Pass It Round

Groups pass sheets of paper with a verb prompt (e.g., "You can break...") and add as many possible objects as they can before passing to the next group.

Procedure

1. Model on the board with an example like You can break... and brainstorm possible completions (a window, a heart, a record, the law, etc.).
2. Divide the class into groups of three. Give each group a sheet with a different prompt:
   • You can eat... / You can listen to... / You can build... / You can watch... / You can read... / You can cut... / You can enjoy... / You can love... / You can hold...
3. Groups have three minutes to write as many possible completions as they can.
4. Call "Stop!" — groups pass the sheet to another group.
5. Each group reads what the previous group wrote and adds more items (3 minutes).
6. Continue rotating until all groups have contributed to each sheet.
7. Move around the classroom helping groups and teaching new words as needed.
8. Leave finished sheets on desks for students to circulate and read.
9. Review the results, teaching or reviewing any items students may not know.

Tips

• Have each group use a different-coloured pen so contributions are easily identified.
• Try negative prompts: You can't eat... etc.
• Use other combinations: provide a verb and groups add adverbs (We can talk ...ly), provide a noun for adjectives (a(n) ... dog), or provide an adjective for nouns (a blue ...).
• Collaborative retrieval from the lexical store is excellent for vocabulary reinforcement.