of diamonds to the 10 of diamonds, etc.)
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Player 1: Displays on the table one card
or a series of cards that make up a number (ex., Ace + 2 + 3 = 123).
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Player 2: Says the number out loud -
"one hundred twenty three." If player 2 can answer, s/he gets a point; if not,
player 3 can try to answer and earn the point.
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Player 2: Displays.(continue in this
fashion, play up to ten points) Finish
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Preparation: Each player has a suit of
cards from Ace to 10.
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Player 1: Says a number out loud.*
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Player 2: Displays Player 1's number on
the table with his/her cards. If player 2 is correct, s/he gets a point; if not, player 3
can try to answer and earn the point.
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Player 2: Says a.(continue in this
fashion, play up to ten points)
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*This is a listening drill. Students are not
allowed to write.
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Exercise 1: Bingo Variation
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Preparation: Each player has a complete
suit of cards from Ace - King
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| Jack |
Queen |
King |
| ------- |
------- |
------- |
| ------- |
------- |
------- |
| ------- |
------- |
------- |
Start
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The row of Jack, Queen, King serves as the Bingo
row. Players put the rest of their cards in any order in the remaining spaces. As in
Bingo, you call out a number such as Jack-Two. Those who have a 2 in the Jack row can turn
that card over. The first player to have three turned-over cards in a row (across, down,
diagonal) yells out Jack, Queen, King.
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Visualization: See paragraph 1
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Vocabulary: Cardinal numbers, Jack,
Queen, King
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Instructions: Use the playing cards to
demonstrate the months-(Ace) January, (2 )February, to (Queen) December. Take time to
drill the students until they have a good grasp of the months.
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Arrange the cards in a square formation, with
three cards to a side: (Queen)Dec. (Ace)Jan. and (2)Feb. on one side representing winter,
(3)Mar. (4)Apr. and (5)May on another side representing spring, (6)Jun. (7)Jul. (8)Aug. on
another side representing summer, and (9)Sept. (10)0ct. (Jack)Nov. on the last side
representing fall as in the diagram below.
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Summer |
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(Jun) (Jul) (Aug) |
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6 7 8
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| Spr. |
(May) 5
(Apr) 4
(Mar) 3 |
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9 (Sept)
10 (Oct)
Jack (Nov) |
Fall |
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2 Ace Queen |
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(Feb) (Jan) (Dec) |
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Winter |
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Is vs. are: Use the card formation to help explain the following sentences.
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December, January, and February are in
the winter. March, April, and May are in the spring. June, July, and August are
in the summer. September, October, and November are in the fall (autumn).*
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October is in the fall (autumn).
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*A bit of acting is required here. Take time to
drill the students until they have a good grasp of when to use is vs. are in the example
sentences above.
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Task 4: America/Australia
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Preparation: Set up two diagrams of the
months, one representing America and one representing Australia. Demonstrate to the
students that summer in America is winter in Australia, that spring in America is fall
(autumn) in Australia, etc. A map would be helpful here to assist in teaching a little
geography.
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Begin by calling out AMERICA to begin the game,
but rotate throughout the course of the game between AUSTRALIA and AMERICA .
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Player 1: "January is in
the______."
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Player 2: "January is in the winter
." If player 2 answers correctly, s/he gets a point; if not, player 3 can answer for
the point.
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Player 2: March, April, and May are in
the______."
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(continue in this fashion, play up to ten
points)
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Visualization: See paragraph 1
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Vocabulary: Months, seasons, and, in,
the, are, is, cold, wet, hot, cool, America, Australia.
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EXERCISE 3: This month, next month, the month after next, last month,
the month before last
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Instructions: Arrange the cards in the
same month/season diagram like below.
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Summer |
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(Jun) (Jul) (Aug) |
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6 7 8
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| Spr. |
(May) 5
(Apr) 4
(Mar) 3 |
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9 (Sept)
10 (Oct) Fall
11 Jack (Nov) |
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2 1 Ace Queen 12 |
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(Feb) (Jan) (Dec) |
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Winter |
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Point to the cards in the diagram to help explain the following sentences.
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The month after next will be June.
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The month before last was February.
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Take time to drill the students until they have
a good grasp of when to use the italicized words.
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Preparation: Each group has a diagram of
the months/seasons like above.
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Player 1: Puts his/her left finger on
January.
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Player 2: Says the name of the month,
"This is January."
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Player 1: Puts his/her right finger on
February.
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Player 2: Says, "Next month will be
February."
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Player 1: Puts his/her right finger on
March.
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Player 2: Says, "The month after
next will be March."
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Player 1: Puts his/her right finger on
December.
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Player 2: Says, "Last month was
December."
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Player 1: Puts his/her finger on
November.
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Player 2: Says, "The month before
last was November."
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Player 2: Puts his/her finger.(the game
continue in this fashion, points are scored for every correct answer, play to 25).
