Up The Ladder
| Target: | Fluency Practise | random speed speaking practise |
| Age: | elementary aged and up | |
| Duration: | 2-3 minutes a game | |
| Class Size: | Any | |
| Energy Level: | low | |
| Type: | Pair Co-operative Board game | |
| Equipment: | game board, counter, dice, timer |
This is a game played in pairs. Each pair of players uses a game board, a dice and a counter. The aim of the game is to get the counter to the top of the ladder within a set time limit, typically two minutes.
Play is as follows. The first player moves the counter one space up the ladder and notes the sentence starter on the square. The second player rolls the dice and states the score. The first player then makes a corresponding number of statements matching the sentence starter. The second player keeps count and monitors the answers to prevent repeats.. When the dice score is reached players swap rolls. The counter advances one more space up the ladder, the first player roles the dice and the second player has a go at making statements. The board is designed so that both players practice the same statements but in a different order.
Some sample boards are provided to download. Two boards fit one a single A4 page. I print one board on the back of another to save paper. Some boards use questions rather than statements. With these boards the player rolling the dice can answer the question after it has been made.
In my experience two minutes provides a good challenge for elementary aged children in Japan.. Older players should be able to complete a board in less time. Adjust the time according to the experience of the players.
