Teaching Games

Bubble on the Floor

Great game, SO simple. Select a group of 5-6 kids. You blow bubbles, they try to pop them before they hit the floor. If they pop all the bubbles, then they can play again. The rest of the class watches to see if the chosen group gets all the bubbles; teach the class the phrase "Bubble on the floor!"

With each group play three times. 1st time: not so many bubbles, easy. 2nd time: more bubbles, a little harder. 3rd time: a zillion bubbles and the rest of the class is screaming, "Bubble on the floor!" Don't forget to ask everyone between the 1st and 2nd times, "Bubble on the floor?"

Group Practice
First, introduce the new material or review the old pattern, then get them to repeat it two times. Bring out the bubbles, which will really psych them up, and ask "Who wants to play?" Then, review two more times, and choose 5-6 kids who are really good/really trying. This is your first group. Let them play, giving them three tries: light bubbles, medium bubbles, a zillion bubbles. Then, again with the class saying the sentence pattern, choose a new group of 5-6…

Individual Practice
Play the same as before but this time you choose your 5-6 kids by individually. First, review the sentence pattern once, bring out the bubbles and ask "Who wants to play?" Choose a wildly gesticulating kid, stand him up, ask question/prompt English. Then ask the class "Is he good?" If so, he is sent to touch the whiteboard where he waits while you search for the other players. If not, smilingly sit him down saying, "Oooh, sorry, you are so-so." Then ask "Who can do it?"