Outlook Not So Good

Published on August 10, 2005 By chiprj In Blogging

I sometimes use a Magic 8 Ball in class. Usually, I will use music and a hot potato style game to give the students something fun to do. When the music stops, the person holding the Magic 8 Ball will have to do whatever task I've set up. Mostly, I use it in grammar sessions and it gives the student a chance to use the new grammar with each other while keeping a sense of randomness (it's not random, I watch and make sure everyone gets a chance to be holding the Magic 8 Ball), so they don't just tune in and out during their turns. I'll combine it with cards that have words, to give them some base material for their sentences. Using these cards, we got "This weekend, I'm going to shop in the bathroom with my mother." and "This weekend, I'm going to dance with my cat in a church." Silly sentences like that also make the students pay attention, because they want to hear the next absurd thing that someone might say.

The Magic 8 Ball doesn't really serve any other purpose. I could use anything as the hot potato, but the 8 ball seems much more fun for the students.

Today, during one of my off hours, I googled up the Magic 8 Ball and I found a site where someone did a photo documentary of their dissection of a Magic 8 Ball. Fun all around! So, I figured I'd share it.

They also have links to online Magic 8 Balls, as well as a FAQ and a link to how to customize your own Magic 8 Ball, on their main page, The Magic 8-Ball¢ç, An Unofficial Home Page.

My Ecosystem Details

Comments

oleteach

on Aug 15, 2005

Great methods of teaching here, master teacher. You do well.

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