This is an oral communication activity appropriate
for EFL learners in elementary/primary school. (It's optimal for grades 3-6).
This game is designed for practicing "shopping" dialogues and
vocabulary.
Materials: "produce" and play money.
Object of Game:
- To accumulate as many products as possible.
- Students are divided into clerks and shoppers.
- The clerks set up "stands" to allow
easy access for all shoppers (e.g. around the outsides of the room with
their backs to the wall).
- The shoppers are given a set amount of money*
(e.g. dollars, euros, pounds, etc.) and begin at a stand where there is an
open space.
- Students shop, trying to accumulate as many
items as possible (each item is 1 unit of currency).
- Periodically, the instructor will say
"stop" (a bell or other device may be needed to attract
attention in some cultural and classroom contexts) and call out a name of
one of the products. Students with that product must then put ALL their
products in a basket at the front of the room. The remaining students continue
shopping. Students who had to dump their products must begin again from
scratch (with fewer units of currency).
- The student with the most products at the end
wins.
- Students then switch roles.
*It is recommended giving students as much money as
possible since students who run out can no longer participate.
Alternative play for more advanced students: Clerks set the price of items. Shoppers have the option of negotiating the price. There are two winners in this version: The shopper who accumulates the most products and the clerk who makes the most money.
