Only if...

Introduction:
In this activity students practise asking permission and making requests.

What is learnt?
Polite Requests, -ing particle. Only if + target verb structure of your choice.

How the game is played:

1. Make or find as much space in you room as possible and ask the class to stand at one end of it.


2. Explain that their end is one river bank and the opposite end of the room is the other bank. Between is the 'golden river' and you are the 'keeper' of the golden river. Before crossing the river the students have to say the following sentence:

   Can we cross your golden river, sitting in your golden boat?
   They need to be able to say this sentence reasonably fluently.
   

3. Get the students to say the sentence. You answer:
   Only if you're wearing ...
   Only if you've got...
   Only if you've got... on you.
   Supposing you say 'Only if you've got your keys on you'. All the students who have their keys can 'boat' across the 'river' without hindrance. The others have to try to sneak across without being tagged by you. The first person who is tagged, changes places with you and becomes 'it' (the keeper who tags the others in the next round).


4. Continue with students saying 'Can we cross your golden river, sitting in your golden boat?' 'It' might say, 'Only if you're not wearing earrings.' etc.

Acknowledgments: Thanks to Graham.J.B. for submitting this game to us.

02.01.2007. 12:24