Cucharas

This game is a variation of Spoons, the wonderful game that many of us grew up playing! It can also be modified to fit whatever content you are teaching.

Objectives: To review vocabulary and verbs in a fun, well-known and interactive game.

Materials:

32 index cards/group Markers 3 spoons/group sheet of paper

Prep:

1. First, divide your class so that you have groups of 4. If you have 32 students, you will have 8 groups. 2. You will need to make one set of index cards per group. In this case, you will need 8 sets. It is also easy to color code the cards so that you do not mix up the piles (since you will be writing the same vocabulary words and verbs on each set). Begin making one set and duplicate the rest. The goal of the game is to get 2 matches, such as la mochila - the backpack, and ella - lleva. Depending on your content, you can focus on vocabulary and verbs, or just one. Also, remember to include a few "randoms" in the mix so that each set doesn't have all matches. If your chapter is on "GO" verbs, throw a random card with "haco" (hacer) in it.

Procedure:

3. Divide class into groups of 4 and have students form a pod shape with their desks. 4. Distribute 3 spoons/group and a set of index cards. Spoons will be placed in the center of the group. 5. Students will nominate one student/group to be the dealer. That person will deal out 4 cards/student in their group. The students will need to keep their cards hidden, as they do not want their group members to see what they have. The dealer will begin picking up the first card in the deck to see if he/she can make a match with that card. If he/she can, he/she will add that card to his other 4 and discard 1 to the next player. If that student cannot use that card from the deck, he/she will discard it to the next player. The cards will go around the group until 1 student has 2 matches. At this point the student with the matches will sneak and grab a spoon. As soon as the other players see this happening, it is their cue to also go for a spoon. That last person to go for a spoon loses. 6. Since this game is meant for review, that last person to go for a spoon is not eliminated from the game completely (as in the regular version of Spoons). This student will still play (to get the extra practice). Before the next round begins, the student will keep score by writing on a sheet of paper a C. The first student in each group to spell CUCHARAS loses the game.