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Visualization: See paragraph 1
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Vocabulary: Month, this, next, after,
last, before, will be, was.
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EXERCISE 4: Ordinal numbers
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Instructions: Use the cards to display two
identical columns as follows:
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| (Cardinal) |
(Ordinal) |
| Ace (one) |
Ace (first) |
| 2 (two) |
2 (second) |
| 3 (three) |
3 (third) |
| 4 |
4 |
Use these columns to help explain the difference between cardinal and ordinal numbers:
one-first, two- second, three-third, etc. Take the time to drill the students until they
have an understanding of ordinal numbers up to 100.
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Use the cards to help diagram the dates below.
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(April 24th) 4 24, (May 12th ) 5 Ace 2,
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(June 1st ) 6 Ace, (December 7th) Queen 7, etc.
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(drill enough dates until students understand
the concept of month plus ordinal number).
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Preparation: Each player has a suit of
cards from Ace to Queen.
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Player 1: Displays a date on the table
using his/her cards.
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Player 2: Says out loud the date the
displayed cards represent (emphasis here on ordinal #'s) If correct, player 2 gets one
point; if not, player 3 can answer for the point.
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Player 2: Displays a date.(continue in
this fashion, play to 10)
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Preparation: Each player has a suit of
cards from Ace to Queen.
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Player 1: Says a date out loud, ex.,
April 26
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Player 2: Displays the date on the table
using his/her cards. If correct, player 2 gets a point; if not, player 3 can try to answer
for the point.
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Player 2: says a date.(continue in this
fashion, play to 10)
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Visualization: See paragraph 1
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Vocabulary: Ordinal numbers
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Review: Try to review the ordinal #'s
orally without the help of the cards.
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EXERCISE 5: Today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, yesterday, the day
before yesterday
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Introduction: Use the playing cards to
help diagram the following sentences.
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Today is April 23rd (4) (23).
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Tomorrow will be April 24th (4) (24).
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The day after tomorrow will be April 25th
(4) (25).
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Today is April 23rd (4) (23).
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Yesterday was April 22nd (4) (22).
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Take the time to drill the students until they
have an understanding of the underlined words.
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Preparation: Each player has a suit of
cards from Ace to Queen.
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Player 1: Displays a month and day on the
table with his/her cards; ex., April 23rd (4) (23).
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Player 2: Says out loud the date
displayed, "April 23rd," and proceeds to go through the pattern, "Tomorrow
will be April 24th. The day after tomorrow will be April 25th, Yesterday was April 22nd.
The day before yesterday was April 21st." Player 2 receives one point for each
correct answer.
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Player 2: Displays a month.(continue in
this fashion)
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Visualization: See paragraph 1
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Vocabulary: Today, tomorrow, day,
yesterday
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Introduction: Use the playing cards to
help diagram the following years.
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Today is April 24th, 1996 (Ace 9 9 6).
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Preparation: Each player has a suit of
cards from Ace to10.
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Player 1: Displays a year with his/her
cards on the table
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Player 2: Says the year displayed out
loud. If correct, player 2 gets one point; if not, player 3 can try to answer for the
point.
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Player 2: Displays a year.(continue in
this fashion, play to 10).
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Preparation: Each player has a suit of
cards from Ace to 10.
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Player 1: Says a year out loud
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Player 2: Displays with his/her cards on
the table the year spoken out loud by player one. If correct, player 2 gets one point; if
not, player 3 can try for the answer.
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Player 2: Says a year.(continue in this
fashion, play to 10).
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Visualization: See paragraph 1
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Vocabulary: Numbers in years
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EXERCISE 7: This year, last year, the year before last, next year, the
year after next.
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Introduction: Form the diagram below with
the cards.
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Use the diagram above to help the students understand the following sentences.
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The year after next will be 1998.
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The year before last was 1994.
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Preparation: Each player has a suit of
cards from Ace to 10.
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Player 1: Displays his/her cards on the
table for a particular year; ex., 1975 (Ace 9 7 5)
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Player 2: Says the year out loud and
begins the pattern, "This year is nineteen seventy- five, next year will be nineteen
seventy-six, the year after next will be nineteen seventy- seven, last year was nineteen
seventy- four, the year before last was nineteen seventy- three." Player two gets one
point for each correct answer.
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Player 2: Displays his/her
cards.(continue in this fashion, play to 25)
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Visualization: See paragraph 1
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Introduction: Use the playing cards to
help diagram the following sentences.
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I was born on February 27, 1968.
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He (King) was born on April 3, 1985.
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She (Queen) was born on May 7, 1981.
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You were born on February 27, 1968.
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Preparation: Each group has a deck of
cards.
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Player 1: Displays cards for his/her
birthday, ex., Feb. 27, 1968.
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Player 2: Says out loud, "You were
born on Feb. 27, 1968."
