Game for Primary Children " Simon says"

Activity2                                                                                                        

 Title: Children’s games "Simon Says"

 Specific objectives:

• To learn how to improve pupils’ listening skills and pronunciation with the game “Simon says”;

• To learn ways to make pupils be more open-minded about other languages;

• To help teachers introduce children to the idea that rules of politeness can be different in different cultures.

 

Resources: Nothing is needed.

 Practical arrangements:

Teachers / children sit in a circle with a leader (Simon) in the centre. Everyone must do what Simon says.

  

Methods: The whole class trying out and discussing the game

 

Directions for the activity: 

1. We all will sit in a circle.

2. One of the students will be in the middle who will be Simon.

3. Those who are sitting in the circle have to listen to Simon and do what he says.

4. Everyone must do what Simon tells them to do when asked with a phrase beginning with ‘Simon says’ (“Simon says, Jump!” then everyone should jump). 

5. However, if Dorji says simply “Jump!” without first saying “Simon says”, players should not jump. Those who do, are out.

 

Tips to teachers:

1. Make sure that teachers understand that various languages and commands should be introduced. Some words of command should be taught first, such as jump – clap your hands – stamp your feet – touch your nose – whistle – stand on one foot – etc. in the target language and then in every language that you want to play the game in.

2.  This game exists in a number of countries: Spain (Simon dice), Iceland (Simon segir), Poland (Szymon movi), Korea (. . . .), France (Jacques a dit), Holland (Commando), Israel (Herzl said), Ireland (O’Grady says), Finland (Kapteeni Käskee), Brazil (O mestre mandou), Norway (Kongen befaler) and so on.

3. Pupils with a different language background should act as instructors when it comes to playing “Simon says” in their language.

 

 

Feedback for the game

 My dear friends please kindly answer the following question in your comments.

1. What do are the Advantages of this game?

2. Can we adopt this game in our Bhutanese context?

3. How can we apply this game in our Bhutanese class?

4. How does this game help teachers? 

 

Reference:

Tveit, T. (2009). Training Resourses:Education for Linguistic and Cultural Diversity. Benifiting from Diversity in the lower primary language classroom. Stord/Haugesund University College.