Memory card game
Overview
Purpose
To recognise and pronounce names of animals in German.
Learning outcome
Students use and respond to simple classroom language (German in the New Zealand Curriculum, Level 1.7).
Skills
- Speaking
- Reading
Type
Pair activity
Related units in Ja! kit
- Unit 12 Meine Haustiere
Instructions
This is a memory game in which pairs of students match up picture cards of animals with word cards giving the German 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 18 cards, select from the following Word or PDF formats:
- Memory cards templates for 'Memory card game' activity (Word, 52KB)
- Memory cards templates for 'Memory card game' activity (PDF, 494KB)
Each pair of students needs one deck of cards. Each deck contains nine animal cards and nine name cards.
Steps
- Divide students into pairs.
- One student in each pair shuffles the 18 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 dealer 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 German words and practise their pronunciation.
Variations
- 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 German. (Classroom objects vocabulary learnt in Unit 6 of the Ja! kit could be used here.)
- Students play pictionary in pairs. While one student draws an animal, the other tries to guess the animal's German name.
Further learning
This game can be played for any thematic topic, such as hobbies or food. Photos can replace pictures. It can be used for extension or for learning-centre work.
Language to use
Possible dialogue:
| Student A: | Guten Morgen / Guten Tag / Tag / Hallöchen. Good morning / Gidday / Hi |
|---|---|
| Student B: | Guten Morgen / Guten Tag / Tag / Hallöchen. |
| Student A: | Das ist der Hund und das ist die Ratte. Sie passen nicht. This is the dog and this is the rat. They don't match. |
| Student B: | Das ist der Hund und das ist der Hund. Sie passen. This is the dog and this is the dog. They match. |