Christmas parties can, of course, be a great chance to play some games.  There are lots of ideas here…

Or if you have an advanced class you can do even more.

For example one of the key things in science and engineering education is to have kids see a big problem and figure out how to solve it by chopping it down into ever smaller and smaller chunks.

A really cool way to do this is by getting kids to describe the rules of a game – and of course do it in English.

In Margit’s last party she had the kids do the Apple Bobbing lesson (which also works at Christmas!) to see how you could easily chop up a complex game into small parts.

Then …. in Margit’s own words:

Then I split the class into two groups

One group I gave the topic  “Bowling with pet bottles.”

The other group: “Put in the ball”

I then gave them a piece of paper and pencil each.

I asked them to write down and sketch in Japanese what they need for the game, then how to play it and to put it into simple English.

As they are at the very very beginning of writing, I wrote down what they presented and then I had them write it with their pictures into their note books.

I found it really amazing how they were able to concentrate only on the most necessary things and how they were able to explain.

Without the “Apple bobbing” before it would have been a dry, time-eating lecture.

And here is their work:

“How to play bowling”

We need 10 pet bottles with water and 2 balls.

How do we play:

1. Line up the pet bottles.

2. Roll the ball.

3. Knock down the bottles

How to play “Put in the ball”

We need a basket and 30 little balls or beanbags and players.

“How do we play”

1. Hold the basket high and throw the balls in the basket.