Snap
Overview
Purpose
Vocabulary acquisition
Learning outcome
Students will be able to:
- respond appropriately to visual stimuli
- recognise and understand simple words.
Skills
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
Related units in Ja! kit
- Unit 13 Hobbys und Freizeit
Type
Pair, group or class activity
Instructions
Note that colour snap is demonstrated in the ILS Introduction video – see 'Language games in ILS Intro video' for a description.
Snap can be played in pairs or groups.
Materials
Each student player makes one set of snap cards. To download the student instructions and cards template, select from the following Word or PDF formats:
- Lets play snap! – Spielen wir! students' template for 'Snap' activity (Word, 405KB)
- Lets play snap! – Spielen wir! students' template for 'Snap' activity (PDF, 54KB).
To download the teacher's version of the template containing the German vocabulary, select from the following Word or PDF formats:
- Teacher's vocabulary template for 'Snap' activity (Word, 408KB)
- Teacher's vocabulary template for 'Snap' activity (PDF, 55KB).
Object of game
To win the most cards.
Pairs version
The pairs game is played with two sets of the same cards.
- Shuffle the cards thoroughly and deal them out one at a time, placing them face down in front of each student alternatively until all cards are dealt.
- Without looking at the cards, the students take it in turns to turn the top card over and put it in the middle of the table, forming a new pile. Both players must be able to see each new card at the same time.
- When a card is turned over that is the same type as the top card on the pile in the middle of the table, the first student to realise it shouts "snap!". (For example, if the top card on the table is Ich lese (I read) and you put another Ich lese (I read) on top of it, you or anyone else can shout "snap!".
- The player who shouts "snap!" first wins the whole pile of cards.
- The winner shuffles their new cards, and starts a new pile in the middle of the table by turning up the first card.
- When a player has no cards left, they are 'out' and cannot 'snap'. The winner is the player left with cards. If no 'snaps' occur, no-one wins. Re-shuffle the cards and start the game again.
Group version
The group game is played with the same number of sets of cards as the number of players, (for example, four players need four sets of the identical cards).
Follow the instructions for the pairs game but with the following differences:
- to start, players decide on who will start the game (by, for example, rolling dice and the highest scorer starting)
- players take turns in a clockwise direction
- each player turns up their cards onto a separate pile in front of them, and 'snapping' gains the 'snapper' all the centre piles (not just the one with the matching card)
- the winner is the player who wins all the cards, or who has the most when time is up.
Tips
- Only introduce one type of snap game at a time.
- Ensure you have sufficient cards available for the number of students playing.
- You could enlarge the card template on the photocopier.
- A useful source of pictures and German vocabulary (for making more snap cards) is the German section of the Enchanted Learning website. (Note that you have to become a member to download resources.)
Variations
- Play a game similar to 'Pictionary', in which the students are in pairs. One student draws a simple picture while the other attempts to guess what it is (in German), as it is being drawn.
- The cards could be used for games of 'Go fish' too.
Further learning
- Challenge students to design their own games of snap using vocabulary from any unit.
- Pairs of students can make their own sets of cards using other vocabulary. These can be added to a classroom 'learning centre' for use by other students.
- Cards could be used in the 'Find your partner' activity, for example, Ich schwimme gern. Was machst du gern?
Language to use
- Du bist dran!
It's your turn! - Aus!
You're out! - Ich bin der Meister!
I am the champion! (male student) - Ich bin die Meisterin!
I am the champion! (female student)