Werkvorm Word Relay

Activating and checking words

What I like about this tool is that you can use it at different times: at the beginning of a lesson or theme to activate prior knowledge or at the end of a chapter or series of lessons. With this tool at the end it becomes visible which words have been remembered and that is useful information. I think a nice addition at the end is a round in which the teams check each other's words. This way there is attention not only for the content but also for the form.

Beforehand

Choose a theme, chapter or task whose vocabulary you want to repeat. 
With a concrete theme (family, transportation, hobbies) this is easiest.

In class

Step 1 Form Teams

• Divide the board into two sections and form two teams. The two teams line up in straight rows in front of the board.
• Explain that each team must write down as many words to the theme as possible on their section of the board within two minutes. The words must be well spelled and legible.
• Give the first student in each row a marker. Keep track of the time yourself.
  
  

Step 2 Write down as many words as possible

• The first trainees of each team write a word on their part of the board. They hand the marker to the next in line and stand at the back themselves. Each team tries to write down as many good words as possible within two minutes.
  
  

Step 3 Check and review

• Discuss the words written down afterward. Which words fit the theme, which do not? Which words are not spelled correctly? How should they be spelled?
• The team with the most correct words wins.
  
  

Variation and tips

• For verification, add a round where each team member gets to make an improvement to the list of words on the board. Then count the number of good words for each team.
• Have the teams check the other team's list. Which words are disqualified because of meaning or spelling? Those words are crossed out. Then count the number of correct words per team.
• Depending on group size, you can form more or fewer teams (and rows in front of the board).
  
  

This lesson idea comes from Word Flow.