A challenge to reinforce grammar skills while having fun, fun, and more fun.
We will use a few, basic grammar elements to create carnival games with the end result being an “in-class field trip” (a.k.a. carnival day) on October 29.
- 8 parts of speech
- Commas
- Semi-Colon/Colons
- Apostrophes and Periods
- Subject/Verb Agreement
- Sentence Types
- Fragments/Run-ons
The general purpose in creating and executing this challenge is to have an enjoyable, collaborative, and creative experience reviewing grammar rules and usage in our classroom, and to experience the challenge and higher level thinking required to teach a topic. If the students follow the challenge correctly and put in a maximum effort, their retention of their assigned topic will be extensive due to teaching having the highest knowledge retention level.
As part of our grammar review unit, you to work in predetermined groups of 3-5 to research, plan, and create a carnival game that reinforces the teaching of the grammar element that I assign you. For example, if you are assigned “Capitalization Rules” as your grammar element, you would design, create, and operate a carnival type game to be played on the carnival day to reinforce the capitalization rules usage. You will also be responsible for creating a poster board with the rules of your game and your topic, as well as skeleton notes to pass out to the class which will serve as an aid during your class presentation of your topic.
It is important that each group includes the following quality criteria in the overall project:
1. The finished game is appropriate to the general structure, function and design of a carnival game.
2. The finished game is age and level appropriate for audience of classmates in a school setting.
3. The finished display is creative and thoughtful using organization of graphics and objects in the display to help teach topic in a colorful, fun, and original way.
4. An original “skeleton”document to be distributed to each member of the class which contains the general rules and knowledge of your grammar element, to reinforce or re-teach it to the class.
5. Rules of Game and rules of the topic are clearly and neatly displayed on a poster board to be used during the presentation and on the day of the game.
6. Game engages and entertains the players while reinforcing the rules and/or usage of the grammar element assigned.
7. Product shows clear and complete knowledge of assigned grammar topic using the notes provided.
Be prepared to present and operate your grammar carnival game to the class on either Monday or Tuesday, October 27thor 28th. It is important that all members of the group participate in and make a special contribution to the creation and operation of the game as the overall grade will be a combination of teacher, peer, and group grades.
On the Wednesday after our presentations, we will set up a carousal critique, where selected members of each group will move around to each groups’ work area to applaud and support the work in progress and to make constructive suggestions for possible improvements.
Finally, after presenting and operating your game during our “Carnival Day” on Wednesday, for homework you will complete a self-assessment form depicting your work and participation in your group project, how you contributed towards its success, as well as giving scores of each of your group mates.
Timeline: 25 points
Wednesday, October 22
Get into groups/Assign topics
1.
2.
3.Topic:______
4.
5.
6.
Brainstorm games and ideas
1.
2.Game Option:______
3.
List materials for the game. Who will get the items?
1.1.
2.2.
3.3.
Work on the poster board/rules of the game. Create a rough draft for the tri-fold poster. Who will get it?
Group initial that you completed today’s work to the best of your capability:
Thursday, October 23
Create the skeleton notes. Ensure that you have all of the rules, but that your notes are concise. You must email a word document of your notes by Friday at the end of class. Whomever is working on these notes should have a written plan as each group will share the class computer and thus each group will receive only 20 minutes on the class computer.
Work on the game. What else do you have to do?
1.
2.
3.
Work on the poster board. What else do you have to do?
1.
2.
3.
Group initial that you completed today’s work to the best of your capability:
Friday, October 24
Finish the notes. Are they finished and emailed to Mrs. Ochoa? Yes______No______
Finish the game. Was it finished by the end of class?Yes______No______
Finish the poster board. Was it finished by the end of class?Yes______No______
Work on your presentation – You will be responsible for a 5-10 minute presentation in which you go through your skeleton notes and “teach” the class. Anything that will help your fellow classmates remember your grammar technique, such as acronyms, rhymes, etc. would be EXTRA special. During this presentation, you will also need to show us how to play your game, which includes going over the rules, in preparation for Wednesday’s carnival.
What else do you have to dothis weekend? Who will do it? (If you have nothing to finish, leave blank.)
1.
2.
3.
Group initial that you completed today’s work to the best of your capability:
Timeline
Timeline is completed in a complete and accurate manner / 10 / 8 / 6 / 3 / 1Process of the product
Group collaboration observed by teacher in class / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1Individual grade / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Grade average from group / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Presentation of the product and topic
Presentation shows clear and complete knowledge of assigned grammar topic / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1Skeleton Notes are clear and correct / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
All members participate in the presentation of rules and/or game / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Group is clearly prepared / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Poster Board aids in presentation / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Game Quality
The finished game is appropriate to the general structure and function of a carnival game / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1The game is creative and fun / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
The game completely and accurately teaches the topic / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
The rules of the game and of the topic are clearly displayed on the poster board / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Game is learnable, playable, and enjoyable / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Carnival Presentation Quality
All group members are actively involved in carnival presentations / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1All group members are polite to those attempting the game / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
All group members take turns in presenting and participating / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
It is clear the group is prepared / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Poster board is clearly displayed / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1