Activity “Fly Swatter”

Target audience: Beginner/Elementary level; Age 7+

Aim of the activity: 1.to enrich vocabulary

2. to help with understanding antonyms
3. to improve concentration of students
Before class :

 The teacher creates a bunch of flashcards for the target vocabulary of each
round.
 Then sticks the flashcards onto the board in a random order.
 Cards with numbers 1 and 2 for the division of groups are printed.
 Two fly swatters are prepared in advance.

In class:

Period 1

 The teacher starts to explain the name/aim/structure of the activity.

 The teacher explains to the whole class that the activity consists of three
rounds.
 Teacher asks students to divide into two groups and these groups are formed by
the criterion of random choice: each student is asked to choose the card with
the number in it.
 Basic rules of the game, namely: one may not hit another student with the fly
swatter; one may not throw the fly swatter at anyone; one may not "block"
another player with arm or body to prevent them from getting at a word; are
explained.
 Each group chooses one student within a group in order to record the results.
Every round students are replaced with another student.
 The teacher asks one member from each group to come forward and stand in
front with their back facing the whiteboard so they can't read the words on the
whiteboard.
 The teacher gives both of them a Fly Swatter.
 The groups begin their work. In the first round, having divided into two groups,
students are said to react to the pronounced word of the teacher and find the
flashcard with its antonym. The one who touches it first and correctly with the
 fly swatter gets the point and next students from each group come to the
board.

Period 2

 In the second round teacher gives hints for one of the words, starting with
general ones and getting more specific. It is mostly preferable for about 3 hints
before the first student will guess the word.
 The student hits the word with his/her flyswatter when he/she knows the
answer. If correct, his/her team gets a point and the next two students come to
the board. If incorrect, the other student is given a chance to guess the word and
the teacher can give 1 more hint if necessary. Finally, if both students are
incorrect, both will sit down and neither team gets a point.
 For the third round teacher gives clues such “Find something you can sit on
(chair, couch, bed, carpet when we did items in a room, for instance)”.
 For each round, teacher makes sure every student has a chance at the board.
 The students can end the game either when she/he uses up all the instructions or
the definitions or when every student has gotten a chance to play the game.

The final result of an activity:

 Students’ vocabulary mastery is improved.

 All student participation and collaboration within the group is fostered.
 Students are engaged and enthusiastic.
 Enables students for better concentration.