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|Teaching ASL: Game: "Givers and Keepers"|
This is a review game.
Using your word processor create one page with each vocabulary word from the chapter you are teaching. For twenty or so words you simply create two columns at about 24 point type.
Then you print four copies of your words. On one of the four sheets take a yellow highlighter and zip it down each row of words thereby "marking" each word. If you use an inkjet printer you might want to mark off to the side of the word so as to not get ink all over your highlighter and/or smear the ink. Anyway now you have four sets of your words. One of your word sets is marked. Next you use a paper cutter (or scissors) to cut the words apart so you end up with a bunch of little pieces of paper each of which has one vocabulary concept.
Write on the board, sign to them, or otherwise communicate the idea that they can't have two of the same word and if they do they should exchange their words until they have no matches.
Then explain that their job is to go around the room meeting other students and take turns signing their words. If you have a "highlighted" word you are the "keeper" for that word. If you have a word that is not highlighted you are the giver of that word. The keepers work on getting four copies of the word. The givers work on giving away all of their unmarked words. (Most people are both keepers and givers).
The game takes about 10 to 15 minutes depending on how many words you start with and how large your class is.
Make sure to walk around during the game and correct production errors.
The game is over when all of the students are sitting down in their original seats.
Be aware that if it gets down to a few students and they are stuck...you might have lost a word strip or something. So feel free to end the game when 90 percent of the students are done, or to help a student "find" a particular word.