Expansion Activities

Basic English Grammar, 3rd Edition

Chapter 1: Using Be
Activity: Categories
Materials needed: Game cardsone card per pair of students.
(See sample cards following.) It isnt necessary to have a
completely different card for each pair of students; its O to
have one or two overlapping categories on each card.
Description: Give each pair or group of three students a
grid!game card and ma"e sure they understand their categories.
#eams race against each other to complete their grid with a
singular noun that fits in each category. $or e%ample& if the
category is 'machine&( the team might fill their category with the
words 'coffee ma"er&( '#)&( 'car&( 'washing machine&(
'for"lift&( 'pencil sharpener.(
Set a time limit depending on the level of your class so that some people might complete their
cards& *ut others wont. +t the limit& shout '#imes up,( and as" everyone to put their pencils
down. #eams with completed cards get to go first. #hey need to chec" their answers with the rest
of the class *y ma"ing statements li"e '+ coffee ma"er is a machine&( '+ car is a machine&( etc.
#he teacher can encourage variety *y writing on the *oard the different ways students can chec"
their answers-
'+ car is a machine.(
'+ car& a washing machine& and a coffee ma"er are machines.(
'.offee ma"ers are machines.( /0ith common nouns only& not with proper or uni1ue
nouns& li"e '2a33 music(4
'5ondon is a city.( /6o article with proper nouns4
#he students who have not completed their cards can as" for help from other pairs. #hey can
announce which category they need help with& and other students can offer advice using the
target language& li"e '#urtles are pets&( or '+ntarctica is a continent.(
In addition& teams can challenge each other *y saying things li"e '#omatoes arent vegeta*les,
#heyre fruit,(
7ere are some other categories for ma"ing game cards. 8e sure to spread out the proper nouns
among various cards-
house pet& musical instrument& wild animal& form of transportation& movie& month& season&
language& city& country& vegeta*le& fruit& sport& drin"& insect& fish& color& num*er& continent
electronic device& teacher& relative& movie stars& "inds of music& part of the *ody& class!course
(9nglish& math& chemistry& etc.)& o*2ect in space (planet& star& satellite& sun& comet& etc.)
Page 1 of 2

Copyright 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Perission granted to reproduce for classroo use.
Expansion Activities
Basic English Grammar, 3rd Edition
Chapter 1: Using Be
Activity: Categories
$arm +nimal $lower )egeta*le Student in :y
.lass
5anguage
.ar .ompany ;et Ocean!<iver School!=niversity $ruit
Page 2 of 2

Copyright 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Perission granted to reproduce for classroo use.