Activate: Games for Learning American English
DIY! (DO-IT-YOURSELF)
The 24 Guess What? cards included in Activate: Games for Learning American English are meant to be a
part of a larger collection. Once teachers and students become familiar with the cards, they can use
them as models to make their own cards in just a few minutes, ensuring that the topics and vocabu-
lary on the cards are appropriate to the students’ levels and interests, and the content being studied.
MATERIALS
Use small pieces of paper or cut small rectangles to make cards. (Recycled file folders or pieces of
cardstock are great for this purpose.) The original Guess What? cards are 2.75 inches (about 7cm) wide
and 4.25 inches (about 11cm) long. However, it is not important that all the cards be the same size as
the original Guess What? cards. You will also need pens or thin markers to write on the cards.
HELP FROM STUDENTS
Use the following instructions to involve students in the creation of new Guess What? cards:
1. Brainstorm a list of topics with the class. Write the topics on the board. The following are just
a few examples of potential topics that could be suggested in such a brainstorming session:
football adjectives for describing people
sports email my country funny adjectives
2. After compiling a list of 10 or 15 topics, divide students into small groups or pairs to work. Al-
ternatively, have students work alone.
3. Tell students to choose a topic from the brainstorming session and check them off the list on
the board as topics are selected. Students should write the topic at the top of their card. The
cards should look something like this at this stage:
87
Activate: Games for Learning American English
4. Have students write six words related to the topic below the topic. Tell them that there are no
correct answers, and any six appropriate words will do. Remind students to print the words
very neatly so others can read them. Offer to help them with the spelling of the words that they
want to include. The following cards are examples:
5. Have students exchange cards with another group to edit and proofread the cards.
6. Finally, collect the cards, use them, and have fun!
BUILDING A COLLECTION
In a matter of a few minutes, students can create dozens of Guess What? cards that can be collected
and used again and again, year after year. Teachers and students should have fun making these cards.
As more and more cards are created, the teacher can model and encourage creative topics like “Things
You Can Find in a Monster’s Pocket,” “Words that End in R,” “Disgusting Creatures,” or “Places Where
You Can Find Sand.”
Teachers can use clear contact paper to cover their cards to preserve them for many game-playing ses-
sions. Alternatively, some schools may have access to a lamination machine that can provide a glossy
protective cover for the cards and keep them in usable condition for many years.
COMBINING GAMES
Once students are comfortable playing Guess What?, Picture This, and board games, they can combine
the cards, boards, and other materials to make new games of their own. Here is one example.
1. Choose one of the game boards in this game kit, or have student teams make their own blank
board similar to this example.
2. Label a third of the spaces Guess What? Make sure to space them out across the path. Use an
erasable pencil so that you can change the labels in the future.
3. Label another third of the spaces Picture This. Again, space them out across the path. Use an
erasable pencil.
4. Label the rest of the spaces with typical game moves like Lose a Turn, Go Ahead 2 Spaces, etc.
88
americanenglish.state.gov
Activate: Games for Learning American English
5. Select 10–15 Guess What? cards and put them in a pile.
6. Select 10–15 Picture This cards and put them in a pile picture side down.
7. Decide how the Guess What? and Picture This cards will be used in the game. For example, play-
ers can answer the questions on the cards, or they can use one of the variations that the class
is already familiar with.
8. Play as any other board game. When you land on Guess What? or Picture This, take the top card
from the appropriate pile and complete the tasks decided upon in step 7.
89
