Karuta Variations: Bowling and Apple Bobbing

Paul Carrington

OBJECTIVES:

1. To practice new vocabulary in a highly-interactive way.

2. To liven up an otherwise predictable game of karuta.

Every lazy ALT (myself included) falls back on an unoriginal favourite to practice new vocabulary: Karuta. It’s simple, effective, but sometimes stale. These are two easy ways to liven up this classic activity into something fresh and fun

PROCEDURE: Ten Pin Bowling

1. You have to prepare a bowling set prior to the lesson. I bought a cheap plastic ten-pin set back in England (courtesy of Tescos), but it would be easy to make yourself with empty plastic bottles and a tennis ball

2. Introduce the new vocabulary with flashcards in a normal say-and-repeat activity. I used family members (Mother, Father, Brother, Sister etc)

3. Now set up the Pins. On each one is stuck a picture corresponding to one of the vocabulary words. I had two sets of pins so two teams could compete against each other

4. Standing several metres from the pins, the students take it in turns to take the ball and bowl. You shout out the vocabulary word, and they must aim for the pin with that picture. This was especially effective for family members because the kids loved throwing balls at images of parents and siblings

PROCEDURE: Apple Bobbing

1. This also needs some preparation. As the name suggests this involves “bobbing” (or fishing) without using your hands. But rather than use your mouth, you must bob with a string on a headband. To make these headbands, cut out 4 or 5 strips of cardboard and using your (or a students) head to measure the circumference, staple the ends together so they form a circle that can be placed on the head, just above the ears. Attached to this band is a string, about 30cm long that hangs between the eyes and over the nose. At the other end tie a magnet (you should find ring-magnets at your local 100 yen store)

2. Introduce the new vocabulary with flashcards in a normal say-and-repeat activity. As you might have guessed, I did this as a Halloween activity with pictures of witches, ghosts and so on. But any vocabulary theme should work

3. Now split the students into 4 or 5 groups. Each group has one set of picture cards set on the floor in front of them. Each picture has a paper clip attached to it (make sure the clips are attracted to the magnet)

4. Call out vocabulary words at random. The students in each group take it in turns to wear the headband and attempt to pick up the said picture by swinging the magnet over the paperclips. Once they have the correct picture dangling they must stand up and bring it to you. The first group to do so wins the point. Obviously, they cannot use their hands while doing this

NOTES:

• Karuta really can get boring, but these are more interactive variations that are hopefully a little more competitive and enjoyable