TicTacToe


 * VOCAB TIC TAC TOE**

This vocabulary practice game can be played at all levels for any language. I played this in my French 2 class to learn body parts and sports (after other various activities), and with K-4 graders to learn colors and numbers.

//How to Play// In order for a team (two teams -- X team and O team) to put a mark on the giant tic tac toe board (which you have made simply by taping 9 pieces of paper with a picture/color/number into a 3x3 grid), they need to correctly say the vocab word in the square that they choose. If they say the word correctly, the team representative who is already at the board will put their X or O on the square. Teacher should consider a way to get more players to speak and participate -- this works better with smaller classes, but CAN and HAS been done with class sizes of 30!

//What you will Need// -Pictures of vocab words large enough for the students to see (tape these up to the board) -Tape for pictures -At least 6 (Red) Xs and 6 (Blue) Os (I put magnets on the back of these so that they will stick to the chalkboard/whiteboard) -Magnets to back the Xs and Os

//To set up// -Have magnetic Xs and Os prepared on the board (off to the sides) -Draw a big tic tac toe grid on the board -Go through vocab pictures with the class not using the board -As you are going through vocab, choose 9 of the bunch to use in the game (the hardest 9) -Tape those 9 pictures in the grid as you go -Create two teams -One representative from each team stands at the board -Teams take turns choosing a square to make their tic tac toe marks. They must correctly say the word to get the point.


 * This may be slow the very first time. But, if you do it 2 or 3 times, the class will get the hang of it. Plus, the repetition in creates is important.

//Purpose// This game gets students to speak in the target language, and gives them a chance to hear vocab repeatedly (more repetition the more time you play in one board). This also adds the element of fun to a class and is great for the 1st or 2nd day of new vocab.

//Personal Experience// I used this game a lot with my elementary school students on the floor and thought I would never be able use it with my large high school classes. However, one day I thought ... MAGNETS! It IS possible! The students did enjoy this different way of learning the vocabulary, but again, it is hard with large teams to only say one word at a time and not follow a strategy. Maybe if there were smaller teams and more games going on at once, then teams could consult with each other each time to create a strategy. I really liked having a purpose to go through pictures -- pictures alone don't seem to tie in with anything -- they need to have "Around the World" or other such games following, and Tic Tac Toe is a good option!

Have fun! user:L2teach 4/16/09