Teaching Ideas II

Simon Says

Language Aims:	To review vocabulary for parts of the body.  To review motion verbs that are used with parts of the body.  To practice listening to instructions.
Time:	10-15 minutes
Preparation:	none.
Procedure:	1.  Move all of the desks to the sides of the room and have the students stand near the center of the room, about an arm's length apart. 2.  Tell the students your name is Simon.  You, as Simon, give instructions to the students.  They are to do what you instruct only when you begin the instruction with "Simon says..." (e.g. "Simon says, 'Touch your nose.'").  If you begin a command differently (e.g. You only say, "Touch your nose.") then the students are not to obey your command.  In other words, students should only respond to your command if you begin with "Simon says, ..." 3.  As Simon you continue giving instructions to students telling them to touch, close, raise, etc. different parts of the body, making sure to mix up proper commands (e.g. "Simon says, 'Touch your nose.'") with improper commands (e.g. "Touch your nose.") 4.  A student who responds to an improper command must leave the game and sit down. 5.  The last student left standing is the winner. The degree of difficulty of this game is left entirely up to you, the teacher.  You can give commands slowly or quickly.  You can correctly or incorrectly point to parts of the body, ensuring students listen carefully to what you say.  And finally, if you wish to be really tricky, you can point to parts of the body on improper commands. Some example commands are listed below. "Simon says, 'Close your eyes.'"     "Simon says, 'Scratch your head.'"     "Simon says, 'Raise your right arm.'"     "Simon says, 'Touch your toes.'"     "Simon says, 'Fold your arms.'"