Memory card game
Overview
Purpose
To recognise and pronounce names of animals in Japanese.
Learning outcome
Students will able to point out or identify animals.
Skills
- Speaking
- Reading
Type
Pair activity
Related units in Hai! kit
- Unit 8 Petto wa
Instructions
This is a memory game in which pairs of students match up picture cards of animals with word cards giving the Japanese names. Since the cards are placed face down, the aim of the game is to remember the position of each card in order to successfully pair them.
Materials
To download the templates for the cards, select from the following Word or PDF formats:
- Memory cards templates for 'Memory card game' activity (Word, 38KB)
- Memory cards templates for 'Memory card game' activity (PDF, 19KB)
Each pair of students needs one deck of cards. Each deck contains 10 animal cards and 10 name cards.
Steps
- Divide students into pairs.
- One student in each pair shuffles the 20 cards then lays them face down on the desk.
- The other student starts the game by picking up two cards. If they are matching word and picture cards, the student claims the pair and has another turn. If the two cards do not match, the student lays them face down again in the same places.
- The first student then selects two cards and repeats the process.
- The game ends when all the cards are paired. The student with the most pairs wins.
Tips
- Laminating the card sheets before cutting out the cards will prolong their life.
- As they pick up the cards, students pronounce the word or name of the animal on the card. This helps them recall the Japanese words and practise their pronunciation.
Variations
- By changing the cards, this game can be played for any thematic topic, such as hobbies or food. Photos can replace pictures.
- Show the class a series of objects on a tray for a set number of minutes, instructing the students to memorise the objects. When the time is up, take away the tray and ask the students to recall the objects in Japanese. (Classroom objects vocabulary learnt in Unit 4 could be used for this version.)
Further learning
- Replace the roomaji with hiragana on the word cards.
- This game and its variants can be used for extension or for learning-centre work.
Language to use
- Hajimemashoo.
Let's start! - _______ wa eigo de nan desu ka.
What is _______ in English? - _______ wa nihongo de nan desu ka.
What is _________ in Japanese? - Yoku dekimashita.
Well done! - Moo ichido
Once more - Yatta.
I win!