My Scary Monster

Summary
Students pass messages to one another and to get a full description of my scary monster and complete the activity by drawing the creature according to the description.


 * Activity that uses all 4 skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking


 * Focuses on vocabulary
 * 10-15 minutes
 * Adaptable for different age groups

Materials

 * Handout containing sentences describing the monster, 1 per group
 * Paper and pen(cil) or computer, 1 per group
 * Blank drawing paper, 1 sheet per group
 * Crayons, markers, or colored pencils, 1 set per group

In-class preparation

 * 1) Divide students into small groups (4 or 5).
 * 2) Assign each student a role in the group:
 * 3) Reader:  Reads the description to a group member, one sentence at a time.
 * 4) Runner:  Runs between the reader and the writer.  Listens to a sentence and repeats it to the writer.  2-3 runners per group.
 * 5) Writer:  Writes (or types) each sentence to complete the monster's description.
 * 6) Tell students where readers and writers should work.
 * 7) Lay ground rules for runners as needed.

Description

 * 1) Send the readers to a place away from the other students.
 * 2) Runners run to the readers.
 * 3) Readers read one sentence aloud, and runners must listen to it and remember.
 * 4) Runners run back to the writers.
 * 5) Runners repeat the sentence aloud.
 * 6) Writers record the sentence on paper or computer.
 * 7) Students repeat this process until every sentence has been recorded.
 * 8) All group members assemble and draw the monster together.