Speaking and listening games
Back-to-back describing and making
Ask pupils to sit in pairs, back to back. Give one pupil a picture or a physical object. The pupil then carefully describes the picture or object so that his or her partner can recreate it, without looking. (Click on Follow-up session at the top of the screen to return to the main session)
Defining words
Arrange pupils into pairs. Give one pupil in each pair a set of ten mathematical words. (e.g. quadrilateral, parallel, obtuse). This pupil must try to communicate these words so that their partner can write them down, without using the words themselves, without drawing and without gesticulating in any way. They can only do this by explaining what the word means. One variation of this game involves banning certain words from being used in the explanation. (Click on Follow-up session at the top of the screen to return to the main session)