About This Activity

Overview

This Train Shape Cut-&-Glue-Kit makes it easy to organize an engaging communication activity for students. 

With these materials, students can practice communicating in English after memorizing as few as 17 vocabulary words.

This is an information-gap activity, one of the three activity-types that are part of the task-based language teaching methodology.

 

Activity Presentation Phase Instructions

 

Shape Cutouts Printable

Shape Cutouts Printable

 

Train Layout Printable (2 per sheet)

Train Layouts (2 per Sheet)

 

 

 

Download Printable Materials

 

 

How To Use

Groups: These materials are designed for practice in pairs. Pairs can be composed of two students or a teacher and a student can form a pair.

Materials: One sheet of Shape Cutouts and 1/2 of a Train Layout Sheet (per partner pair)

Time / Game Round: 1-3 minutes

 

  • Partner One takes a sheet of Shape Cutouts and glue (and a pair of scissors if the shapes aren't already cut out). Partner One must also random select one Shape Card from Shape Cards Set B.

  • Partner Two takes a 1/2 page Train Layout Sheet.

  • Partner Two is not permitted to see Shape Card in Partner One's possession. Partner Two can only use verbal communication to determine how to create a train that matches the train on the Shape Card.
  • Partner Two must ask Partner One a series of questions to determine which color each part of the train is. Partner One should look at the Shape Card and then answer the questions.

  • Partner Two can then glue the appropriate shapes into the right places on the Train Layout Sheet.
  • Once there is a shape in each place on the Train Layout Sheet, Partner Two can ask Partner One

 

How To Play

 

 

Words to Learn Before Playing

The Core Vocabulary Words listed below are all words that students should learn BEFORE playing this game. Students will only need to learn the words listed for a specific set of cards to play this game with that set of cards.

 

Core Vocabulary Words Used in Activity
Materials Set A blue, body, cab, cab top, chimney, chimney top, color, drive rod, front, gray, green, orange, purple, red, wheels, window, yellow

 

 

Words to Learn While Playing

The following words will be used to the play this game (with every available set of cards). However, these words don't need to be pre-taught. These words can and should be learned WHILE playing the game.

 

Vocabulary Best Learned In Context
Used With All Sets is, isn't, it, no, the, what, yes

 

 

Sentence Patterns to Use While Playing

The following sentences and sentence patterns are recommended for use while playing this game. The best way to teach these sentences, is to use them in context while introducing the game and demonstrating how to play it.

 

Standard Sentences and Sentence Patterns
What color is the _________________.
The _________________ is _________________.
Is it right?
Yes, it is. / No, it isn't.