Asking about and Describing Past Events "Eyewitnesses"

TYPE OF ACTIVITY
whole class/small group

FUNCTION PRACTICED
asking about and describing past events

STRUCTURES
was and were

TOPIC AREA
houses

ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY
kitchen, dining room, living room, hall, garden, body, murder, murderer


MATERIALS AND PREPARATION

House Plan | Role cards | Teacher's notes

For 8-11 students:
Make one copy of the HOUSE PLAN and the list of PEOPLE.
Copy a ROLE CARD for every student.
When selecting role cards, make sure there are at least two people in every room so everyone has an eyewitness.

For 12 students:
Make one copy of the house plan for every student.
Copy a role card for every student.

For 13-23 students:
Make one copy of the house plan for every student.
Copy a role card for 12 students.
Add one or more POLICE OFFICER CARDS to make up the numbers.

For 24+ students:
Play in two groups.

HOW TO USE THE GAME

Give every student a house plan.

Tell them a murder was committed last night at 11 o'clock.

The body was found in the garden (X marks the spot).

They were all in the house - their names are on the list of people beside the house plan.

Give them a role card each.

The object of the game is to find out who did the murder.

To do this, they will have to find out where everyone was at 11 o'clock.

They should stand up and move around the class asking everybody where they were at 11 o'clock.

When they find out, they should write the names on the plan.

Give them about five to ten minutes to do this, then ask them to et together in threes or fours.

They should check their plans with each other and pool their information to find who the murderer was.
Who isn't there? Who has left the house? (JANE)

DEMONSTRATION

Demonstrate how to do this by drawing a house plan on the board.

Go to one student and ask, 'What's your name? Where were you at 11 o'clock? Who was with you?'

Write the names in on the plan as she tells you.

Then ask them all to stand up and go on asking people and writing names.


CLASSROOM LANGUAGE

Here's a plan of a house. (give out the plan, then draw it on the board)
There was a murder last night at 11 o'clock.
The body was here. (draw X in)
This is a list of names.
These people were all in the house
You are one of these people. This is your name. (giving out role cards)
You must ask everybody where they were last night at 11 o'clock.
Like this.
What's your name? (asking a student)
Where were you at 11 o'clock?
Who was with you?
Now write the names on your plan, like this. (writing in names on the board)
Now you go on.
Stand up
Ask questions.
Write the names on the plan.

OK, everyone. Sit down now.
Work with the people next to you.
Make a group of three or four.
Talk about your house.
Have you got the same names in the same rooms?
Look at the list of names. Who isn't in the house?
So, who did the murder? [source: Beginner's Communication Games by Jill Hadfield]

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