Down The Line
| Target: | Various | question pass share move |
| Age: | elementary aged children and up | |
| Duration: | 2-4 minutes | |
| Class Size: | various (players make groups of 4-6) | |
| Energy Level: | low to moderate | |
| Type: | activity | |
| Equipment: | none (optional flash cards), timer |
This is a moving line game. Players line up. To increase practise avoid lines longer than 6. The head of the line turns to face the second in line and then asks a question. The second in line answers the question and then repeats the question to the third in line who answer and then asks the fourth. When the question reaches the end of the line that player runs to the front of the line and asks the question to the player who started it. That player answers. The new head of the line asks a new question and so the game goes. Gradually the line will move down the room. Can the line reach a specific target - the wall, the door, the board etc before a time limit.
VARIATIONS:
- Instead of asking a question the players could review different mini dialogues.
- The players could practise a song. This could be done by repeating each line one at time or by continuing the song so that the second in line says the second line and the third in line the third and so on. Once the song is completed a new song could be chosen or the whole song repeated.
- The players could pass a word together with a gesture.
- It is possible to use flashcards upon which to ask a question or make a statement to be repeated. Have a pile of flashcards at a location convenient to all groups lining up. The head of the line goes to the pile and selects one. The last player in the line discards the card after using it and then selects a new one.
- When using flashcards rather than repeating statements or asking a question such as "What's this?" each player could repeat a statement and make a new one, eg. "This is a cat", "This is a cat. It is black", "This is a cat. It is black. It is angry", "This is a cat. It is black. It is angry. It is spitting"
Notes:
With inexperienced learners it is best to keep to one question form, for example "Do you like...?" More experienced learners can chose from a range of questions or have free choice.
When players are doing something involving repetition as opposed to asking and answering questions decide whether they will just pass each statement down the line or repeat and then pass.
