One potato, two potatoes…
Many of us remember playing elimination games likeMusical ChairsandSimon Sayswhen we were young.
However, for some very young learners, these kinds of elimination games can be very upsetting.
♫ One potato, two potatoes… ♫
Its not so much that all of the kids want to win, but they want to keep playing!
They dont want to be removed from the group, and thats perfectly understandable.
There are a few ways to handle this.
When you are out have fun with it!
Say in a fun, exaggerated way, Oh no!
Youre showing the students that this game is just for fun.
When you make getting eliminated from the game fun, everyone has a good time.
In the video below, note how much fun the kids who are removed from the game are having.
you’re free to play the same games without anyone ever being out.
For example, you donthaveto remove a chair each round when you play Musical Chairs.
Try playing non-competitive Musical Chairs:
In this version of Musical Chairs, no students are ever out.
Set out enough chairs for each student in the class.
Under each chair, place a picture card of some vocabulary you are practicing.
As the music plays, students march around the chairs, singing along.
When the teacher stops the music, everyone sits down.
The teacher asks each of the students one by one, Whats under your chair?
Place the cards back under the chairs and start the music again.
take a stab at stop the music so that each player gets to sit in each chair.
This kind of thinking extends to all kinds of activities with young learners.
You celebrate getting BINGO rather than just celebrating the first person to get BINGO.
For pre-elementary school students, that element of competition just isnt necessary.
Wed love to hear your ideas, too!
