Word beat

Objectives

The learner can understand and work with the concept of syllables.

Materials

• Small pieces of paper
• Pens
• Hat / Box

Instructions

• Ask the learners to write or draw a word.
• Collect the pieces of paper.
• Read each of the words aloud while clapping for each syllable.
• Let the learners repeat the word and the clapping.
• Put the papers in a box or a hat.
• Let a learner pick a word out and clap its rhythm without saying it.
• Let the other learners guess the word. For example: a learner takes the word animal and claps three times.
• Go on until all words have been picked out.
• Repeat all the words in rhythm.

Variant

Do a second round marking the rhythm in a different way, e.g., stamping with the feet, snapping the fingers, making noises.

Tips for the instructor

• In bigger groups, make sure not all learners choose a word with the same amount of syllables, e.g. by giving a card with a number or telling them individually.
• Beginners: Let the learners make sentence with the words.
• Advanced: Let the learners make a story with the words.