Mystery Object Guessing Game

Ayelet Fogel

OVERVIEW:

This is a fun mystery game where students in groups get envelopes with mystery objects inside. They must write 5 clues about their object in decreasing difficulty. Then other groups guess what is in the envelope. This game can be prepared quickly and students usually really enjoy it. It is challenging, but not too easy, and can be used to supplement a lesson, or just as a stand alone game.

PROCEDURE:

1. Divide students into groups of about 5 people. 40 student class = 8 groups
2. Give every group an envelope with a mystery object inside.
3. Instruct the groups to look at what is in their envelope, but not let other groups see. (students like to take the object out so tell them not to before you give them the envelope)

EXPLANATION: (using only English)

1. On the blackboard draw an envelope, Inside draw an object (apple)

2. Say to the students, "please write 5 clues (hints) about the object inside your

envelope"

3. Then write 5 clues on the board (1. It’s red 2. It’s round 3. It’s delicious 4. It’s from a tree 5. It’s a fruit)

• Even without using any Japanese, the students can usually guess the instructions after watching this explanation.

4. Tell the students that the first clue is very general (difficult to guess the object), and the last is more specific) (easy). (ex-1st clue- color only)

(often my students don’t know the word round, so in the intro I teach it to them, and about 4 of the mystery objects are round so they use it a lot).

5. Also, teaching them the sentence format for a clue, (It is ~ / It is from ~ ) also helps. Prohibit one word clues. (though for very low level one word clues can be ok).

6. Give the students as much time as is necessary to write the clues (usually between 5-7 minutes).

7. On the blackboard write this chart =

8. One group will read their clue, other groups will raise their hand to guess. If they can guess on the 1st clue they will get 10 points, on the 2nd clue, 8 points, on the 3rd clue 6 points and so on…

9. If the other groups can guess the object, the group that asks gets 3 points. If not, that group gets 0 points. (this is to ensure that the groups don’t give impossible clues, and that every group can get on the scoreboard).

NOTES:

If you have time left over at the end, or a tie, you can use leftover envelopes and make up 5 clues yourself and the students can guess.

For the reading of the clues, I have the students janken and decide an order, then each student reads one clue.