Ingredients
- a set of flashcards
- two pieces of cardboard stapled together on three sides
- shapes cut out on the front page (cut out before stapling)
Procedures
- hide the flashcards inside
- show the students only a part of the card on the top, through the cut-outs, ask the kids ‘What is it?’
- take out the card and proceed with the rest of them
- hide the flashcards inside
- show the students only a part of the card on the top, through the cut-outs, ask the kids ‘What is it?’
- take out the card and proceed with the rest of them
Why we like it
- this is a variation of the Through the Keyhole activity that I once saw in the I Spy coursebook. However, this original version included an A4 sheet of paper with a keyhole that the teacher needed to cut out and then move the card over the flashcard. I found this tool a very interesting one but, at the same time, a bit awkward to use as the teacher needed two hands to manipulate the cards, there was a chance that the children could still see bits of the card apart from the keyhole bit and the activity involved a lot of picking up and putting down the cards. All in all, too clumsy to handle.
- to make a funky envelope you need only simple materials (A4 cardboard or simple photocopying A4 paper although it will not be as durable, white, colourful or recycled), a pair of scissors and a stapler or glue. As soon as one envelope gets destroyed, you can easily replace it with a new one.
- you can have one simple cut-out shape or a selection of different shapes all over the envelope.
- all the flashcards fit in nicely inside, the teacher can manipulate them more easily. I sometimes turn the envelope over, to change the cards inside and to add to the whole ritual.
- I normally use when the kids are already familiar with the images on the flashcards not to make the task too challenging, in lesson two or three of the unit. However, there were also cases when I used the envelope to introduce a brand new topic and to raise the level of challenge.
Happy teaching!
