The EFL Playhouse Games for Young Learners: In the City

Skill: Following oral directions to arrive at a specific locations
Group Size: 4-12
Prep. Time: 5 minutes [ready-made map]-1 hour [teacher-made map]
Time: 10-30 minutes
Interest Level: ages 3-adult
Ability Level: beginning

Materials: two identical city street maps listing sites such as school, post office, department stores, hospital, churches, police stations, etc. (may be teacher created); two Matchbox cars

Game: Divide students into two groups. Student from each group places his car on map at a prescribed location. Teacher gives directions to destination. (Example: "Turn right on to Main Street. Go four blocks. Turn left at the church. Turn right onto the next street. Cross the railroad tracks. Take the next left. The supermarket is two blocks down on your right.") Other students should monitor to see that driver follows prescribed route. (In one class, I gave each student 10 tokens at the beginning of the game. Observing students were highway patrolmen who could fine driver one token for directional violations. Students got to exchange tokens for M&M's at the end of the game.)

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