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Player 2: points to the King and displays
cards for a birthday; ex., May 6, 1972.
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Player 3: Says out loud.(continue in this
fashion, play to 10)
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Visualization: See paragraph 1
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Vocabulary: I, born, am, years, old, he,
she, you, were.
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EXERCISE 9: Days of the Week
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Introduction: Use the playing cards to
diagram the days of the week as below to help explain the sentences.
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| Ace |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
| Sun. |
Mon. |
Tue. |
Wed. |
Thu. |
Fri. |
Sat. |
Today is Wednesday.
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Tomorrow will be Thursday.
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The day after tomorrow will be Friday.
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The day before yesterday was Monday.
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Task 13: Modification of Task 8 can be
applied here.
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Visualization: See paragraph 1
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Vocabulary: Days of the week
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Introduction: Arrange the playing cards
into the clock diagram as below.
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Queen |
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Jack |
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Ace |
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10 |
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2 |
9 |
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3 |
8 |
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4 |
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7 |
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5 |
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6 |
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Use two different size pens/pencils/sticks and the diagram to help explain the times
below.
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Preparation: Each group should have a
clock diagram.
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Player 1: Moves the arms of the clock to
a time, ex., 2:30.
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Player 2: Says the time out loud, ex.,
"two-thirty."
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Player 2: Moves the arms.(continue in
this fashion, play to 10).
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Preparation: Same as Task 14
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Player 1: says a time out loud, ex.,
"three fifteen."
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Player 2: Moves the arms of the clock to
match the time, ex., 3:15.
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Player 2: Says a time. (continue in this
fashion, play to 10).
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Visualization: See paragraph 1
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Exercise 11: Prepositions
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Instructions: Use the deck of playing
cards to demonstrate drawing a card "from the top, from the middle, from the
bottom," and placing a card "on the top, on the bottom, or in the middle."
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Demonstrate an example of over, under,
in-between-shuffle the deck and place down two cards face up. The object is to tell
whether the next card will be over, under, or in-between. If the guess is correct, the
player keeps the three cards. The player with the most cards at the end of the game is the
winner.
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Variation on telling time as in Task 14 and Task
15 using instead "five after one" or "five before one."
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Visualization: See paragraph 1
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Vocabulary: To draw, to place, from, top,
middle, bottom, on, in, over, under, (in) between, after, before.
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Instructions: Use one of the face cards
(Jack, Queen, or King) to demonstrate left, right, behind, above, below, next to, by,
across from, on. This can most easily be done by standing the card up as it is itself
standing, another face card standing up can be used to demonstrate "next to, by,
across from, on".
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Player 1: Creates a situation that player
2 must describe. Example, "The Queen stands (is standing) behind the Jack."
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Player 1: Dictates a situation that
player 2 must create (same situations as in Task 19).
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(Demonstrate "to go" or "to
walk" north, south, east, west, forwards, backwards, "to turn", using a
face card) Player 1 creates a situation that player 2 must describe. Example: "The
Queen walks (is walking) north." Other cards can be used for streets to make things
more complicated (1st Ave., 2nd Ave., etc.)
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Instructions: Set up the card as in the
following diagram:
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Prepare 40 square sheets of paper that have a
description on one side; the other side is blank. There should be two sets of 28 sheets
that match each other; ex., two sheets with French class, two sheets with gym class, etc.
The 40 sheets should be shuffled and placed face down to fill in the card diagram below.
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Mon. |
Tue. |
Wed. |
Thu. |
Fri. |
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Ace |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 9 |
sh |
sh |
sh |
sh |
sh |
| 10 |
sh |
sh |
sh |
sh |
sh |
| jack |
sh |
sh |
sh |
sh |
sh |
| Que |
sh |
sh |
sh |
sh |
sh |
| ace |
sh |
sh |
sh |
sh |
sh |
| 2 |
sh |
sh |
sh |
sh |
sh |
| 3 |
sh |
sh |
sh |
sh |
sh |
| 4 |
sh |
sh |
sh |
sh |
sh |
Task 22:
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Player 1 dictates a time and day (Monday at 3
o'clock) and player 2 overturns the corresponding sheet so both players can see what is
written. Player 1 then dictates another time and day. The object is for the players to
remember what is written on the sheets and force the other player to overturn a pair of
sheets that match. The player with the fewest pairs of sheets at the end of the game is
the winner.
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Exercise 14: Idioms and card games
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Instructions: Demonstrate the following
idioms while teaching the following card games (age/cultural discretion is advised).
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- Ace up one's sleeve.
- Go for broke.
- Hit the jackpot.
- In the chips/money.
- Lay one's cards on the table.
- Play one's cards right.
- Poker face.
- hen the chips are down.
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(The description of the rules for these games
and a wealth of other card games can be found in Hoyle's Modern Encyclopedia of Card
Games by Walter B. Gibson.
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