Preposition construction is an exciting game that is very effective for teaching prepositions. If properly carried out, it is very rewarding due to a high level of involvement from the learners in the learning process.
Activity time: 30 minutes
Materials required: Desk, barrier (a large piece of cardboard paper or a light board that can act as a barrier), identical sets of objects (Examples: two plastic cups, two animals, two dolls, two pots, two plastic knives, two plastic stoves or any objects that the learners know the name of in the target language.)
Skills practiced: prepositions, new vocabulary and quick thinking.
Level: All levels
Method
- On completion of a lesson on prepositions (in, on, beside, under, next to, etc.), organize the students into two teams; TEAM A and TEAM B (with a maximum of four students per team).
- Place each group on the opposite sides of the desk. Erect a barrier with the aid of a piece of cardboard or light board in the centre of the desk. This barrier should be high enough to prevent one team from seeing the other team on the other side of the desk.
- Ask the members of each team to be seated on each side of the barrier, then place half the objects in front of each team.
- Ask team A to construct any structure of their choice (note that the barrier should prevent team B from seeing what their mates are constructing)
- When team A completes their construction, then they will give team B instructions that will enable them to replicate same structure constructed by team A.
Example:
The doll is IN the pot
The pot is ON the stove
The cup is BESIDE the hammer
The hammer is NEXT TO the knife etc.
Questions can be asked by Team B to assist them to understand the nature of the structure, once they feel they have completely replicated it, the teacher removes the barrier and the structures will be compared.
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